Skippering an all-female crew

[BlueSkyNick]

We are heading across the Channel to St Vaast this weekend. ANother Moody Owners gathering, the previous one being pretty well fogged off.

SWMBO is still not keen on us going just as a couple, so I have invited crew - another lady (and a forumite).

SHould I take precautions? eg against ongoing discussions about the colour scheme? them ganging up on me? talking me to death? reading the maps wrong?

There is room for one more - male or female - although I have become selective about who I take on anything more than a day sail.

 

[snowleopard]

I find that sailing with an all female crew works pretty well, for example my main weighs in at around a hundredweight and there's 30m of halliard to haul in. I generally say something like "this isn't a job for girlies" and they have it hauled up in seconds.

The trick works with blokes too - No 2 son-in-law has a croquet blue. I just tell him it's a job for rugby players, not those who do crochet (sic).

 

[tcm]

i think they will be fine, but you should meet them on their own terms. Otherwise you won't fit in:

When everything is ready, suggest that they rush off to the loo for about 20 minutes, with two of them who said " i'm fine" only actually setting off as the first lot come back.
En route, make small talk such as asking how on earth they manage with only one £300 handbag every sixmonths, as everyone knows that they must wear out very quickly what with weight of lugging around a mirror and a purse.
You should apaolgise prufusely in advance for the colour of the radar, as it won't be very soothing.
Wherever you are going, about five miles from destination be ready with other suggestion for the final destination.
Without practise, you simply won't be able to be last on deck ready to go out for the eveing, but you could try going down below, reading a couple of novels, and then begin getting ready.
Ordr several taxis to transport your crew to the restaurant 200 yards away: Labour always wins the female vote cos of Prescott's thoughtful attention to his swmbo, which most blokes just don't understand.

have fun!

 

[tome]

Were you needing an outfit?

 

[jimi]

You'll be OK, you've managed singlehanded before. Have you an eberspacher and a working bog?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Because the trip over is from north to south, you might find it helps them with the nav if you turn the chart plotter upside down.

Remember to put it back the right way up before you return though, otherwise before you have time to say "sacre bleu" they'll have you moored up next to Notre Dame de Paris while they disappear off down the Champs Elysees to pop into their tailors.

PS try to avoid frequenting Madame Fifi's establishment round the back of the naval base this time. Save that for the Scuttlebutt trip, as usual. We get group discount,

 

[fireball]

Just make the tea/coffee ... let them do the sailing ... it will take twice as long (reverse phsycology here!) and you'll get plenty of time to play with the gadgets you don't normally get around to. Just stay down below!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

No thanks to the outfit, i have plenty of my own. But a couple of spray dodgers might be of interest ....

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Yep got the heater, bog, fridge, cooker, hi-fi all working fine. Not sure where I am going to stow all the magazines though!

 

[AliM]

And make sure none of them read this thread, or you'll be swimming most of the way.

Have fun

 

[tome]

Phew, thats good to hear. I'd need to take all those darts out at the waist...

 

[BlueSkyNick]

On the subject of the Scuttlebutt trip, Madame Fifi's etc, have you been able to confirm the Yacht Club for 17th September? Questions have been asked during your recent absence.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Don't worry, they know me well enough to see when I have my tongue firmly in my cheek!

One of them is bound to read this sooner or later, and no doubt chip in.

 

[jimi]

Well done, put the magazines in the powder room along with the small arms (Women are acshully quite armless so you'll need a few aside JIC). How many mirrors have you got?

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Dunno about mirrors, never use them when sailing.

More concerned about the bog seat - are they likely to keep leaving it down, when I like it left up especially during the night after a decent run ashore?

 

[claymore]

As skipper you have total say aboot whit dis an disnae goes oan. Stand nae messin' frae either of them an carry oan with yer detailed daily medical inspection as wid be expected of a man of yer stature. In addition - you are the one who decides who wull share ra captains fornicatorium - not them - so stick to yer guns laddie.

 

[Twister_Ken]

>stick to yer guns laddie.<

Sticking his teeth back in his gums, I suspect, if he tries any of that with Mrs Big Nick, a force of nature.

 

[Joe_Cole]

[ QUOTE ]

SHould I take precautions? eg against ongoing discussions about the colour scheme? them ganging up on me? talking me to death? reading the maps wrong?

.

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably worth marking the maps "Top" and "Bottom" with a felt tip pen.
You may also find it helpful to have a little arrowed sticker marked "You are here"

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Easy work

A nice opportunity to get in touch with your femininininin side. I hope you've been overdosing on soaps & womans mags. Otherwise your going to have trouble following the simplest conversation. It would also be best if you knew the price of a hundred staple items that Tesco supply and which shelf they're on. Buy extra cleaning products and maybe you'll get your boat spring cleaned.

In truth you'll find it pretty much like any other crew, except for the belching & farting, I'm not saying whether more or less. Them that can sail do sail regardless of gender. It's crews of couples give you trouble.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Easy work

[ QUOTE ]
It's crews of couples give you trouble.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, go on.