Unglued Gludy

[Gludy]

Ok - went to fill her up - then could not resist so through the Lock and an hours spin returning in the dark experienced skipper with me all the time. Had to reverse down a long row of boats and into my berth at night - did it but it was nerve racking. Next day out in a force 5 for 4 hours - enjoyed every minute, boat coped no problem but some passengers upset. Again done with an expereinced skipper - so at long last I am sailing and enjoying it all.
Just thought I should let you know.

Paul

 

[Guest]

I was expecting a more eventful posting with the "unglued" header but no matter.

What this reversing down a lline of boats? It must be very tight. Praps plead with the marina people that you are totally inept and get a better berth. It's always worth a try for the first few years.

 

[ArthurWood]

Well done, Gludy. Sounds like a baptism by fire but you survived! It'll only get better from now on as you increaseyour skill and confidence

 

[chippie]

Well done, are you going to be boating all winter now?

 

[Gludy]

Yes, I plan to boat all winter but be selective about the days of course.

I am pleading with the Marina for a better berth but it is not so much the backing down the line of boats, it is the actual backing into the berth that is the probelm as I only have a few feet spare on the turn in from the baot opposite me.

There was no wind in doing this on Saturday but it was dark and I stupidly did it from the lower helm on voice instructions from those watching. Sunday there was the added complication of wind. This to me was a little more significant than than man landing on the moon!

The baot coped with a force 5 no problem at all, I had guests on board and was helming from the flybridge. One lady guest - well she paniced, so there was bedlum downstairs, then the skipper helping me, who was reporting the bedlum downstairs fell down the ladder and gashed his leg ....... I was about tem ninutes from calm water when in effect there was an attmepted mutiny. The experienced skipper was not bothered at all, we were safe , there really was not a a problem but this lady had never been to sea before and thought she was about to die.

LESSON 1 - Never go out on a training excercise with guests.

LESSON 2 - when you have only 90 cms under you - do what you think best, to get more water and do not listen to those around you - I did this and survived that.

As we locked into the lock on Sunday, there were a pile of fishing boats breaking the rules and jumping their call in postions - I was moored to a buoy waiting and then as I left the bouy to excecute a turn had boats trying to get past me like flies. They were breaking the rules left right and centre. The Lock master left the lights no red and called boats into the lock - as I was called in I was told to tie up on my starboard and was entering and approachiong to do this when the lock master changed his mind and told me to tie up alongside a much smaller boat - my instructor downstairs was shouting instructions to get me to starboard, I was dealing with the radio and trying to berth alongside this tiny boat )my instrustor did not know about the latest command from the lock master - all this with feet to spare in a tight space - the lock master then told me to moor up where I liked and with some relief I executed the more sensible tie up on my starboard. I could onlt then explain to my instructor what had happned and did receive a public apology over the radio from the lock master ..... all this I am sure is a tiny event to the experienced amongst you - to me, it was a nerve racking experience.

I learnt a lot from the two trips out, the instructor was very good and now sports a gashed leg from the experience. Dealing with a totally paniced passenger is an experience I did not expect to have so early .... but the lesson has been learned.

Afterwards, this passenger became very bold and suggested things for us to do more adventure like things (which I did not do), so she became very brave indeed - I detected that she felt a sense of achievement. This was as nothing compared to my releif in controlling the mutiny.

Paul

 

[Guest]

the instructor sounds a lark!

Think you have to wind down a bit mebbe? The fishing boats will always do as they wish, and don't bother with "rules".

One thing worthwhile with guests is to givem a fender and askem nicely to fender off if they feel that they absolutley must do something, and tellem not to use arms and legs as fenders.

I wd be concerned at this "backing down a line of boats" caper. Boat has "way on" and better control when moving forwards, not a fat lot when going backwards. Can you not drive fwds down the line and then spin the boat? Then you'll have a fairly repeatable process, bit more achieveable with different winds. Are you in the SYSAC? Or in Tawe basin? or thru next lock to SYH? Agreed that this bit the most panic-inducing, especially with a lock.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Congrats, its a relief to lose your virginity, is'nt it!!!
Re your panicked crew, you will quickly find that your friends will now split into 2 distinct groups, those that are simply gagging to go on your boat at any time and those that would rather have a city break at the Kabul Hilton than go near your boat

 

[hlb]

Gludy you will find that most people dont like boats, just like most dont like cricket or any other recreation.
Now they might like the image of sun bathing on the fly bridge.
But that dont include rocking about in a F5 even if it dose sound like fun to you and me.
I quickly found that friends disapeared after boat came along.
Especialy as like you the first two trips with mates turned out to be leasons in sea survival and the female members were not to impressed. One even hitting me with her handbag and never spoke again! The other had a mutiny in the dinghy and was jumping from one end to the other in blind panick.
I found my self having to sit on her to prevent a capsize.
what her husband thought , I dont know but they did'nt come again. Others have survived longer when the weather has been kinder. But you only need the odd bumpy corner to put them all off, as how brave they sound.


Haydn

 

[Gludy]

Written under duress
The other half has asked me to write this:-
I claimed that I calmed the mutiny. She wishes it to be known that she was the one dealing with a panic striken women, a bruised nose, dressing a gashed leg, taking care of the sick teenager all whilst I was "enjoying myself upstairs".

Paul
PS. Actually the other half did cope well and hoad no problem herself other than dealing with an ever worsening situation downstairs. This bodes well for the future! .... "now will you leave go of my arm Jules?"


Paul

 

[Scubadoo]

Well done, I hope you have many more weekends of enjoyment!

RM.

 

[BarryD]

Well played Paul. NM

<G>

Barry D.

 

[hlb]

Gludy I've found all the time that down stairs, they all get sick but upstairs, I've never seen anybody get sick.
Mind you trying to convince them of that is another thing!!

Haydn

 

[traceyandsteve]

Congrats Paul. I know how you must have felt in that lock. We've got plenty of experience in our 385, but I've still had the odd panic - especially in some of the small locks in Holland.

I hope you have lots more happy cruising!

Tracey

 

[Gludy]

Matts,
I am in the second stage basin with two locks to go through but these days the first lock is always on free flow. I think you are right about reversing down boat line, with more wind this could be a problem, so I will try and do it other way around.

Paul

 

[Guest]

Re: swansea

That's swansea yacht haven? With two locks, maybe quite a few boats won't go out out very much. Praps see if you can borrow some fenders (lots!) just for practising, but then find empty space away from other boats. With wind, you have to move along bit more. Good luck anyway