First Time as Skipper: Lessons Learned

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by boatman61

You'd have enjoyed the 'Extreme Racing' event on the river Duro in Porto last weekend... some awesome fast cat sailing...

Yeah, probably. looks like my son has agreed to race with me again. We did the 100 mile Round The Island out of Ft Walton 4X. First being in 1997. I'm looking at an F18 with Spinnaker

https://www.google.com/search?q=f-18...w=1067&bih=511

This boat is similar to the F-18 but older and heavier and slower ....................well depending whose driving it!! (sorry I can't help myself after going slow on my monohull for 5 hours today. The only excitement ....the squalls ..................)

Sailing Tornado - YouTube

btw, here's the prep for the RTI in 1997. Probably around 0645 September 16th or so. We finished at around 7:30 pm and didn't have a spinnaker. A picture of a picture pretty bad. We did the '97 race on my NACRA 6.0 (sail number 225) which is the one with the green sail leech area..............the H16 was my son's boat plus we raced it in Tennessee.

[Jammer Six]

Originally Posted by advocate777

So, if you are a solo single dude or gal and wanna take risks and 'go for it' and cross that ocean----more power to you, I say truly, and I respect you for it---but if you have children aboard.......dont you owe them a greater level of skill?

I'm always surprised at people who have the idea that a solo sailor is only risking his or her life. I have no idea where it comes from.

In my mind, the life of a solo sailor is one of the least significant issues.

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by OldFrog75

SNIP
Also, the various certifications have limits for size of boat and wind conditions, ie, the ASA 103 certifies you to 35' and 20 kts of wind and the ASA 104 to 45' and 30 kts.


SNIP

Does this bother anyone else beside me?

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by tomfl

Does this bother anyone else beside me?

What about it bothers you?

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by OldFrog75

What about it bothers you?

Isn't it obvious..........

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Jammer Six

I'm always surprised at people who have the idea that a solo sailor is only risking his or her life. I have no idea where it comes from.

In my mind, the life of a solo sailor is one of the least significant issues.

Probably because it is true .

Whilst the lives of those involved in a SAR will be at risk - it is not the solo sailor who is risking their lives, they risk their own by choice (either voluntarily at the time or when signing up to follow orders).

Should anyone (solo or not) be grateful others are willing to risk their lives to save them? - IMO yes! Should they expect (or demand it ), no!............IMO they should plan and act as if help won't be coming, not purely out of principal but because more than a slight chance it won't be coming, at least not in time (and in some parts of the world that is a near on certainty!).

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Isn't it obvious..........

Uhhh....not to me

[thomm225]

I'd say it's about the certification BS. (If you take such in such a course you are now certified for this size boat in this strength wind )

............. without consideration for the tons of other variables.

Another example: If you take a course and get your CDL you are then "certified " to drive a big rig with a 70,000 lb plus load. But many companies still want you to get more training because you don't really know squat.

[Neo]

Thanks for the update.

If you learn as much on every voyage, you are well on your way to becoming an excellent skipper.

When I started out, I found that it really helpful to have a sailing partner. Someone, at about the same skill level, to learn the ropes with. (You could contact someone from one of your ASA classes.) In this way, you will always have crew and you'll have someone to push the limits with. You will also have someone to discuss, analyze, debrief and reinforce lessons learned.

And partnering up teaches you a lesson you didn't mention. Sailing is also about managing people, relationships and emotions. These are extremely important considerations when you are under even a slight degree of stress. Poor skills in this area can turn a simple challenge into a sticky situation.

And if you get lucky, you might end up with a life long friend.

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by thomm225

I'd say it's about the certification BS. (If you take such in such a course you are now certified for this size boat in this strength wind )

............. without consideration for the tons of other variables.

Another example: If you take a course and get your CDL you are then "certified " to drive a big rig with a 70,000 lb plus load. But many companies still want you to get more training because you don't really know squat.

Charter companies may have their own criteria in addition to any certification for checking out a potential customer before letting a boat leave the dock. For example, at our club, once a small craft warning goes up, nothing goes out.

Beyond that, I think (hope) most sailors (new or seasoned) have some sense of what their personal limitations are.

Besides, unlike a CDL, you don't need any certification to buy a boat and get on the water. At least it's an attempt to establish some standards.

[Capt Phil]

Four rules to live by when you are skipper:
1. Come back with as many as you leave with
2. The wind is your friend when docking
3. Never come into your slip faster than you want to hit it
4. Lines are for boats, ropes are for sex
If you can remember those 4 rules, you should be good to go anywhere... Phil

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Four rules to live by when you are skipper:
1. Come back with as many as you leave with
2. The wind is your friend when docking
3. Never come into your slip faster than you want to hit it
4. Lines are for boats, ropes are for sex
If you can remember those 4 rules, you should be good to go anywhere... Phil

[Stu Jackson]

Owning your own boat teaches you a lot about sailing.

It also teaches you how to be a plumber, mechanic, electrician, cleaner and general all around fixer-upper.

[DaBod]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Owning your own boat teaches you a lot about sailing.

It also teaches you how to be a plumber, mechanic, electrician, cleaner and general all around fixer-upper.

So very true!

My canned response to someone asking "how did you know how to fix that?!?" has quickly become "I own a boat and I don't have gobs of money."

I love the sailing aspect, but learning the ins and outs of all systems and figuring out how to make repairs, although sometimes incredibly irritating, may just be one of the most rewarding facets of having a boat.

[rebel heart]

But I thought you could just grab an iPad and "cut the dock lines and go!"