Seaworthy skippers

[zoidberg]

There are scores of threads on 'seaworthy boats', on here, and gey few on the other half of the equation. I've wondered about that more than once.

F'r instance, I've encountered lots of boats that were quite seaworthy to my rheumy ould eye, and perhaps more owner/skippers who weren't. Some of them had a fistful of 'sustificates' but little sea-sense. But that's a subjective view.

There are those who are ill-at-ease motoring, if they don't have sails available.....
..... then there those are uncomfortable sailing, if they don't have an engine available.

That seems to colour the approach of a great many to their attitude to sea-skills, hazard avoidance, and responsibility to themselves and others. That also is a subjective view.

What's yours?

 

[Poignard]

Most I encounter seem to know what they're doing or, most importantly, be willing to learn.

 

[Allergy]

Most I encounter seem to know what they're doing or, most importantly, be willing to learn.

Agreed, good skippers never stop learning.

 

[Sharky34]

There are scores of threads on 'seaworthy boats', on here, and gey few on the other half of the equation. I've wondered about that more than once.

F'r instance, I've encountered lots of boats that were quite seaworthy to my rheumy ould eye, and perhaps more owner/skippers who weren't. Some of them had a fistful of 'sustificates' but little sea-sense. But that's a subjective view.

There are those who are ill-at-ease motoring, if they don't have sails available.....
..... then there those are uncomfortable sailing, if they don't have an engine available.

That seems to colour the approach of a great many to their attitude to sea-skills, hazard avoidance, and responsibility to themselves and others. That also is a subjective view.

What's yours?

I'm more concerned about road worthy car drivers, not sure some of them have reflexes to match car hp.

 

[GHA]

The good skippers are rubbish bar buddies, no disaster stories cos they knew how to keep the boat happy and knew when not to leave..

"Remember that wild night when the wind was more than forecast and nothing happened cos got upwind early, the boat was in good nick and we reefed early?"

 

[RichardS]

I'm more concerned about road worthy car drivers, not sure some of them have reflexes to match car hp.

That seems a bit out of place in Scuttlebutt?

Richard

 

[PilotWolf]

I to think I’m reasonably competent as a skipper and have run various boats.

But I have never sailed so would not be or feel competent doing so.

We as a crew used to lI’ve sitting in marina bars listening to the ‘tales’ of certain types.

We were in Cowes once, nice summers day with no wind. Lunchtime an entire crew of 6 walks down the high street into a pub with full set of oil skins, harnesses and life jackets on. I get they might have come ashore in a tender but they looled ridiculous in the bar like that. We had to leave after my tipsy engineer started making comments.

Another on Jersey- the name of the harbour escapes me but it’s where the Bergerac pub was - St Aubin maybe?

The ‘instructor’ is relating his tales to his students about how wonderful he is. A local comes in and asks if that @“@$ type yacht is his. He’s “...yes, isn’t she lovely?” The local was “ well you can scrub her bum as she’s hanging by her lines on the wall right now”

W.

 

[GHA]

I to think I’m reasonably competent as a skipper and have run various boats.

But I have never sailed so would not be or feel competent doing so.

We as a crew used to lI’ve sitting in marina bars listening to the ‘tales’ of certain types.

We were in Cowes once, nice summers day with no wind. Lunchtime an entire crew of 6 walks down the high street into a pub with full set of oil skins, harnesses and life jackets on. I get they might have come ashore in a tender but they looled ridiculous in the bar like that. We had to leave after my tipsy engineer started making comments.

W.

Your skipper wasn't that good then, should have picked a decent beaten up bar where such types would fear to tread

 

[PilotWolf]

Your skipper wasn't that good then, should have picked a decent beaten up bar where such types would fear to tread

Wasn’t my skipper!

W.

 

[capnsensible]

Yup, the more dodgy looking the bar, the better the run ashore. Helps if you have an expendable Australian with you should a fight break out. ??

 

[GHA]

Wasn’t my skipper!

W.

None but yourself to blame then

 

[PilotWolf]

Nop

None but yourself to blame then

Nope we ate and then found the nearest place serving alcohol!

W.

 

[GHA]

Nop


Nope we ate and then found the nearest place serving alcohol!

W.

Ah, not willing to shoulder the responsibility and learn from mistakes then.......


(lots wink smilies cos it's only bit of fun )

 

[zoidberg]

Yup, the more dodgy looking the bar, the better the run ashore. Helps if you have an expendable Australian with you should a fight break out. ??

' That reminds me'..... of us being hijacked by the crew of Leander 'Penelope' in Gibraltar and prevented from an early retirement. That was a night to remember - if only I could. So also was the following morning, being dragged aboard onto a 'CASEX'. They - 'Devonshire' et al - found the 3 NATO participating subs. Then I found 'another one' hiding in the wake of a westbound tanker..... keeping station.

 

[PilotWolf]

Ye

Ah, not willing to shoulder the responsibility and learn from mistakes then.......


(lots wink smilies cos it's only bit of fun )

Yeah But based on local knowledge!

We were limited by weather a lot because of the data quality on any weather I mostly lived aboard so sat on deck watching the antics, with a rum or two was always entertaining.

W.

 

[Tomaret]

The good skippers are rubbish bar buddies, no disaster stories cos they knew how to keep the boat happy and knew when not to leave..

"Remember that wild night when the wind was more than forecast and nothing happened cos got upwind early, the boat was in good nick and we reefed early?"

I’ve had the good fortune to cross the Atlantic twice with a skipper like that. When people asked how it had been I was able to say that in many respects it was very uneventful - just as it should be.

 

[xyachtdave]

.....That also is a subjective view.

What's yours?

30 years sailing experience sometimes equals 30 trips to the local anchorage carried out in perfect daylight conditions, under engine.
Then you’re good to go contributing to anchoring threads, crossing the Atlantic advice etc

 

[Halo]

Sorry about the drift but someone mentioned looking for the dodgiest bar ashore. With this in mind don’t miss the old lifeboat shed club in Lowestoft. It’s 20p to join. The drinks are cheap and the only toilet is a hole cut in the side of the building with a urinal and no tap or flush. Very welcoming lovely people. If anyone rings the ships bell they buy everyone a drink- and this happened 3 times while we were there.

 

[Stemar]

As we used to say about paramedics, after a couple of years, some have two years' experience, others have 500 times one shift's experience.

I, of course can never learn from my mistakes because I never make mistakes...

 

[Birdseye]

There are scores of threads on 'seaworthy boats', on here, and gey few on the other half of the equation. I've wondered about that more than once.

F'r instance, I've encountered lots of boats that were quite seaworthy to my rheumy ould eye, and perhaps more owner/skippers who weren't. Some of them had a fistful of 'sustificates' but little sea-sense. But that's a subjective view.

There are those who are ill-at-ease motoring, if they don't have sails available.....
..... then there those are uncomfortable sailing, if they don't have an engine available.

That seems to colour the approach of a great many to their attitude to sea-skills, hazard avoidance, and responsibility to themselves and others. That also is a subjective view.

What's yours?

That really is a can of worms you have opened. And its not the engine sails question - any one can see that the margin of safety is greater with both than with just one. Instead its the mental toughness and our willingness to admit to ourselves that we arent simply clones of Ranulph Fiennes able to trek across the arctic having lost all out toes.

I have no great fear problem, at least when at sea though I can do a great job of frightening myself and all around when stuck in harbour. But neither do I have great "endurance", the strength to fight back rather than just give up. I discovered that on two occasions. The first was the one and only time I have been badly sea sick when as the old cliche goes I wanted to die. But I really did. And the sight at night of crossing paths with a tug towing something I couldnt see, only made me wish it would plough into me. The seocond was when I got stuck in waist deep mud messing about with a mooring and had to be rescued because I could fight no more.

To put it another way - I ride a motorbike. I know its dangerous but that doesnt worry me. Having been helicoptered into A&E after a bike crash I know I would much prefer that end to a lingering cancer death when I certainly would not be able to put a brave face on it.

So in hoinesty, the boat is more seaworthy tthan I am. But how many people will admit that as opposed to pretend to be all macho?