who's the skipper

[phanakapan]

who\'s the skipper

how do you decide whos going to be skipper? there are two of us who sail together, we both have exactly the same amount of experience, we've done the same rya land and sea based courses. One of us is better at nav, chart reading and pilotage, the other is physically stronger , but the differences are minimal. On a 2 week trip around the solent last year, we took it in turns day by day, and the only day we didnt designate a skipper we ran aground! does therehave to be someone in charge? BY the way, we are girlfreind and boyfreind- how do other couples sort it out?

 

[rogerroger]

Re: who\'s the skipper

Interesting question (and welcome to the forum BTW).

I think with most couples there's a huge gap in skills and experience so the choice is obvious. e.g. My girlfriend hates boats, is sick in anything but a flat sea and force 2 and has to be dragged on board kicking and screaming. In this case I think it's prudent for me to skipper!

I've also skippered boats with crew far more experienced than me and likewise have crewed for skipper's less experienced.

A good skipper manages the crew well and draws on their strengths - the worst skippers I know are newly qualified YMs who think they know it all, listen to no-one and spend the entire time barking orders. Good skippers are the ones you hardly "notice" as things are well planned and the crew is managed well as a team.

In your circumstance I'd say that taking it in equal turns is the best idea. You'll probably find after a while you'll do anything NOT to be the skipper so you don't get the hassle!!

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[phanakapan]

Re: who\'s the skipper

thankyou for your welcome. In practise, I prefer to do the planning and want to feel like I know the course inside out- it makes me feel more secure as we have not much experience. It takes a lot to learn to trust the other person when your both new to the game!

 

[rogerroger]

Re: who\'s the skipper

The skipper/crew relationship doesn't have to be so one sided - it's not a question of one person shouldering all the responsbility and other sitting back drinking coffee.

Works things out together, discuss plans but just have one of you appointed skipper to take ultimate charge to save any dithering - which is probably what happened when you ran aground.

A group of my mates are all the same level and when they charter they never appoint a skipper so the boat is run by committee - a recipe for disaster and they too ran aground on a very simple stretch of water.

It sounds like you are very sensible and er on the side of caution which is a good thing. Build up experience and confidence gradually and start to push yourself a little further each time without taking risks.

What RYA quals did you do BTW ?



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[chrisc]

Re: who\'s the skipper

My wife and I are equally (and quite highly) qualified
I AM CAPTAIN..
please don't show this to my wife.....

 

[rogerroger]

Re: who\'s the skipper

She's the Admiral then?



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[billmacfarlane]

Re: who\'s the skipper

My wife and I sail as equals. Whoever is at the helm calls the shots re sail trim etc. Navigation is done by both though my wife tends to let me do it. If there's a decision to be made re change of plan due to the weather , or change of destination due to the weather , it's discussed and we've never disagreed yet. We both take it in turns to berth the boat to keep our hand in , though my wife is having a bit of trouble adjusting to the size of the new boat and is doing all the berthing until confident. It makes sense if sailing as a couple that the more experienced is skipper though I should imagine it could lead to strife if one of the couple thinks they are more experienced than they think.

 

[Miker]

Re: who\'s the skipper

I'm not that experienced but it's my boat and I pay the bills, and if anything goes wrong it's my insurance policy. Therefore I'm the skipper and reserve the right to make the ultimate decisions. When I sail with a more experienced crew I am happy to defer to his judgement. As said in a previous answer, you can delegate as much as you like, the more the better to my mind, but everyone has to know where the ultimate authority lies or it is a recipe for disaster.

 

[phanakapan]

Re: who\'s the skipper

rya qualifications- we have done day skipper and just finished yachtmaster theory and day skipper practical- but our sailing hours only add up to about 6 weeks worth(day time only). This is mostly because we have a share in a boat- a 20th share! (for the sake of economy) and organising our time around the other sharers and our individual families takes some doing.

 

[rogerroger]

Re: who\'s the skipper

very well put !!

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[jonic]

Re: who\'s the skipper

Nicola and I have same quals as you both....we tend to be fairly equal but with me in charge. ;->

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/

 

[rogerroger]

Re: who\'s the skipper

Marry your fella - get guests to give you money instead of presents, live in a crap house and buy your own big boat !!

simple.

You're more qualified than a lot of people on the water then - and 6 weeks, blimey if that's 6 * 7 (days) then that's er em oh yeah 42 ! (answer to life the universe and everything) so only 8 days short of what you need to do your yacht master...

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[jonic]

Re: who\'s the skipper

Thats what we did ...............getting married in may, buying bigger boat to sail off in afterwards and wedding list is at port solent superstore. I kid you not.

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/

 

[phanakapan]

Re: who\'s the skipper

my mans not the marrying kind! our plan is to wait till the kids are gone (about ten years time) then sell/rent out our houses and go off for a few years. until then we'll probably keep the share in the folkboat and do flotilla/charters abroad. Well thats his plan-- I'd like a boat with heads and a cooker and an engine that works NOW!

 

[Robin2]

Re: who\'s the skipper

This sounds right to me