Shouting skippers ?

It depends. Sometimes you need to shout to somebody at the other end of the boat so that a clear instruction can be given. Otherwise it's a pain.
 
Used to sail with a skipper who never shouted....except once.

Off the Farne islands, no wind, thick fog. Motoring at slow speed, a crew member was asked to go on the foredeck and keep a lookout ahead. Suddenly he flung out an arm and pointed dramatically ahead, bellowing "LOOK"

Emergency full astern, skipper pokes his head out of wheelhouse window and calmly asks "what is it?"

"IT'S A PUFFIN"

I don't remember exactly what the skipper said but it was in a VERY loud voice.
 
When we did Day Skipper our instructor was very quietly spoken. He never raised his voice. He liked us to come into the marina, moor up, tie up etc., without anyone speaking. His view was that if the skip had given us a good briefing we would all know what to do. Sailing with him was a very calm experience and we learned an awful lot from him.

My view is that there is no place for shouting, as such, on a boat, although obviously there are times when you need to raise your voice to be heard.

The worst shouting I've heard is when a couple are sailing and the husband insists on shouting at his wife. I saw this in the lock at Shotley once. The poor woman was obviously trying her best and her husband didn't just shout at her but called her a bloody fool as well. This was in front of other crews on boats and also in front of people standing watching the lock operate. No need for that at all.
 
The worst shouting I've heard is when a couple are sailing and the husband insists on shouting at his wife. I saw this in the lock at Shotley once. The poor woman was obviously trying her best and her husband didn't just shout at her but called her a bloody fool as well. This was in front of other crews on boats and also in front of people standing watching the lock operate. No need for that at all.

Now, that is what I call a spectator sport :p
 
Confession time: I did raise my voice to swmbo when hauling my dinghy out at Lulworth Cove many, many years ago using intemperate altho' not bad language - she has scarcely ever sailed with me since - don't go down that road fellas!
 
Top