Is This Really What An Inexperienced Skipper Gets?

[Franziska]

@Black Eagle

;-)

Ha, that's what everyone thinks about the Med until they have witnessed a proper "Bora" or "Mistral".
Weather changes in the Med can be very drastic and within minutes on what started as a relaxed sunny day.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by bmonteiro

Hello!

New skipper here, started sailing about 1 year ago in the UK (Solent). Completed the Day Skipper (RYA) and chartered as a skipper with an also inexperienced crew on two occasions. I tried to get as much miles as possible crewing for someone else but or it’s hard to find a boat that suits my weekend schedule (although I did find and clocked some good mileage) or I don’t seem to be able to get much practice on maneuvering the boat anyway as for obvious reasons that’s a job that the boat owner tends to do. Nevertheless, I was happy how I managed my so far two charter adventures, I certainly didn’t hide the fact that I lack of experience but I was careful enough and sailed and moored safely. I am now on my last preparations for our week long holiday sailing in Croatia and been reading about the differences on mooring, etc. In the process I am finding out that there are a lot of people in the boating community that seem very intolerant towards inexperienced skippers/sailors with absolute negative comments being shared online for little reason. Is this really what we are facing? Do people forget how they started? How can a jump from not sailing to be an inexperienced sailor be done? What’s exactly going on?

I still believe that most of you out there are willing to support and incentive others like me but I have to admit that I'm a bit shocked with some things that I have been reading.

All the best!
B.Monteiro

That's life mate.

The spectrum of personality types for the human race spans from curmudgeons at one end to the unduly optimistic and cheerful at the other and the cruising community tends to reflect the general population.

You appear to be going about becoming a useful sea person in a methodical and prudent manner, ignore the beggars and forge on mate.

[lo2jones]

Life time sailing instructor and classroom teacher here. I’m retired from both jobs now, but still do instructional videos. I’m not interested in becoming a YouTube sensation. Instructing/teaching has been a calling. Let me know what you might need to learn...I have made by request videos for the Beneteau owners groups. I can find one or make a new one.
For what it’s worth, a bigger problem is the folks who don’t bother to learn before they sail. I agree with all the supportive comments. Keep at it!

[skyrise]

I have been sailing for 5 years and know how you feel.

You only have to look at the intolerant comments that go with groundings and yet if you talk to people you find out that pretty much everyone has grounded at least a few times.. (myself included). But there are also a lot of nice people who are more than happy to help (talk your ear off).

Just keep doing what you are doing and you will learn a lot as you go. I learn something new pretty much every time I go out.

Also remember to be nice to those who are just starting out as you progress

[stewie]

Have to agree with you. It is all down to experience. And we have all learned that. Good luck with your sailing.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by bmonteiro

Hello!

New skipper here, started sailing about 1 year ago in the UK (Solent). Completed the Day Skipper (RYA) and chartered as a skipper with an also inexperienced crew on two occasions. I tried to get as much miles as possible crewing for someone else but or it’s hard to find a boat that suits my weekend schedule (although I did find and clocked some good mileage) or I don’t seem to be able to get much practice on maneuvering the boat anyway as for obvious reasons that’s a job that the boat owner tends to do. Nevertheless, I was happy how I managed my so far two charter adventures, I certainly didn’t hide the fact that I lack of experience but I was careful enough and sailed and moored safely. I am now on my last preparations for our week long holiday sailing in Croatia and been reading about the differences on mooring, etc. In the process I am finding out that there are a lot of people in the boating community that seem very intolerant towards inexperienced skippers/sailors with absolute negative comments being shared online for little reason. Is this really what we are facing? Do people forget how they started? How can a jump from not sailing to be an inexperienced sailor be done? What’s exactly going on?

I still believe that most of you out there are willing to support and incentive others like me but I have to admit that I'm a bit shocked with some things that I have been reading.

All the best!
B.Monteiro

Don’t believe everything you read. Our big beef is with careless or arrogant skippers. We were rammed by a boat in Bonaire this season. He hoisted the main, sheeted it in, dropped the mooring and took off in 20 knots without the engine and solo. He then tried to skip off to Columbia without leaving any insurance or contact info. We were not aboard but our boat neighbors forced him to yield his information.

This is not isolated. The hubris displayed by some is impressive.

We have encountered boats at sea without lights or AIS.

If you want experience I suggest you find a suitable boat and crew to race with. Intense learning opportunity and you will likely push the boat harder than you would ever do cruising. A great way to see what can go wrong. I started sailing at about ten, raced many boats for 45 years before buying our retirement vessel.

[stewie]

The most amazing thing about this topic is the amount of support and advice given from true yachtsmen. Makes me very proud to be associated with all of you.

[Bill_Giles]

That is a bit sad. As an experienced skipper I am glad to get all the help I can when tying up. I also am happy to return the favour. The “superior” skippers you mention are a worthless bunch of sea dregs and best ignored.

[rvich]

There is a big difference between being inexperienced and being inconsiderate. You can gain experience.

[Steelhands]

Every single time my wife says "Great job docking dear, as usual", I cringe because I know it's no sure thing, anytime. I don't have to think back too far to remember those times I had my butt handed to me, sometimes on pretty calm days. Just one "duh" moment after another.

When the internet pours beer into my bailing bucket I keep it. When it pours piss , I move the bucket. It's just bits and bites coming down a copper wire.

[MarkJ68]

Many in the sailing community view themselves as having the secret to the universe because they’ve been sailing for decades. The truth is, it’s not rocket science. It’s preparation and practice. I had never sailed in my life when I crewed a couple times on other boats and decided to buy my own. I bought a 30’ Catalina and set sail. I’ve made mistakes and done a few dumb things that embarrass me, but I’ve learned and life goes on. I’ve also seen skippers with decades of sailing under their belts make silly mistakes. It happens. The key for me is not putting myself into situations where my inexperience can cause serious harm. Other than that, I’ll press forward and maybe one day I’ll be one of those old salts complaining about rookie sailors. Never get discouraged by naysayers.

[Dauntlessny]

Much of what has already been said is spot on.
6 years ago, I was where you ate now.
I learned by doing and I didn't get to dock any boat until I docked mine own. I have the scapes and dings to prove it.

There is no one right way to do anything, in spite of the many know it alls who say otherwise.

So, take your time and enjoy the experience.

[s/v Jedi]

If you come on this forum or elsewhere and say something like "listen I'm new to sailing and would like to know how to do x or y" and someone blasts you in a negative way without offering the info you ask for, then just report that to the moderators. Others like me will act as well when we find that.

There's also newbies who don't come here to learn but to troll or who are so confused that they think they are experts and those can received a harsh welcome on fora although this one is rather mild I think. You may have seen some of that without realizing it is a whole different situation

[secrabtree]

David - I believe that most of the intolerance you note is on the web and doesn't appear very often on the water. I also believe that the intolerant people are also not on the water. I've never NEVER come accross a cruising skipper that was intolerant of a newby as long as the newby wasn't a "know it all". Cruisers know that there is always a possibility that they may encounter that newby again when he is no longer a newby. Make friends, you'll someday need them.

[petermjdavies]

Sorry to hear that you haven't got all the positive feedback you need.

I do suggest that you join a club with the idea of getting to sail with a bunch of different people. Now you will find a fair number of boat owners who are pretty twitchy with others at the helm. Despite the fact that my wife is a yachtmaster and I am a coastal skipper and we have thousands of miles under our belt in the Solent and South Coast, we did go out with one skipper who basically did everything and never let anyone near the helm. Essentially we were ballast. We shrugged it off because we otherwise had a good rally weekend.

There are plenty of clubs along the Hamble that welcome members without boats. Hamble River has dingies and does a fair bit of racing in keelboats. Royal Southern has the nicest facilities and a broad membership. RAFYC emphasizes its friendliness and is a drinking and rallying club. And there are more as well.

If one of your goals is to practice boat handling, say so nicely to the skipper and see what they say. You might be surprised.