There are some ignorant peeps around!

[A1Sailor]

Sounds like a Military crew...

A Military crew would have sent a shore party ahead to reconoitre, then slip unobtrusively into the surroundings. Next time you are in a marina have a close look at the big black piles. They may not be what they appear on first glance...

 

[capnsensible]

Sounds like a crew of systems engineers...

 

[johnalison]

Taking lines is so common as to be almost universal in the Southern Baltic, where most moorings are boxes. Usually, there is little risk of things going avocado shaped and there is usually an alternative available if the chap ashore gets it wrong, so we are happy to accept. Alongside pontoons, especially with an offshore wind, are a different kettle of fish, and we are usually very suspicious of offered help, because almost nobody thinks to TAKE A TURN! My wife tries to, but sometimes fails to, decline help politely.

 

[chinita]

Sounds like a Military crew...

What. With 'CXXXXXChartering.co.uk' on the boom cover?

Don't think so. Military have loads of quality boats of their own thanks to you, the good taxpayer.

More like a zero to hero instructor/skipper - and a female one at that - out of her depth.

Wimmin should stick to the Sewing Circle.

 

[Blue Drifter]

The 'barker' was unnecessarily rude and there should be no place for this in sailing, if she didn't want help she could have just said they were training or practising. I normally always offer to take lines from boats arriving near me and appreciate help from others, particularly if conditions are difficult. If the berthing is difficult and the line critical then give some direction to the line handler, who may be just starting sailing. It can be done diplomatically and pleasantly.

 

[RupertW]

My thoughts are that if you are relying on the mooring warp to slow you down or stop you, you've got it wrong.

I agree with you but one technique I use fairly often is to get a single line on and motor against it whilst sorting out the other lines - especially on short pontoons or walls with cleats 60 feet apart. Quicker to do than explain to a stranger as the boat drifts towards other boats.

Very happy to socialise with a beer afterwards

 

[PhillM]

I hate to admit it now but in my first season sailing with family, barking orders and panicking did happen. Quite a bit, if i'm honest. I am embarrassed by it now and avoid it at all costs now, but hey, I'm a little more confident nowadays.

I used to find taking the boat out and getting her back was stressful. At the start of season 2, I made a point of taking a couple of days off work and single handing, so that I knew that I could handle the boat on my own. Since then, I am much calmer with crew because I know that I can handle most situations - which means I can be in teaching mode rather than panicking mode.

I feel sorry for the lady, most people don't want to be rude. Perhaps a little sympathy might not go amiss.

 

[Poignard]

I like it when people offer to help me

So do I.

And if they make a mess of it that's my fault for not barking my orders loudly enough!

I remember us once going into St Peter Port after being bashed about by a gale that came on sudddenly. THe H/M directed us to a snug berth near Marks & Spencers. A bit too 'snug' for a not always easy to manouvre long keeler in a gale but luckily we got in without mangling anything, to be greeted by a rather drunk German on the pontoon who lurched across to help. The first thing he did was hand me a can of Carslberg Special, saying "You look like you need zat, Captain, drink it up! ". I drank the beer while he held the shrouds and then we tied the boat up. After that we had a few more drinks and then staggered ashore for dinner. I won't forget next day's hangover in a hurry :ambivalence:

 

[prv]

Here is the explanation, yacht on charter (cheap early season deal) one female on board that did a bit of sailing ten years or so ago so good to go, she is skipper for the week and worried witless by the responsibility so over reacts a bit.

In that scenario I'd expect the one sailor to be on the helm.

Agree with the OP that it sounds more like a school boat with a poor instructor.

Pete

 

[prv]

My thought exactly. Blaming the charter company is akin to blaming Avis for the prat who cut me up on the M25 last week.

I don't think he was blaming the charter company, just that seeing their URL on the boom helped him realise that it was a school boat (lots of companies do a mix of charter and instruction).

Pete

 

[SimonFa]

In that scenario I'd expect the one sailor to be on the helm.

Agree with the OP that it sounds more like a school boat with a poor instructor.

Pete

If any instructor had acted like that, unless like was in danger, when I was using schools I would have been asking for my money back in no uncertain terms.

 

[Heckler]

My thought exactly. Blaming the charter company is akin to blaming Avis for the prat who cut me up on the M25 last week.

As I understand it the female barker was the instructor!
Stu

 

[Heckler]

The 'barker' was unnecessarily rude and there should be no place for this in sailing, if she didn't want help she could have just said they were training or practising. I normally always offer to take lines from boats arriving near me and appreciate help from others, particularly if conditions are difficult. If the berthing is difficult and the line critical then give some direction to the line handler, who may be just starting sailing. It can be done diplomatically and pleasantly.

That was my point, she could have said it more diplomatically!
Stu

 

[chinita]

I hate to admit it now but in my first season sailing with family, barking orders and panicking did happen. Quite a bit, if i'm honest. I am embarrassed by it now and avoid it at all costs now, but hey, I'm a little more confident nowadays.

I used to find taking the boat out and getting her back was stressful. At the start of season 2, I made a point of taking a couple of days off work and single handing, so that I knew that I could handle the boat on my own. Since then, I am much calmer with crew because I know that I can handle most situations - which means I can be in teaching mode rather than panicking mode.

I feel sorry for the lady, most people don't want to be rude. Perhaps a little sympathy might not go amiss.

There is a slight difference between what you describe and being paid to instruct novices, many of whom will have started with inherent respect for their skipper but may now have picked up entirely the wrong message.

Far from having sympathy for her, she should be disciplined.

 

[KAL]

What a shame. No need for her to be unpleasant, surely? Poor crew. Poor you! Still, I suppose the odd bad example teaches us how NOT to be.

 

[pmagowan]

People have bad days, this is life. A quiet word after all is secured might get to the bottom of things and lend a helping hand for the future. I like meeting people on the pontoons and always accept help although I have never needed it. We would, in fact, generally have an easier time if left to our own devices as you develop a system. It is unusual not to be able to bring the boat within easy stepping-off distance at a slow speed such that their is little panic. Worst case is that I give the boat a gentle bash on the pontoon but it is not a ripe peach and can take the odd knock. If it goes completely t!ts up then I can always have another go. People do get in a tizz but long keepers aren't the most manoeuvrable. I think people need the benefit of the doubt as you never know quite how bad a day they have had or what you would act like if you were in their shoes.

 

[PilotWolf]

After several years of working as crew and a good few as a commercial skipper there are only 2 times that I feel I would need to shout, and the second is a bit iffy.

1 - because it is too noisy to be heard otherwise (weather/engine noise/etc.).
2 - because someone is about to get seriously hurt if you don't get their attention immediately.

With regards to lines pass the loop ashore and ask them to put over the cleat you point out. This way they're not offended, you have a line ashore and you can always adjust them later. Plus the bight ashore and the end made off on board means it is harder for someone to tamper with them, especially if doubled on the cleat.

W.

 

[Cardo]

SWMBO, who usually deals with lines whilst I'm on the helm, has learnt (and is under instructions!) that if someone offers to take a line, they should be told to simply put it round the cleat and pass it back. That way it is secure and we still have control of that line. The problem we had most often (maybe because we're on the younger side of the bell curve?) is some know-it-all, who probably did a sailing course once, a few years back, would take the line, immediately tie it off and then start making springs and all sorts with it, before the boat had even settled (The worst experience was in Cherbourg, where the bloke ignored us when we told him to stop and made a right mess with the stern of the boat nowhere near the pontoon!). We'd then be left stuck in a position we didn't want and SWMBO would have to get off and undo the mess, whilst I would control the boat with thruster/engine.


I'll always offer to help incoming boats, and sometimes the offer is taken, other times it is politely refused. But if I do take a line, I will put it round the cleat to control it, and offer it back. If they don't want it back, I'll control it until someone takes it off me. I'll rarely tie it off, unless it's an obvious charter with a skipper that isn't sure about what they're doing.