Does Cruising mean we have to become Full On Seamen??

[Andrew Troup]

Seems to me that the key determinant is peace of mind

(at least for person(s) on whom others are not emotionally or financially dependent).

If you know enough to be able to contemplate the future with some degree of confidence, then I would argue that you know as much as you need to.

When you need to know more, it seems to me you will learn it. One way or another.

[Time2Go]

Hi Elgato
As someone who has flown model airplanes for 50 years
Everything from CL to RC to FF
I can say for sure you would have broken less balsa with a good instructor
For your first few hours. At most fields today and they are getting fewer
The local guys have a protocol to even let you set up
I love spread spectrum

[bill good]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

As a philosophical question, does becoming a cruiser and sailing off into the sunset mean we have to become full-on seamen, like, of old?

How much do you think we have to be able to know all about anything?

Or is it a bit of knowledge and slip the lines?

What do you think on some scale of 1 to 10 do we need to know to be to safely circumnavigate (or do a long cruise)? Nothing? Everything?

It seems that by reading forums we need to know vast amounts.

Whats you experience, and for those not gone yet, whats your guess/thoughts?



Mark
PS Theres no subtext to the question.

Back at you Mark with this question!! If you knew as much about sailing before you set off as you know now, would you have still done it??

Regards Bill

[Pelagic]

Short answer.....NO
You don't need to know how to choose the lesser of two weevils or how to salt pork.
The problem with a good marine education is the more you learn the more you realize how little you know.
I think that perspective makes you safer
Of course, the same could be said about Life.

[Jacko]

Hey Mark from an Ozzie perspective learning is just visiting the local table of knowledge at the local bar or marina you will soon be told how little you know by the people that never sail anywhere because they are still learning. One of the biggest learning curves for cruisers is how to finance your dreams and how to budget with the finance you have. Here on CF I find we have a great team that is able to help the very new sailor and I still believe in the best way to learn is to do it !!!!! but make small mistakes so you get to a level where you hope you can prevent any big ones.

[robert sailor]

Are any of us seaman "like of old", none of us in my opinion. A Captain hundreds of years ago was the elite of the elite. He had to have an excellent understanding of math as they were doing navigation that required it, his overall knowledge base was much broader than any of us today as he had to make do with very basic instruments. His basic knowledge of weather was also much better as he had only his eyes and ears. The biggest difference was some of those boys were sailing without charts, they were making them as they sailed.

No the average sailor today is so far off one of the old sea Captains that its hardly worth discussing.

That said, we all sail the same seas that they did so we are able to experience part of what they were doing as the seas never change. Governments haven't figured out how to regulate that yet. The feelings we get when we cross oceans has to be similar as well so in these ways we are still connected.

[iancoombe]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Short answer.....NO
You don't need to know how to choose the lesser of two weevils or how to salt pork.
The problem with a good marine education is the more you learn the more you realize how little you know.
I think that perspective makes you safer
Of course, the same could be said about Life.

Well said .

[Andrew Troup]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Are any of us seaman "like of old", none of us in my opinion. A Captain hundreds of years ago was the elite of the elite. He had to have an excellent understanding of math as they were doing navigation that required it, his overall knowledge base was much broader than any of us today as he had to make do with very basic instruments. His basic knowledge of weather was also much better as he had only his eyes and ears. The biggest difference was some of those boys were sailing without charts, they were making them as they sailed.

No the average sailor today is so far off one of the old sea Captains that its hardly worth discussing.

That said, we all sail the same seas that they did so we are able to experience part of what they were doing as the seas never change. Governments haven't figured out how to regulate that yet. The feelings we get when we cross oceans has to be similar as well so in these ways we are still connected.

Great post. I don't envy them the stress of making up charts as they went along.

The only small degree of envy I am aware of arises from never having crossed an ocean with no satnav or GPS.

The nearest thing was a trip (2, come to think of it) with a dodgy satnav - but that's not satisfying, just a frigging pain. I'd rather not have anything, than have something unreliable.

I DO think it would be a major satisfaction to make a good landfall after a long crossing, having resort only to timeless and potentially self-sufficient methods.

[barnaclejim]

Take a lot of rum and pray to whoever will listen that if you can just get thru this you will be a, fill in the blank. I think , therefore I am worried, I drink and all is magic. And the Sea calls You need to know a lot and be prepared for whatever but, without the feelings of awe you may find this a very expensive and unrewarding venture.

[deckofficer]

As Robert Sailor above said, times have changed and the bar for needed knowledge has been lowered. GPS, Iridium phones, and weather fax has addressed the unknowns as in "where am I" and "where is the weather?"

[44'cruisingcat]

Yes, become a full on seaman. In fact you should change your name to Seaman Steynes.

[ElGatoGordo]

Originally Posted by Time2Go

Hi Elgato
As someone who has flown model airplanes for 50 years
Everything from CL to RC to FF
I can say for sure you would have broken less balsa with a good instructor

And that is the point of the thread, and most of the answers..."it depends". I also might not have capsized my 8' boat the first day out if I had taken lessons, but it's how I like to roll.

[Coops]

If you have been following the Atlanta delivery thread it seems that all you have to do is join CF. After that, we will look after you whatever problems occur.

Coops.

[Sea_Green]

Hell Yes.

[Calvi]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

As Robert Sailor above said, times have changed and the bar for needed knowledge has been lowered. GPS, Iridium phones, and weather fax has addressed the unknowns as in "where am I" and "where is the weather?"

The two guys who died recently when they hit Late Island were not saved by sat phone & gps, saying goodbye by sat phone is not much use