What scares you most when sailing?

[mm42]

The prospect of being interviewed by the MAIB.

 

[jimi]

The prospect of being interviewed by the MAIB.

Surely the prospect of NOT being available for interview?

 

[Frank Holden]

Lightning, big waves, orcas,... and the dark... and especially lightning, big waves and orcas in the dark.....

 

[TiggerToo]

Honest answer is the decision to set off.....
You work it out. I cant.

Same here...

 

[alahol2]

I've definitely had the vertigo thing in deep water, very unnerving when it happens. The thought of how our kids used to enjoy standing at the bows (catamaran) while the boat ploughed it's way upwind. It sends shivers through my spine now. Neither of them ever fell off the boat though.

 

[Zagato]

Sea seasickness, can go from normal to retching in 20 mins in calm conditions, not good when sailing single handed. Now pretty much restricted to Chichester Harbour as it is dangerous being like that single handed. Sailing from Weymouth to Lulworth cove soon, praying it is mill pond flat otherwise have to feel really rough on Stugeron which is no fun on a social weekend.

 

[mdonnelly]

Being home late for dinner when my wife has made it!

 

[Zagato]

Have you a rather large dog?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Sea seasickness ...

Oh yes. I'm with you there. Twenty seven years ago I was so seasick - my first time ever - on a trip from Plymouth to Falmouth that I got seriously hypothermic. Ever since then I have been terrified of getting it again, and for some years I gave up sailing because I could not get Scopaderm patches.

Recently it occurred to me that, having been seasick precisely once in my life and not for a quarter of a century, I may not be as prone to it as I think ... but that's logic, and it hasn't convinced my gut instinct yet. I am scared of being seasick.

 

[Tomahawk]

Am presently ashore after hurting my arm. I spent an afternoon hand steering and I have strained something in my shoulder.
No longer being able to sail scares me.

 

[SimonFa]

Not reading this thread, I have enough of my own demons without taking on board everyone else's :blue:

 

[JumbleDuck]

Not reading this thread, I have enough of my own demons without taking on board everyone else's :blue:

I find it very useful to know that I am not the only person who is not super-confident at all times when afloat.

 

[C08]

I worry about engine failure or picking up something on the prop close inshore with an onshore wind and very deep running to cliffs so not easy to anchor. Places like Bardsey, N Stack, Carmel Head Portland etc.

 

[daviddb]

Sitting on the rocks watching a deep swell breaking and hearing that seething sucking sound it makes as the water falls back into the deep

 

[KellysEye]

On the medical front we did the RYA first aid course, it shows you how to treat broken bones, burns, cuts, CPR etc it covers everything you will ever come across. It also gives an extensive list of drugs to treat everything including two to slow down a burst appendix (and how to test for it) so you can put out a mayday call. We got all the drugs from the doc when we said we were going long distance sailing and will be 1,000+nms from land. Some were free some we paid for. Most we didn't use but it gives peace of minds, cuts were the most common thing, use kitchen roll to stop bleeding it is sterile out of the pack as is cling film to cover burns after applying flamzene cream.

 

[thecommander]

Single handed. Stuck up the mast. At sea. Nobody in sight. No radio. No knife. No phone.

Try and get onto the spreaders and jump into the sea? Or slide down the mast? Or wait for help?

 

[Poey50]

Single handed. Stuck up the mast. At sea. Nobody in sight. No radio. No knife. No phone.

Try and get onto the spreaders and jump into the sea? Or slide down the mast? Or wait for help?

Sorry to tell you this ... there's a thunderstorm coming ...

 

[Terra-Loon]

Single handed. Stuck up the mast. At sea. Nobody in sight. No radio. No knife. No phone.

Try and get onto the spreaders and jump into the sea? Or slide down the mast? Or wait for help?

A somewhat nuanced predicament. Didn't you think to put your Gerber in your pocket or aren't you wearing any trousers either?

 

[oldharry]

When Single handing (which is most of the time nowadays): how I would feel watching my boat sailing happily on autohelm without me.... brings the mind sharply into focus about LJ and harness discipline on deck even in a flat calm!

 

[thecommander]

Seajet tows a line behind his boat for that very situation!