People helping to catch your lines

[TernVI]

What a miserable sad little thread and how we talk to fellow humans that take their time out to help , the wife and I have just finshed 4 weeks in the west of scotland were we always offered help on boats that were short handed or the poor lady was forced to jump to the pontoon while the husband races in.
I have pushed of a nice 49ft hallberg from scoring their decks a large benateu, taking in a French boats lines . All with a smile and friendly face . No one was rude all appreciate and thankfully for the help.
I take note of who has what lines and take the spare from the skipper which in mostly the stern .

I came into tobermory on the inside on the hammerhead wife on the helm myself on spring . A portle gentleman stood right on my jump space and just stood and watched us coming in all 42ftand 12 tons . The bow line was hanging within easy reach and the wife with the stern in hand , as we came in some of the fenders popped upwards . So I jumped early got the boat pushed off and started tieing off the lines . All in front of this chap who still did not move .
Well who cares no issues to me but very strange . He went back to his boat .from falmouth and was clearly an Englishman,
Next boat next to us on the hammerhead middle aged scotsman helped with lending us tools to fix an outboard help take our lines off as we departed . Gave some good info on anchorages

Make what you like from this but on my trip some of the most inconsiderate people who anchored in your path. Offered no help. Sat still in marine passage ways. Did not help. Were boats with crews from down south maybe it is the crowds and too many boats , but I have generations of sea folk in my family and learned at an early age to help be courteous and friendly on the sea

Sounds like you have an attitude problem and a bigger boat than you can handle.
One thing which puts people off getting involved is when a situation looks like an accident waiting to get nasty.

 

[RupertW]

The problem has increased with the tendency for modern boats to have such freeboard that it is not easy to step ashore. You can deploy a ladder or step-fender of course, but this is not as easy as stepping down from the gunwale. When I see one of these monsters coming in, even if fully-crewed, I know that my services on shore may well be needed. On the whole, I prefer the proffered line to be wholesome and dry.

The trouble is they are designed for stern-to mooring with a nice low step at the stern at pontoon level, so all is very easy if you come in with a wide fendered stern. The width holds the boat straight on the dock while you put on a couple of stern lines then deal with the bow.

But when those boats come bows into a finger berth it’s as awkward as loading a van through the driver’s window.

 

[Wansworth]

That’s why I bought an Albin Vega,easy step off on to a pontoon,or getting in a dinghy,big price to pay for voluminous accomodation

 

[Deleted member 36384]

... He went back to his boat .from falmouth and was clearly an Englishman,
Next boat next to us on the hammerhead middle aged scotsman helped with lending us tools to fix an outboard help take our lines off as we departed . ...

You imply that English don't help but Scots do help which could not be further from the truth based on my experience in Scotland with sailors who have English accents. My boat, based in Scotland, had XXXX of Hamble on it for many years before I got round to cleaning the name off. Perhaps he was being polite or unsure of your actions, maybe because of your confidence, and waiting to be asked for help.

 

[Blue Sunray]

Sorry, I don't agree. The cock-up potential is directly proportional to the number of spectators.

I submit that the relationship is rather to the square of the number of spectators.

 

[Wansworth]

Watched a very smart little motor sailersteam in to take fuel,man at the helm with wife boat hook at the ready as they approchedemptyhammerhead fuel dock...what went wrong,almost adjacent to the dock and the shouting and waving started,plunged into reverse,wife toppling over,plunged into ahead,just a shame the little boat looked so perfect.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I submit that the relationship is rather to the square of the number of spectators.

I can accept that.

 

[LittleSister]

As someone who often sails single-handed, and usually in long-keelers to make it even more challenging, may I use this occasion to thank all of those who over the years have taken my lines, or offered to to so, or helped fend off.

On rare occasions such assistance hasn't gone quite as I'd expected, but I can't think of any occasion where it was disastrous as a result of that, rather than just a shambles of my own making.

I usually offer to assist if I see others who might appreciate or benefit from it, but fully understand anyone who'd rather do it all themselves.

 

[johnalison]

I think this thread was really more light-hearted than some people have realised. I too have been the recipient of much kindness from other yachtsmen, but just occasionally, the help has been misdirected, and I am not excluding harbourmasters from this. When some young bloke in his rib/dory thinks that giving my boat a shove towards the pontoon is a good idea, I have to say that not only is the effort unnecessary but in coming unannounced it can often lead to a previously carefully-thought out plan of docking becoming quite untidy.

 

[FlyingGoose]

Can only go by experience and what I saw , during 4 weeks away. also exercised when up the hills when I was mountaineering, advice gets ignored, people do not want to here it and are selfish and arrogant, and all had English accents, I am glad you do not feel the same, we all have different experiences and being in a customer service industry for 20 years also managing large teams I have seen it toO many times.
there are what I call the nosey twitchers (bald portly men with poor social skills), who will stand and watch people In trouble or defo need help and Just stand about and look . and then there are those that help or offer help in a friendly manner or communicate that help is not needed but thanks for the offer . unfortunately it seems there are geographical in my opinion and in my experience , and I put myself at the top of understanding people through my working experience and history.
As everything on a forum it s all subjective and opinionated , what one person experiences others will see nothing wrong and vice versa.
You also failed to truly understand my post but I expected that how unfortunate , lets not meet up

 

[claymore]

I think this thread was really more light-hearted than some people have realised. I too have been the recipient of much kindness from other yachtsmen, but just occasionally, the help has been misdirected, and I am not excluding harbourmasters from this. When some young bloke in his rib/dory thinks that giving my boat a shove towards the pontoon is a good idea, I have to say that not only is the effort unnecessary but in coming unannounced it can often lead to a previously carefully-thought out plan of docking becoming quite untidy.

That's when a loud "feckaff" comes in handy