Tip of the day.

[BurnitBlue]

Folk are always asking for tips about sailing. I have an important one but nobody has asked for a tip recently. Anyway, I can't wait because I may forget so here it is:-

An unsolicited tip.

"If there is something you need to attend to on board your boat, do it NOW. Dont wait. Do not wait even one hour, do it immediately."

This piece of advice I forgot when I returned to cruising and I very nearly paid a high price for the delay.

 

[LadyInBed]

This piece of advice I forgot when I returned to cruising and I very nearly paid a high price for the delay.

. . . . waiting for the other half of the story

 

[robmcg]

Another top tip:-
'Don't let the loo role run out in the heads'

Mentioned by 2 different people - perhaps nervous about sailing with me :-D

 

[BurnitBlue]

. . . . waiting for the other half of the story

Nothing much just a reminder that events can and do get out of hand if the problem is not attended to at once. In my case it was while at anchor I decided it would be a good idea to let out more chain. But first I wanted to finish my supper. When the wind really started to blow, the anchorage rapidly became very rough. So rough in fact that it was dangerous to handle the chain with the bow leaping out of the water. In the event all I could do was to slide the anchor roller keep pin in position or the chain would have definitely have leapt out of the roller. No extra chain let out. I had a problem with the winch, you see which was another reason to attend to problems before they escalated.

As I said nothing much but I could have injured my hand due to lazyness and being lulled by normally benign Ionion weather.

 

[johnalison]

We used to have to go to various courses to earn points and some of had to be "management". Although this was always desperately boring, I remain grateful to some keen young man who projected this slogan onto the screen:

"Do it now!"

 

[Pinnacle]

We used to have to go to various courses to earn points and some of had to be "management". Although this was always desperately boring, I remain grateful to some keen young man who projected this slogan onto the screen:

"Do it now!"

Otherwise known as JFDI.

 

[tcm]

Nothing much just a reminder that events can and do get out of hand if the problem is not attended to at once. In my case it was while at anchor I decided it would be a good idea to let out more chain. But first I wanted to finish my supper. When the wind really started to blow, the anchorage rapidly became very rough. So rough in fact that it was dangerous to handle the chain with the bow leaping out of the water. In the event all I could do was to slide the anchor roller keep pin in position or the chain would have definitely have leapt out of the roller. No extra chain let out. I had a problem with the winch, you see which was another reason to attend to problems before they escalated.

As I said nothing much but I could have injured my hand due to lazyness and being lulled by normally benign Ionion weather.

Ah but, supposing that the important thing on board your boat that you wanted to attend to RIGHT NOW was "eating supper", hm? Or perhaps in other circumstances "having a cup of tea' or "staring into space" or "lying in bed all morning"? Then what? So, it's rubbish advice really because all it says is the bleedin' obvious, but badly expressed. At best, it just says "get on with things you lazy b*gger" which isn't much of a piece of advice, not really, is it? And supposing the thing to attend to was to let out a reef or set sail and then a horrid storm blew up - very bad advice to do things early, wasn't it? And much better to hem and haw for a while and/or have supper.

And after all - what is this life if/ full of care/we have no time to write rubbish poetry with slash marks to make it look erudite/or give out useless advice?

 

[Searush]

Had a bad day, TCM?

I like "the 20 min rule" for reefing, sail changes etc. If it's blowing up a bit, wait 20 mins & you will KNOW it's blowing up or the squall will have passed. Either way the decision is made for you.

But, as TCM says, prioritising is important & risk assessment (likelyhood & consequences) is a key part of that.

 

[richardbayle]

One of the things my father; God or whatever bless him, said to me was"...never, and I mean never, take advice from anyone prepared to give it"

I stand by that.

 

[Lakesailor]

Mind you. I was chastised by TCM once for having lunch before going out to check why my boat seemed to be sinking.

It turned out that it was.

 

[Amulet]

Trouble is.... if I did everything I think needs doing to my boat I'd never have time to sail.

 

[Kilter]

Tip of the day

 

[trapezeartist]

Had a bad day, TCM?

I like "the 20 min rule" for reefing, sail changes etc. If it's blowing up a bit, wait 20 mins & you will KNOW it's blowing up or the squall will have passed. Either way the decision is made for you.

But, as TCM says, prioritising is important & risk assessment (likelyhood & consequences) is a key part of that.

I'm all in favour of risk assessment, but please, not Risk Assessment.

(If you get what I mean.)

 

[Searush]

I'm all in favour of risk assessment, but please, not Risk Assessment.

(If you get what I mean.)

I do, but I'm refering to understanding the nature of the risk you take when you cut across a sandbank, put off a repair, go on any trip, anchor overnight etc etc. It's about balancing the benefit against the potential consequences & the likelyhood of that consequence happening.

Too many seem to either take risks without seeing the consequences, or avoid them altogether in fear of very unlikely consequences. Examples might be people who won't drive on motorways (our safest roads) people who won't fly, or won't go on boats, yet happily cross the road every day - which is a far more risky activity.

 

[Robin]

I do, but I'm refering to understanding the nature of the risk you take when you cut across a sandbank, put off a repair, go on any trip, anchor overnight etc etc. It's about balancing the benefit against the potential consequences & the likelyhood of that consequence happening.

Too many seem to either take risks without seeing the consequences, or avoid them altogether in fear of very unlikely consequences. Examples might beople who won't drive on motorways (our safest roads) people who won't fly, or won't go on boats, yet happily cross the road every day - which is a far more risky activity.

Or who won't anchor without a Rocna?

 

[capnsensible]

Had a bad day, TCM?

I like "the 20 min rule" for reefing, sail changes etc. If it's blowing up a bit, wait 20 mins & you will KNOW it's blowing up or the squall will have passed. Either way the decision is made for you.

But, as TCM says, prioritising is important & risk assessment (likelyhood & consequences) is a key part of that.

Complete bootmenders.

Reef in, do it now,

Reef out, wait for a bit.

 

[trapezeartist]

I do, but I'm refering to understanding the nature of the risk you take when you cut across a sandbank, put off a repair, go on any trip, anchor overnight etc etc. It's about balancing the benefit against the potential consequences & the likelyhood of that consequence happening.

Too many seem to either take risks without seeing the consequences, or avoid them altogether in fear of very unlikely consequences. Examples might be people who won't drive on motorways (our safest roads) people who won't fly, or won't go on boats, yet happily cross the road every day - which is a far more risky activity.

I'm with you entirely.

 

[trapezeartist]

Complete bootmenders.

Reef in, do it now,

Reef out, wait for a bit.

I'm with you too, Capn.

 

[onesea]

Trouble is.... if I did everything I think needs doing to my boat I'd never have time to sail.

Now I am with you here, some people think I only work on my boat only when the weather is to bad to sail it...

As for reefing when I am the the smallest boat without one, its probably time for one...

 

[mjcoon]

Another top tip:-
'Don't let the loo role run out in the heads'

I'm such a frequent visitor I must be cast in that role!

Mike.