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FSMike · 26-01-2016, 03:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackdale

Leaving Hope Town in Bahamas, I told a crew member to let go of the dinghy. They did.

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LMAO! I'm sure most of us have had a moment when we discovered why the end is bitter. In my case it was shallow so I got the anchor back.

ozskipper · 26-01-2016, 04:08

A tidy cockpit is important. Things like re-loading winches, halyards coiled and away (depending on weather -see below). The main sheet definitely needs to be kept free at all times. Effectively, when sailing under main and jib only, there should only be three loose lines in your cockpit -the main sheet, the working jib sheet and the lazy jib sheet.
All other lines can be stowed in cockpit bags.

Re- halyards coiled away. In tougher weather and when using kites, its sensible to have any working halyards not coiled, but neatly flaked "neatly" into the cabin for an emergency drop. Send the bitter end down first and let the halyard coil on top of itself.

Siberianhusky · 26-01-2016, 04:40

Assuming it's your boat - your rules!
I've had lots of people out once and a few out many times. For me safety of the crew is first followed by safety of my boat.
If you are the skipper in a joint ownership in my opinion while underway you should be able to have you say. The rest of the time you may just have to hold your tongue.

dwedeking2 · 26-01-2016, 04:56

It's your duty as the one designated "leader" of the group that the ship is run in a safe and efficient manner.

It's your skill as a "leader" that will determine if you ruin the experience for everyone. Only you know the personalities on the boat and how best to get the message across for each one of those personalities. If you do it correctly the "crew" will improve and that will improve the experience for everyone involved. Do it poorly and you'll spend 47 days on a small dinghy Mr Bligh.

Sovereign797 · 26-01-2016, 05:09

Wow, thank you for all the replies, very helpful for sure. To be clear this is a joint venture, all of is have to work together for the duration of owning this boat.

Already I'm deciding the next boat, the one we intend to live aboard down the road, has to be owned by one person.

MarkJ · 26-01-2016, 05:24

I disagree! A tiddly cockpit is not what you are after. Yes it is much safer but its more unsafe to have resentful crew with Captain Bligh spinning the wheel!

The cockpit on some racing boats is a slithering sea of lines... one wonders how they win races and don't get their legs ripped off in winches...

But imho its better to go lightly and leave your perfectionism to learning the racing rules (which can be quite complicated)
As your crew get better they will realise constantly coiling ropes is better, faster and safer. However if you crack the whip they will wave to you from the bar while you sail by yourself.

Mark

Eumelia · 26-01-2016, 05:41

Foul lines are dangerous. It is the skipper's responsibility to see that the situation is corrected. If the skipper won't do his job then I sure don't want to be on board in any capacity.

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jackdale · 26-01-2016, 06:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozskipper

Re- halyards coiled away. In tougher weather and when using kites, its sensible to have any working halyards not coiled, but neatly flaked "neatly" into the cabin for an emergency drop. Send the bitter end down first and let the halyard coil on top of itself.

I prefer a sea coil with the lines folded /flaked. Going up and down a companionway with lines hanging down onto the cabin sole seems rather unsafe.

À chacun son goût.

**skipmac** · 26-01-2016, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackdale

I prefer a sea coil with the lines folded /flaked. Going up and down a companionway with lines hanging down onto the cabin sole seems rather unsafe.

À chacun son goût.

Same here. Plus leaves the cabin open for spray or worse.

Terra Nova · 26-01-2016, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovereign797

...should I address this or let it go...

If it's your boat, and your neatness compulsion compels you to boss your crew around, keep harping on them and see if they stay or revolt.

Sovereign797 · 26-01-2016, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

If it's your boat, and your neatness compulsion compels you to boss your crew around, keep harping on them and see if they stay or revolt.

I really don't think that's what I'm asking, and no one else here seems to think so either.

I don't want to be that guy. I think cleanliness is important to safety, but I'm new, like I said, so wtf do I know.

Randy · 26-01-2016, 10:24

It sounds like a leadership skills issue to me. If they all have a stake in the boat which it seems they do; talking them through different evolutions and avoiding the Captain Bligh syndrome ought to be more successful. Leave the perfectionist mentality off the boat.

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Macblaze · 26-01-2016, 10:37

Look at it another way. Presumably everyone is new and likely to be switching from position to position. It's safer, less frustrating and just plain makes sense to leave each position in a "standard" state i.e. lines coiled a certain way, gear left in a certain place etc.

You are all learning and removing the stress and floundering around so you can concentrate on the unexpected with confidence is pretty desirable. And trust another fairly new guy, there will be a lot of "unexpected"...

Of course I was raise that way. I am pretty sure I could walk into my mother's kitchen after being away for 30+ years and make pancakes in the dark... :-)