Sailing from Gibraltar

[VO5]

vo5,you mention no muggings in gib,what about the in house exchange rates that the retailers do,i saw 7 bad examples in one week doing the unweary and old. i kid you not

I don't understand your post. Please clarify. Thanks.

 

[GrahamM376]

I don't understand your post. Please clarify. Thanks.

I can guess what he means - retailers financially mugging customers. I've seen quite a few examples, particularly at the rock cafe where they just double the £ price if someone wants to pay in Euro. They've most likely learned from the London ice cream vendors ripping off the Japanese tourists.

 

[VO5]

I can guess what he means - retailers financially mugging customers. I've seen quite a few examples, particularly at the rock cafe where they just double the £ price if someone wants to pay in Euro. They've most likely learned from the London ice cream vendors ripping off the Japanese tourists.

Yes, but let him answer himself. Let's see...

And where is the rock cafe btw ?

 

[rib]

yes above is correct.in the high street,in the cafes,saw one old person buy a post card and pay double !.i spent a week there and walked up and all over the rock,via med steps.apes,etc.i waked every where,needed to get some teak for my boat.(6 inches worth)so i visited most of the industrial estates on foot and saw a lot of the workers for a quick chat.the supermarket/ car park was a mess litter every where.my grandfather was a member/visitor of the clay shoot there(black powder)and arrranged to get some springer spaniels over there for some one.he used to go several times ayear and for some reason i never went with him(used to spend a lot of my time shooting clays with him)so im not having a pop at gib for any other reason than i was not impressed it had a feel of being run down and dirty.the nicest friendly person i meet was the doorman at the nelson by the square.(and im not taking the micky he was friendly)the apes are in a bit of a mess to imo,ps and i couldnt get into the clay shoot

 

[rib]

ps....would you know a gazza baldy who used to live there ?real nick name,he was born and breed there

 

[VO5]

yes above is correct.in the high street,in the cafes,saw one old person buy a post card and pay double !.i spent a week there and walked up and all over the rock,via med steps.apes,etc.i waked every where,needed to get some teak for my boat.(6 inches worth)so i visited most of the industrial estates on foot and saw a lot of the workers for a quick chat.the supermarket/ car park was a mess litter every where.my grandfather was a member/visitor of the clay shoot there(black powder)and arrranged to get some springer spaniels over there for some one.he used to go several times ayear and for some reason i never went with him(used to spend a lot of my time shooting clays with him)so im not having a pop at gib for any other reason than i was not impressed it had a feel of being run down and dirty.the nicest friendly person i meet was the doorman at the nelson by the square.(and im not taking the micky he was friendly)the apes are in a bit of a mess to imo,ps and i couldnt get into the clay shoot

I have never experienced anybody paying double for a postcard or anything else. I find your statement arcane.

What probably happened is that you saw someone offering to pay in Euros.

The Euro against the Pound is falling, and, there is no floor.

In the week ending the 26th June 2011 the Euro stood at 90.358 pence sterling.

This week, after a long drift downward with a few intermittent but insignificant rises on the way down it closed at 83.497 pence sterling.

Its lowest point barely a fortnight ago was 83.056 pence sterling.

Now, a shopkeeper is not a currency specialist. He is a shopkeeper.
He is not going to ring the foreign exchange desk of his bank for an up to the minute quote on the Euro because of a postacrd. He is going to take view that he is being offered payment in a weak and declining currency. He will therefore insure himself against losses by quoting accordingly in the sterling equivalent....and...in anticipation that when he cashes in the Euros he has accumulated in his till he will have to do so at the bid price, which is even lower than the prices I have quoted during this period. In addition, he will have to absorb transactional costs. As his turnover is not expected to be in millions of the currency therefore his transactional costs as a percentage, he will expect these to be proprtionately substantial.

That is the first part.

I do not agree with you over litter. I think Gib is remarkably clean nowadays due to the diligent work carried out 24 / 7 by the cleaning contractors to the government, a company called Master Service. If you find litter you ought to contact them.They will be very pleased to deal with your complaint straight away.

Next part.

The apes recently have been very naughty. They have become accustomed to raiding bins on the east side. Thes have been fitted with tamperproof lids to stop this mischief. They descend into town as well and despite warnings to visitors not to feed them, people persist in disobeying instructions.

So it happens that visitors turn out to be just as naughty. The apes can be excused, because, although they are extremely intelligent, they unable to logically deduce and reason, like humans are expected to be able to, and to act accordingly. Therefore, in terms of relative naughtiness and inappropriate behaviour you must concede the visitors are the more naughty.

Next and final part.

If you want to participate in clay pidgeon shooting, this takes place off the cliffs near Europa Point (weather permitting). All you have to do is send me a PM and I will personally arrange for you to borrow a double barrelled shotgun of your choice for you to shoot away to your heart's content on the understanding that the clays and the rounds are for your account and not that of the lender of the shotgun, provided you can satisfy me you are over 18 years of age..

How's that ?!

 

[maxi77]

Now, a shopkeeper is not a currency specialist. He is a shopkeeper.
He is not going to ring the foreign exchange desk of his bank for an up to the minute quote on the Euro because of a postacrd. He is going to take view that he is being offered payment in aw eak and declining currency. He will therefore insure himself against losses by quoting accordingly in the sterling equivalent....and...in anticipation that when he cashes in the Euros he has accumulated in his till he will have to do so at the bid price, which is even lower than the prices I have quoted during this period. In addition, he will have to absorb transactional costs. As his turnover is not expected to be in millions of the currency therefore his transactional costs as a percentage, he will expect to be substantial.

Here in the Algarve quite a few retailers, both big and small seem quite able to quote the rate they give for sales in pounds in this euro country, and they are pretty fair, not the best but equally not as bad as some airport exchange services, surely Gib retailers are as clever.

Yes the euro has declined a bit recently but not as much as the dear old pound has fallen over the past 5 years. The pound against the euro has only just dragged itself up to the sort of levels it rose to after 'call me dave' moved into no 10.

 

[rib]

vo5.. thank you for your response and offer,sorry you found the retail mugging secret or mysterious.it was in august sept this year,but lets leave it there as this will turn into a boring tit for tat.yes i did see the old clay shoot i walked there to be told is was shut.you love your gib and as some one who loves their boat to pick holes in it would be bad form.i will be sailing back early to mid summer this year or next !!(i know)so i will stop off and you can show me your gib,i,ll buy the beers.take it you didnt know of a gazza baldy.regards and keepon selling i mean sailing lol

 

[VO5]

vo5.. thank you for your response and offer,sorry you found the retail mugging secret or mysterious.it was in august sept this year,but lets leave it there as this will turn into a boring tit for tat.yes i did see the old clay shoot i walked there to be told is was shut.you love your gib and as some one who loves their boat to pick holes in it would be bad form.i will be sailing back early to mid summer this year or next !!(i know)so i will stop off and you can show me your gib,i,ll buy the beers.take it you didnt know of a gazza baldy.regards and keepon selling i mean sailing lol

Your'e on !

Give me some details on Gazza Baldy and I will do my best to find your friend for you.

 

[Tengy]

Recommendation in Gib

I didn't do my sailing qualifications in Gib (but in the Solent a good few years back now), but I did have Capn Sensible as one of my instructors and can happily say he was the best instructor I ever had!

Since then he gave me a bit of a refresher on short handed mooring our own boat whilst in Gib last year and he's still as good (and patient!).

So my vote would be for Hercules with Capn Sensible

 

[rib]

he.s name is gary and he is bald................and if he did have hair it would be red.belive he was /is a car dealer.has been living in the west country for a few years now and is trying i belive to move back to gib,has brought him self a nice boat and plans to sail it back home,45 years old ish(him not the boat)east end sort of character thou i belive born and breed giby.prehaps all the people gathered together to see him off were,nt waving good bye more good riddance from the airport

 

[cutofherjib]

For me it all depends on what you want the piece of paper for. I did my Yachmaster there and regret it very much.

Gib is easy with almost no tide. Yes the straits are sometimes a challenge but not difficult. Although going over to Africa was an experience.

The rock itself is not impressive and is reminiscent of a run down UK council estate.

The only really tidal stuff we did was when we went West to Spain and Portugal and that was marred by some very poor instruction.

I wish I had stayed in the UK but if the weather is your concern (it was mine) then at least go to Portugal for some tide and be challenged.

Good luck.

I like Gibraltar, nothing like a run down UK council estate, are you having a laugh?

As with your driving test, you learn to sail after you do the test. I dont understand what you are regretting.

 

[Supine Being]

The apes recently have been very naughty. They have become accustomed to raiding bins on the east side. Thes have been fitted with tamperproof lids to stop this mischief. They descend into town as well and despite warnings to visitors not to feed them, people persist in disobeying instructions.

I've seen that happening on the rock. I was filming a smart-harse tourist throwing the occasional biscuit from his backpack in the hope that one of 'em would mug the silly-s** and I'd get £250 off Harry Hill. Also heard about a mate of my sailing instructor getting mugged of a chicken dinner and 2 cans of lager about 30ft from his door by an ape, so cause and effect right there. Still, the thought of an ape sucking down a tin of Fosters is a fun one.

As for the OP's question about schools, I used Hot Liquid and was very happy. I get the impression that instructors are often freelance and can pop up at several schools, so hard to judge on that score. But the boat was in good nick, was quite new, the instructor good, and bonus points for the school packing a home-made chili in the fridge in case we stopped at pricey Sotogrande... nice touch, that.

Technically, it's not going to test you as much as the Solent, but it has its challenges and can certainly catch you out if you don't pay attention.

As for Gib - I liked it. As tax-havens go, it's no Monte Carlo, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Full of idiocyncrasies, it's simply unique. I've no burning desire to move there, but I'd certainly enjoy paying another visit.