Wacky Wednesday comes early....
- Thread starter sailme88
- Start date
Cute. My wife, while able and willing to work the jib sheets (and knows where they are positioned 
) has declared herself as a "Princess" when it comes to sailing. It is understood that I maintain and operate the boat, she comes along for light wind cruises and camping, and that is OK with me.
) has declared herself as a "Princess" when it comes to sailing. It is understood that I maintain and operate the boat, she comes along for light wind cruises and camping, and that is OK with me. 
When I first started teaching Connie to sail, my FIRST internal rule was NO YELLING! One of our early trips was in February after a cold front. Clear skies, decent wind and the GICW runs east-west where we were sailing. I don't recall what caused the event, wind gust, no trees or low cut. But we did a crash tack because of it. I scrambled to the high side of our daysailer and was letting the jib run just off of luffing. Connie is still on the low side with twin deathgrips. One on the tiller and one on the mainsheet between the pulleys. And we are slowly going over! After a few "Baby, open your left hand and everything will be ok.", she finally let go of the mainsheet which ran out and the main luffed and the boat popped back upright. I was glad she finally let go because the Gulf waters are awfully cold in February.
I'm not going to tell the story of forgetting to put the hull plug in and finding out that the daysailer was horrible as a waterballasted sailboat.
I'm not going to tell the story of forgetting to put the hull plug in and finding out that the daysailer was horrible as a waterballasted sailboat.
Fortunately, I've never had that problem. All three of my wives and I were a team when sailing. We had an unspoken rule that it was my boat when sailing, but her home when not underway.
I had 17 college kids as crew on an 81 foot, three masted schooner I ran in Charleston, SC. I taught them all to sail that vessel in 3 days (9 trips) or they couldn't be crew. The 17 permanent crew was because of their college schedules and our need to have at least 2 of them aboard for every trip (per USCG regs). Never a harsh word was uttered.
I find it terribly uncomfortable to be within hearing distance of a couple like those in the comic, when they are docking. I get especially upset when the "captain" is yelling at his wife to jump, jump, hurry up and jump when the guy has the boat 10 feet off the dock. Then he blames his lady for his failed attempt at docking. Nobody should ever, ever have to jump: it is the responsibility of the helmsman to get the boat alongside the dock (in any conditions) so their crew can step onto the dock easily and safely, period!
I had 17 college kids as crew on an 81 foot, three masted schooner I ran in Charleston, SC. I taught them all to sail that vessel in 3 days (9 trips) or they couldn't be crew. The 17 permanent crew was because of their college schedules and our need to have at least 2 of them aboard for every trip (per USCG regs). Never a harsh word was uttered.
I find it terribly uncomfortable to be within hearing distance of a couple like those in the comic, when they are docking. I get especially upset when the "captain" is yelling at his wife to jump, jump, hurry up and jump when the guy has the boat 10 feet off the dock. Then he blames his lady for his failed attempt at docking. Nobody should ever, ever have to jump: it is the responsibility of the helmsman to get the boat alongside the dock (in any conditions) so their crew can step onto the dock easily and safely, period!
Except when racing with a crew, I never attempt to do anything I could not do single-handedly. This way, most of the time I can just tell my passengers to relax and enjoy the ride. Also, I find it easier to do most things myself than to explain how to do them.
Of course, this is possible on a smaller boat like my MacGregor 26S, but I have seen skilled skippers handle 30-40 ft boats single-handedly as well.
Of course, this is possible on a smaller boat like my MacGregor 26S, but I have seen skilled skippers handle 30-40 ft boats single-handedly as well.
There is no one I would rather sail with than my wife. She is competent, cool, and collected. She understands that if I raise my voice it is because the situation requires instant attention. She knows I am not yelling at her - I am just exited.
I feel the same way, and I often wonder how my wife puts up with my overall petulance and excitability. Good thing I (and she) have a sense of humor!