Fossil
Well-Known Member
In the bit of New Zealand where we keep our boat - the truly lovely Marlborough Sounds (God's own cruising area) - we often sit and watch largish yachts docking in our marina. Quite often, Mister is behind the wheel, elderly, rich, dominant, cap on, sunglasses on, belly on display - while Missus: also elderly and often frail-looking or physically inadequate, staggers around trailing ropes and fenders and looking for somewhere to put a line. Needless to say, errors, roaring motors and incandescent language tend to happen, which accounts for a lot of the fun. Personally, since my wife is an equally-qualified sailor, but is by profession a pianist who relies on her hands for her living, I prefer to have her steering and doing throttle control (pretty easy stuff, if the truth be known) while I handle the ropework. This works for us, and has worked for thirty years or so, even if I am not so speedy over the rail as I used to be. These days I prefer to get lines ashore by lassoing cleats while standing on the boat. This can usually be done easily, provided the steersperson has got you more or less where you need to be - assisted by directions from the ropesperson, if necessary - most ropework can be done this way, leaving the final tidying up to be done when things are secure and the vessel is motionless with respect to the dock. Of course, it requires a little organisation and forethought which seemingly puts it beyond the reach of most sailors, but hey!
