How Many Have Sailed Offshore

[Hoofsmit]

Originally Posted by capttman

Dah yes.
I've got what I was looking for thanks everyone.

It seems to parallel apprenticeship in trades you used to have many of them learning from the experienced. Now well now ........ Full in the rest for yourselves

Yep.... Those were the days

I've trained 13 apprentices in my profession , all indentured for 4 yrs 3 months tied to the anvil, some were naturals some had to work more than others to get to the standard required.

A few , I could show them once and rarely had to correct them , some needed daily repeat direction until they got there, 3 others never did , even after 3 years, some just can't grasp it

There are lots of similarities , when shoeing , we have a few seconds to figure the reaction from the client, after 50 a week for a few months you soon pickup whether they are going to fight or flight.
Your reaction and demean a becomes second nature, that gut feeling is what keeps you safe and that I agree comes from learning from the experienced but it can't always be taught

Glad you posted, I've enjoyed the thread

[SV Windrush II]

Originally Posted by Palarran

This book is about 40 years out of date and pretty much worthless for modern day boats and sailing. I have it if you want it - free. Just pay for shipping, but it's not worth it.

True, its been so long that I have read my books I forgot how old they are hahaha, but then again the basics are still pretty much the same, we just use better gadgets

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by weavis

+1
Gulf of Mexico

...nice

[Rsmith3]

Thanks to everyone for the information. Any book suggestions? I currently have Sailing Fundamentals by Jobson.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Rsmith3

Thanks to everyone for the information. Any book suggestions? I currently have Sailing Fundamentals by Jobson.

Steve Dashew's "Cruising Encyclopedia". Very big book and was $75 about 30 years ago when I bought it.

[captain58sailin]

Yeah Jim, I did not mean it to be a smart ass answer, it is people have different abilities and some people "get it" quicker than others and without knowing the individual, one can't know how ready they are and advise them wisely. Judgment and common sense, sea sense are hard to quantify here, if I was working with the individual then I could size them up pretty quickly and give advice that is meaningful.

[s/v Beth]

I like the Annapolis book of Seamanship and the Pardey's books. Don't forget some basic books on Naviagation like " Basic Coastal Navigation" and then one or two journey books like "Maiden Voyage" by Aebi. (the last one is just for fun)

[StuM]

> I personally recommend having made at least five offshore trips before setting out on your first one.

With a couple of additions, that makes a lot of sense:

I personally recommend having made at least five offshore trips as crew before setting out on your first one as skipper.

[captain58sailin]

"Ten easy steps to celestial navigation"

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by StuM

> I personally recommend having made at least five offshore trips before setting out on your first one.

With a couple of additions, that makes a lot of sense:

I personally recommend having made at least five offshore trips as crew before setting out on your first one as skipper.

G'Day, Stu,

I was kinda joking there, but what you have added actually is good advice, and I appreciate your amendment! Hope that Duane pays attention...

Cheers,

Jim

[Capt Phil]

Spent a few trips across the Pacific as rail meat in the Vic Maui races and crewed coming home but learned a lot more working on commercial vessels 12 months out of the year in all kinds of weather and sea conditions in Alaska, Bering Sea and the PNW. In my experience, when you have to go to sea in February in a snow storm, force 8-9 and hugh seas, you learn pretty quick what is doable and what isn't and how to fix most anything!.
Some of my most enjoyable moments, though, were cruising my own boat downhill from the PNW to Mexico... those were the salad days! It's a lot easier out a few hundred miles where ther are no capes, rocks, tidal movement, bars or shore breaks.
Cheers, Phil

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by Rsmith3

Thanks to everyone for the information. Any book suggestions? I currently have Sailing Fundamentals by Jobson.

This is just my opinion, but the sailing part is the easy part. It's fixing what breaks that's hard. Nigel Calder has a good book on mechanicals. I started with Cornell's "World Cruising Routes" and it still is right on my nightstand 7 years later.

What I've been doing lately is watching YouTube video's while working out in the morning. I choose a subject, type it in, then watch the results. Some are not good but most are worth while. Like "rope splicing" or "fishing sailboat ocean" You can find tutorials on lots of stuff then test it out when you go sailing. If your really into books and are really going to read them, I've got quite a few and would send them for the cost of shipping.

This is one I watched this morning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVqUkCoFwgk

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Rsmith3

I have a question about the needed experience prior to heading offshore. For the experts, how much experience would you recommend an individual have prior to making an open ocean trip? I realize that a lot depends on the person, but what type of sailing experience would you recommend (coastal, overnight experience, book knowledge, and short trips)? Also, how long does it normally take to properly prepare your vessel for this type of trip? By the way, I’m completely new to this.

tough one, here's a few thoughts: (maybe these are goals!)
- when you have reefed your boat in various sea and wind conditions and at this point it's automatic.
- When you have sailed in various wind and sea conditions that were challenging. Forced to give a number I would say 35 knots wind (gusts higher) and 16 foot seas, or 12 ft very steep seas.
-when you can manage all aspects of your boat and navigation confidently.
- when your boat/sail setup is tweeked to where it will steer in those conditions while you are able to pee, navigate on a paper chart and eat.
- when every part of your boat is known thing, and you are aware of it's weak points.
-Murphy lives: any part of an older boat you have not taken apart and evaluated and rebuilt can cause a big problem. I'm waiting with baited breath to hear what occurred with Rebel Heart. I know he did a lot of work on his boat, yet, 900 miles from land apparently a supported rudder and engine failed. I guess you just roll the dice, buy a brand new boat, or rebuild everything as new. Anything short of that is a gamble, some are lucky , some are not. Everyone gambles.
I highly recommend getting on a racing crew; overnight racing will hone your skills, make you aware of how it is to function on little sleep, while cold and hungry.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by StuM

> I personally recommend having made at least five offshore trips before setting out on your first one.

With a couple of additions, that makes a lot of sense:

I personally recommend having made at least five offshore trips as crew before setting out on your first one as skipper.

I am reminded of a Monty Python sketch here....

the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once at the number three, being the third number to be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."

Dave


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[Palarran]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I am reminded of a Monty Python sketch here....

the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once at the number three, being the third number to be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."

Dave


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That's funny, Dave.