Sailing

[martinwoolwich]

I am deliberately placing this on the MOBO forum 'cause I'm looking for a specific point of view.

I'm currently studying my Yachtmaster theory and it becomes more and more clear to me that I really don't have any real PRACTICAL idea of what sailing and sailing boats are all about.

I can not for the life of me understand why I have to know terms like cunningham and what a reefing cringle is, but I do recognise that I do need to understand the type of constraints and the options available to a sailing skipper, (which in a very general way I think I do)

Having now been boating for three years, with nearly two of them in the Solent, I think I've got a reasonable theoretical idea of what these guys are all about, but certainly not nearly enough to be able to even help as crew on a sailing boat.

My question is: - for my type of boating (which will always be motor), do you believe that for both my Yachtmaster qualification, and more importantly my general MOBO experience, that I really need to understand from a practical point of view what this sailing stuff is all about. In other words would I benefit greatly from going out on a sailing boat specifically to learn how this theoretical stuff, which I think I know, works in practice.

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[Mike21]

Not sure if you would derive any benefit as far as theoretical side is concerned, but would be normally of benefit to see how the other side does things and give you a better understanding of their limitations.
We did a sail DS during the summer, learnt quite a bit about sailing, though still prefer mobo's, but found it very enlightning as far as what yachts are capable off under sail, which puts a new meaning onto some off the antics you see in the Solent/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
IMHO definately think it's worthwhile for moboer's to go sailing, just like it would benefit yotties to go out on mobo's

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[Peppermint]

Re: Knowledge

is always useful.

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[Greg2]

Definetely a good idea to know about sailing IMHO. I have a mobo but learnt to sail as a kid and still do when the opportunity arises. It is a great help in restricted waters when there are lots of saily boats around (e.g. where I am on the Broads) because having an idea about what the saily boat is doing and is likely to do next helps to decide what the best route is to pass/avoid them.

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[hlb]

Buy yerself a sailing dinghy and learn to sail, it will take you about half an hour to get the basics right, after a day or two, you might not be an expert but you will quickly realise that they are very manuverable and you can go in any direction except straight into the wind. But you can stop dead. All the tosh about giving way to sail you will realise is just a ruse. Might have been true for the old square riggers. But it dont apply now. So when you have learned all about sailing, you can just blam on in yer mobo with the full understanding that the other bloke can get out of yer way if he so chooses. Probably wont, but anyway!!

<hr width=100% size=1> No one can force me to come here. I'm a volunteer!!.

Haydn

 

[Gludy]

I think that the RYA courses are sailing based with a bit attached on for motor boaters. Whilst some sailing knowledge is fine, enough to understand what they are up to, I do not think that learning knots you will never use and much more is other than the influence of a course that is based in sailing with scant regard to motor boaters.

For example, the fact is that the courses go into great detail on chart navigation yet pay little attention to fast boat navigation techniques. in practice, of course we cannot use a good portion of the chart navigation stuff.

I would like to see the courses changed so that they were aimed at motor boaters and so taught some sailing stuff from that persepctive but also taught subjects that were of real interest to motorboaters.



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[tcm]

Re: Yes, do a bit of sailing

It is defnitely a lacking in mobo skippers if they haven't a clue what a sailing boat is doing - when they're going quickly, their easy field of vision, and why the hell they veer off in another direction just outside the marina, the raving loonies.

Having even one day out and being shown the points of sail (ie what the sails are doing depending on wind direction) and so on is a huge advantage. Also, yerd know that outside the marina they are gonna put the sails up/down which is imposible unless pointing directly into the wind, and is a time to keep clear - they are all on deck, unlikely to be clipped on and concentrating on sails and not falling down the companionway. Hittem with wash at that moment and there really could be injury or MOB.

Likewise, i suppose lots of saily types have no clue as to how manoeverable a mobo is/isn't - i slowed for one outside portsmouth to let him go ahead, but he didn't realise i was letting him go - couldn't see the difference between on the plane and not on the plane, or know that i cd've spun it by the time he came along. So he went behind with v-signs tho the fact is - he didn't know what a mobo was like.

So yes, if you get a chance, take a day out on with a raggie. Most useful would be a day out with a raggie who knows mobos as well. Er, bugger, i think i'm talking myself into trouble here...

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[Nick2]

We have done a bit of sailing this year and found it not only fun but also provided a genuine insight into what does what and why etc.

It was quite eye opening to see how the wind merchants are so often cut up by us mobos and noticable how uneccessarily close many seemed to pass us.

Should you wish a sail day I am sure that I can arrange one for you.

Nick

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/Nick2> Our boaty pictures</A>

 

[Gludy]

Maybe a sail day should be compulsory on the practical course for MoBo's?

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[jimi]

Re: Yes, do a bit of sailing

Ooh I'm up for that! Will provide boat sit back and let you entertain me!

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[tcm]

Re: Yes, do a bit of sailing

yep, tho praps should do this when some mobos around, really. Next season praps, dunno?

The creepiest thing on a sailing boat is when a mobo holds you dead on their bow from a bout a mile or two away, waiting until the last 800 or 400 yards or less when they turn away. I think this may be at the heart of (some) raggies hating the stinkies with such venom. It may be analagous to the feeling of being near people using guns, perhaps out in the countryside, and see them pointing their gun at you as you walk across a field, just having a look at you down the sights. The gun might be loaded or might not, but it would still feel bloody vulnerable, even tho they would never ever actually shoot at you, always in a nother direction. If challenged the gun users would say what? - we never shot the gun in your direction did we? The very idea etc etc.

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[bob_tyler]

I have always been against licencing for boats but your comment "Might have been true for the old square riggers. But it dont apply now." referring to power gives way to sail could change my mind.

I strongly suspect that you were "pulling our legs" but, if not, you would be the first candidate for having their licence suspended - permanently.

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[tome]

Re: Yes, do a bit of sailing

Ho ho! I'd be up for this also.

Have done a fair bit of motor boating over the years including some instructing, but somehow I always come back to sailing. I do love to see that wake behind me on a Mobo all the same.

Anyone launched a rescue boat from a ship underway? It's the most unbelievably exciting thrill to hit the water doing 5-6 knots and to have to peel away quick to avoid the towed gear astern. Recovery is just as exciting.

Totally agree that we should all cross-over from time to time.

Julie (at weekends).



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[simongoldthorpe]

Oh dear, I can feel a row coming on.

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[hlb]

Stop whingeing. Ok a bit badly worded perhaps. Point is, theres no real reason these day why the yots and dinghies cant get out of the way just as easy as the power boats. Well on the other hand, maybe your right. Maybe they have not got the inteligence.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> No one can force me to come here. I'm a volunteer!!.

Haydn

 

[simongoldthorpe]

Haydn I think he's winding you up. At least I hope he's winding you up.

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[Greg2]

Re: Yes, do a bit of sailing

Yep, I used to be the cox/crew of the seaboat on various warships in my navy days. Often good fun but it can also be bloody rough in mid-atlantic - I have memories of trying desparately to secure the line to the bow of a Pacific 22 RIB in a huge swell with every wave breaking over me as we bounced against the side of the ship and my hands being too numb to hold the rope let alone secure it. Ahh...they were the days!!

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[tome]

Re: Yes, do a bit of sailing

We used a 2 piece shackle (Italian made) with slots in both pieces. One end was attached midway on a long painter from bow to stern of the mothership, and the other end was on the RIB painter. When approaching the side of the ship, their half was lowered down and we hooked on before dropping astern to let the ship tow us.

The lifting wire was then lowered and snapped into place on the eye. Bloody hairy on occasions when there was a sea running and the ship would lean over onto us. These were survey ships and had bloody great steel hawsers running astern to trawl doors which held the gear wide of the ship. An engine failure during the approach was unthinkable. Happy days indeed!

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Off course he's pulling your plonker. hlb is actually a very experienced boater, he just has a certain way of not showing it. Now bugger off back to Scuttlebut

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[hlb]

Oi. Dont butt in!! I realy do think they should do away with the. Give way to sail thingy. It gives them a faulse sence of Superiority..../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> No one can force me to come here. I'm a volunteer!!.

Haydn