Are you willing to share an unflatering story...
- Thread starter rgranger
- Start date
He did say FIRST wife....Where's the part about your wife getting back on board?
Oh, I see, she's still out there swimming?
Another story.
While living in Bradenton, we trailered down to Naples with my best friend and his new wife. We had our Hobie 18 and my friend, Matt, had his Hobie 16. We sailed out to Marco Island and camped on the beach. Matt, being a sailboat speed freak, really wanted to try out my 18. I woke up early, usually I'm the first to get up, but Matt beat me this morning. I unzipped the tent flap to find Matt pushing Solea into the water getting ready to sail. I told him to wait up and I'd go with him. I let him sail and just hung out on one of the wings. There wasn't a lot of wind but some good sized rollers were coming in. Finally, the wind began to pick up as the Sun got higher. I stood near the transom casually hanging on while we talked. A particularly large wave lifted us up and dropped Solea into the trough. I went up and came down right in the water. The boat just wasn't under me when I came down. I was not quick enough to grab my glasses when I found myself sinking in the Gulf waters. Matt nearly couldn't bring her around to pick me up, he was laughing so hard.
-Will (Dragonfly)
While living in Bradenton, we trailered down to Naples with my best friend and his new wife. We had our Hobie 18 and my friend, Matt, had his Hobie 16. We sailed out to Marco Island and camped on the beach. Matt, being a sailboat speed freak, really wanted to try out my 18. I woke up early, usually I'm the first to get up, but Matt beat me this morning. I unzipped the tent flap to find Matt pushing Solea into the water getting ready to sail. I told him to wait up and I'd go with him. I let him sail and just hung out on one of the wings. There wasn't a lot of wind but some good sized rollers were coming in. Finally, the wind began to pick up as the Sun got higher. I stood near the transom casually hanging on while we talked. A particularly large wave lifted us up and dropped Solea into the trough. I went up and came down right in the water. The boat just wasn't under me when I came down. I was not quick enough to grab my glasses when I found myself sinking in the Gulf waters. Matt nearly couldn't bring her around to pick me up, he was laughing so hard.
-Will (Dragonfly)
Not sailing but.... I spent a day in a pond practicing flipping my kayak. There is a dam on the pond and I had paddled over to the dam and placed my glasses on the edge of the dam. Spent a few hours trying to flip my kayak (right it) and when I was exhausted I paddled over to pick up my glasses. As I was paddling back, I tried that maneuver (I'm sure there is a name for it) where you take your paddle and tip it into the water hard right off of the bow to execute a sharp turn. Instead of turning I flipped the kayak and lost my glasses. Well the pond is not deep so I went diving. Spent hours looking for those glasses but never did find them.
Here is a pic of my hobie 16
Here is a pic of my hobie 16
Attachments
Better make sure your tetanus vaccine is current if you ever do.
"Holy rusty nails Batman!"
Hey,
I few years ago I decided to wash my boat. I move it from the mooring to the dock and give it a good scrub. A nice wind came up so I figured I deserved a quick sail. Since the boat was head to wind I decided to sail off the dock. I release the main sheet and raise the main. I figure I will look like a stud as I remove the stern line, ease the bow line, let the wind blow the bow off, step aboard, pull in the main sheet and sail away.
So I take off the bow line and the bow starts to fall off. But then the boat started move forward and sail away. I tried pulling the bow line but the wind was overpowering me. Oh no, my boat is going to sail away without me! I ran back to the stern but it was already a few feet off of the dock. I decide to jump for it. I slipped a little but I was able to scamper aboard and sail away.
Instead of looking like a stud I looked like a fool.
Once in the cockpit I saw that the main sheet had gotten kinked. When the wind blow the bow off the main powered up instead of luffing and away the boat went.
Barry
I few years ago I decided to wash my boat. I move it from the mooring to the dock and give it a good scrub. A nice wind came up so I figured I deserved a quick sail. Since the boat was head to wind I decided to sail off the dock. I release the main sheet and raise the main. I figure I will look like a stud as I remove the stern line, ease the bow line, let the wind blow the bow off, step aboard, pull in the main sheet and sail away.
So I take off the bow line and the bow starts to fall off. But then the boat started move forward and sail away. I tried pulling the bow line but the wind was overpowering me. Oh no, my boat is going to sail away without me! I ran back to the stern but it was already a few feet off of the dock. I decide to jump for it. I slipped a little but I was able to scamper aboard and sail away.
Instead of looking like a stud I looked like a fool.
Once in the cockpit I saw that the main sheet had gotten kinked. When the wind blow the bow off the main powered up instead of luffing and away the boat went.
Barry
Who is that guy hold you back? He trying to serve papers on you, a creditor? I hope you got away.
Demostrating for a girl, back in high school, I rolled my kayak and forgot I had glasses on. It took a minute to realize it wasn't the water in my eyes that was making things fuzzy.
-Will (Dragonfly)
Demostrating for a girl, back in high school, I rolled my kayak and forgot I had glasses on. It took a minute to realize it wasn't the water in my eyes that was making things fuzzy.
-Will (Dragonfly)
Back in my Navy days, we stopped off at Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean for a refit.
Special Services had several little sunfish sailboats for rent but you had to stay inside the atoll where the water was calmer.
Knowing that I had sailboat experience, an adventurous buddy of mine wanted me to take him out for the afternoon.
Being adventurous myself, we headed directly for the closest opening in the atoll where we expected the waves would be bigger. Occasionally, when cresting a big wave a gust would hit at the same time and the little boat instantly heeled significantly. Every time this combination occurred my buddy ended up in the water. After about the third time of laughing it off, I poked at him: how come you can't keep your balance like I can? Later, in retelling the story numerous times he finally claimed that I was pushing him off. What??? I would never do that. Eventually I came to realize that when the boat heeled quickly, I would flail my arms to maintain my balance. Whatever I could use to push outwards to keep me in the boat was fair game. I really didn't realize at the time that my buddy sitting up on the rail nest to me was a solid enough object to push against.
Not very proud of myself for introducing sailing to a buddy of mine in this way but it made for great stories the rest of the patrol.
Special Services had several little sunfish sailboats for rent but you had to stay inside the atoll where the water was calmer.
Knowing that I had sailboat experience, an adventurous buddy of mine wanted me to take him out for the afternoon.
Being adventurous myself, we headed directly for the closest opening in the atoll where we expected the waves would be bigger. Occasionally, when cresting a big wave a gust would hit at the same time and the little boat instantly heeled significantly. Every time this combination occurred my buddy ended up in the water. After about the third time of laughing it off, I poked at him: how come you can't keep your balance like I can? Later, in retelling the story numerous times he finally claimed that I was pushing him off. What??? I would never do that. Eventually I came to realize that when the boat heeled quickly, I would flail my arms to maintain my balance. Whatever I could use to push outwards to keep me in the boat was fair game. I really didn't realize at the time that my buddy sitting up on the rail nest to me was a solid enough object to push against.
Not very proud of myself for introducing sailing to a buddy of mine in this way but it made for great stories the rest of the patrol.
There are so many stories to choose from: Most embarrassing is when I invited a guy to go sailing with me on the Bandit 15. I had been chatting up sailing with him and he had sailed some. He was a Navy Vet and I believe he was in Newport for a while. Anyway we drive to the storage place and pick up the boat, take it to Hecksher State Park, launch it, rig it and get ready to go out. This was routine for me. As everyone can guess the sail was a disaster. I could not start the outboard. There was a sea breeze trying to blow the boat back on shore and despite vigorous paddling we ended up on the rocks. Freed from that we still couldn't sail out of the launch basin into Great South Bay. So we reached around for a while and came back in. We de-rigged the boat, put it on the trailer and took it back to the storage place. I was embarrassed because it was pretty clear that he couldn't believe I would go to all this trouble just for that pathetic sail. There was no point in telling him about the great sails I had there. I would have looked delusional in addition to incompetent. The lesson learned was to never invite someone to go sailing because the expectations of your guest will not be met.
Anyone ever gone aground twice in one day?
First, we pulled up to the pump-out knowing the water was thin and ebbing but it "shouldn't take long". It didn't go so swiftly and much to the dismay of others waiting, we spent the next 6hours blocking the dock.
Subsequently, leaving a narrow channel, we veered too far to starboard to avoid another boat and spent the rest of the day stuck awaiting the next tide.
First, we pulled up to the pump-out knowing the water was thin and ebbing but it "shouldn't take long". It didn't go so swiftly and much to the dismay of others waiting, we spent the next 6hours blocking the dock.
Subsequently, leaving a narrow channel, we veered too far to starboard to avoid another boat and spent the rest of the day stuck awaiting the next tide.
I dont have nearly the boating/sailing experience as most on here, therfore not nearly the chances to look like an idiot. When it comes to sailing, I had one, not so great docking experience where I literally just ended up jumping overboard and wading around in water over my waist to try to push the boat into alignment with the trailer so I could pull it out of the water. I felt kinda stupid, but there really werent that many people around so it wasnt that bad. Plus we had been swimming off the boat a couple hours earlier. So it wasnt a big deal.
The worst time was our last time out. We broke a part on the rudder shaft and lost control of the boat. We went spinning for a few tight, fast circles. It took me 45 minutes to get the boat patched back together good enough to attempt to sail back to the pier head. During the 45 minutes interim we had drifted several miles down the shore. Everyone on the boat wasnt feeling well, and two of them were puking over the side. Anyway, I definitely didnt have a feeling of having an epic sail. Its not like a wanted to go out there, break a part on the boat, and make everybody sick. But thats what happened and it didnt feel good.
The worst time was our last time out. We broke a part on the rudder shaft and lost control of the boat. We went spinning for a few tight, fast circles. It took me 45 minutes to get the boat patched back together good enough to attempt to sail back to the pier head. During the 45 minutes interim we had drifted several miles down the shore. Everyone on the boat wasnt feeling well, and two of them were puking over the side. Anyway, I definitely didnt have a feeling of having an epic sail. Its not like a wanted to go out there, break a part on the boat, and make everybody sick. But thats what happened and it didnt feel good.
Ok, I decided to join the party.
So we are sailing our Pearson 30 in the Newport YC Wednesday night CC back in the early 80's. Two incidents come to mind:
1. One time in a breeze we are close hauled with a number of boats fairly close aboard, all going to windward. My wife (fiance at the time) is tailing the sheet winch. We have 4 crew and yours truly on the helm, tiller in fact. So the situation requires us to tack smartly, so I start the chant ".....READY ABBBBOOOUUUT",.........."HELMS A'LEEEEE..." as I put the helm down I hear this blood curdling scream from the leeward winch and the jib is backing....so I scream "..let go the sheet.."....and someone screams "..her thumb is caught in the sheet...".....so I scream "...cut it..." ..someone screams ..." cut the sheet...?" ...I scream, "...NO...CUT THE FINGER...WE GOTTA TACK....." This was before the day of self tailing winches ...apparently they had the sheet on a cleat and she somehow got her finger wrapped up in it. Well, needless to say the punishment I received was measured in weeks of celibacy. Apparently this did not reflect well on my image.
2. Same venue, another night with the P-30, not long after the "..cut the finger off" episode. We are once again close hauled in light air headed for the Newport Bridge, where our windward mark happened to be. My fiance had been promoted to spinnaker packer (as a concession in negotiating a cease fire after the finger incident) and her job was to go below, receive the chute from the dowsers, and repack for the next launch. When not engaged in packing, her other job was to maintain a watch under foot of the genny for boats, lobster pots, and other assorted obstacles (in all fairness, the point has been debated whether she was formally assigned that role). So we're all up on the high side except my fiance (let's call her Sandy), who is at her station in the companionway, and we're talking tactics, when to tack next, where we're going for dinner after the race, and assorted important crew talk. All of a sudden we hear this very loud "...CLLLAAAANNNNNGGGGG, like a church bell close aboard, and the boat almost tacks.....and as we're sitting there on the high side an enormous red nun slides down our leeward side, banging and scraping as it goes by. Sandy looks up from the companionway and says very sweetly "....rules say observe all government marks....we need to do a 720 don't we..? .." Argh. It is believed by some that there was the possibility of revenge afoot here, thinking back to the "cut the finger" incident. However, once again I was place in a very unflattering light.
So we are sailing our Pearson 30 in the Newport YC Wednesday night CC back in the early 80's. Two incidents come to mind:
1. One time in a breeze we are close hauled with a number of boats fairly close aboard, all going to windward. My wife (fiance at the time) is tailing the sheet winch. We have 4 crew and yours truly on the helm, tiller in fact. So the situation requires us to tack smartly, so I start the chant ".....READY ABBBBOOOUUUT",.........."HELMS A'LEEEEE..." as I put the helm down I hear this blood curdling scream from the leeward winch and the jib is backing....so I scream "..let go the sheet.."....and someone screams "..her thumb is caught in the sheet...".....so I scream "...cut it..." ..someone screams ..." cut the sheet...?" ...I scream, "...NO...CUT THE FINGER...WE GOTTA TACK....." This was before the day of self tailing winches ...apparently they had the sheet on a cleat and she somehow got her finger wrapped up in it. Well, needless to say the punishment I received was measured in weeks of celibacy. Apparently this did not reflect well on my image.
2. Same venue, another night with the P-30, not long after the "..cut the finger off" episode. We are once again close hauled in light air headed for the Newport Bridge, where our windward mark happened to be. My fiance had been promoted to spinnaker packer (as a concession in negotiating a cease fire after the finger incident) and her job was to go below, receive the chute from the dowsers, and repack for the next launch. When not engaged in packing, her other job was to maintain a watch under foot of the genny for boats, lobster pots, and other assorted obstacles (in all fairness, the point has been debated whether she was formally assigned that role). So we're all up on the high side except my fiance (let's call her Sandy), who is at her station in the companionway, and we're talking tactics, when to tack next, where we're going for dinner after the race, and assorted important crew talk. All of a sudden we hear this very loud "...CLLLAAAANNNNNGGGGG, like a church bell close aboard, and the boat almost tacks.....and as we're sitting there on the high side an enormous red nun slides down our leeward side, banging and scraping as it goes by. Sandy looks up from the companionway and says very sweetly "....rules say observe all government marks....we need to do a 720 don't we..? .." Argh. It is believed by some that there was the possibility of revenge afoot here, thinking back to the "cut the finger" incident. However, once again I was place in a very unflattering light.
being almost a year into sailboat ownership I do not have the "experience" to pull on of the rest of you, but ill give it a go.
I was out sailing solo on our catalina 27. The wind was supposed to be 11-15 all day... instead I spent hours drifting in zero to 1 kt
So I figured it would be good practice (having never done it before at all) to use the opportunity to try putting a reef in the main. Everything went well. then the wind picked up to 8, so I shook out the Reef and sailed.
I sailed up the lake and decided to turn around as I had been out all day and it was now after 1700. So the moment I turn to head back to the slip the wind gust to over 20... wait that is not a gust! the wind was constant at 20-25 with gust above 30
Now it is to windy for me (solo) to reef the main, so I ease the sheet out to spill wind off the main and furl the 150 genoa in a LOT.
I had a fun sail back to the marina, got the sails down and was motoring into the slip. When I got to my dock some people asked if I wanted help. I yelled back over the wind "Sure! Thank you." they asked what slip I was in, so I yelled "357!!"
the wind was a cross wind during docking, and the docking actually went really smoothly considering my slip is slip #367 and the helpers had run down to 357. They got there as I was jumping off and fighting the wind to get her tied in.
the best part was one of the helpers kept asking if I was sure I was in the right slip.
Not to dangerous but still pretty embarrassing.
I was out sailing solo on our catalina 27. The wind was supposed to be 11-15 all day... instead I spent hours drifting in zero to 1 kt
So I figured it would be good practice (having never done it before at all) to use the opportunity to try putting a reef in the main. Everything went well. then the wind picked up to 8, so I shook out the Reef and sailed.
I sailed up the lake and decided to turn around as I had been out all day and it was now after 1700. So the moment I turn to head back to the slip the wind gust to over 20... wait that is not a gust! the wind was constant at 20-25 with gust above 30
Now it is to windy for me (solo) to reef the main, so I ease the sheet out to spill wind off the main and furl the 150 genoa in a LOT.
I had a fun sail back to the marina, got the sails down and was motoring into the slip. When I got to my dock some people asked if I wanted help. I yelled back over the wind "Sure! Thank you." they asked what slip I was in, so I yelled "357!!"
the wind was a cross wind during docking, and the docking actually went really smoothly considering my slip is slip #367 and the helpers had run down to 357. They got there as I was jumping off and fighting the wind to get her tied in.
the best part was one of the helpers kept asking if I was sure I was in the right slip.
Not to dangerous but still pretty embarrassing.
That is a great technique to get people AWAY from your dock to let you pull in without hindrance.
As you mature, you'll find that many, if not most, bad docking stories involve other people on the dock trying to help and failing miserably, making your docking a nightmare. Better to learn how to do it yourself. If you have cleats on your dock, try this:
Single Handing 101.2 HOPPING OFF THE BOAT IS UNNECESSARY
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.msg33766.html#msg33766
Oh that reminds me of the time when the water level was so low at my home sailing lake, that I drove the tires of the trailer off of the ramp. So imagine. My tires slide off the back of the ramp... I did not know this yet so I load the boat over the trailer, attache the bow eye and start to pull out. When the tires meet the ledge, the truck, trailer and all come to a very sudden stop. Tires of the truck spinning spinning in the slime.... I cannot get the trailer to move forward at all! So I'm staring at this situation thinking that I might be able to hold my breath while I dive and get a jack under the trailer, but I only have one jack and that wont work. I'm stumped. An old-timer at the marine walks over and says to me... "hey buddy, loop a line to your winch, dive under the boat and bring the line under the trailer and back up to your other winch. Then just hoist the trailer up under your floating boat and pull forward.
I'm thinking BRILLIANT! And it was. Easy-peasy.
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Sandy reminded me that her finger was caught in the turning/fairlead block upstream of the winch. Ouch!!!!