This is New York , man. Owning a J 44 is an aggressive act all by its
lonesome. But, you are right about the water balloons, probably a
better weapons choice considering the provocation.

Here's another one. I'm returning down the East River and motor
sailing out the Narrows, hugging the Brooklyn shore, bearing south
east. A Tartan, which has been following me down river, and slowly
gaining on me for hours, climbs up on my stern and with 50 yds of
water on my port and 1/2 a mile on my starboard, procedes to pass me
to port slooooowly, cut in front and bear off s/w to New Jersey. Maybe
its just a New York Thing?

BTW did you ever get that portaboat?



On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 10:02:33 -0300, "Capt. Mooron"
wrote:

What the heck ever happened to "friendly sailors"..... Look Marc... I would
have maneuvered to 8" off their rail and asked if they had any Grey Poupon!
Throw'em a frickin Bone and compliment their boat.... talk to them. Don
your Rasta Hat with the fake dreads and start suckin back on a bottle of
Overproof Rum while waving nicely and invite them to take a drink.

What you may have considered rude was probably not the intent of the other
vessel. I often play dodge boat with other sailboats and we have fun with
it.... but I take the time to hail and make acquaintance. You were dead
wrong in throwing the battery... and maybe that's why they didn't bother to
talk to you... they probably had a bad experience before with someone else
being rude. If you felt they were dissing you.. you could have shortened to
crossing margin by a few feet and walked up to the bow of your boat to point
out the fact it wasn't appreciated with words and not projectiles. Better
arm yourself with water balloons and use them next time.... a few launches
will send vessels scurrying for cover.

BTW: I was single handing one day about 3/4 way out of the harbour in
Yellowknife when I received a hail from a friend on his sailboat with a
warning the approaching cruiser was full of folks taking pictures. They had
pulled up beside his boat and snapped quite a few.. he wasn't pleased at the
intrusion. I replied I was ready for them. They approached and I made use of
the rail covers to strip naked. When they pulled along side and started to
take photos.. I stood up and waved at them wearing nothing but a big
smile.... the reaction was immediate and priceless.... screams and mothers
covering their daughter's eyes... the cruiser banked off and avoided the 3
sailboats ahead of me. We all conferred on VHF and everyone had a good
laugh.

Ease up man... it's supposed to be fun! Don't act like Bob at the marina
entry.

CM



"Marc" wrote in message
.. .
| July 6th 2003, sailing across Hempstead Harbor, course 077 Mag near
| Matinicock Point, on course for Oyster Bay. Wind West at 8 kn, port
| tacked, 3.8 kn boat speed. Am being over hauled by a J 44 coming out
| of Glen cove on a course of 60 Mag at about 4.5 kn. The J 44 pulls
| along side, about 10 ' off my starboard and sits there for a while as
| two of the 3 occupants discuss the fine points of my rig among
| themselves. They then cross my bow, leaving no more than 5' between
| us.
| Question: Should I have been greatful that they passed me to starboard
| and did not blank my wind, or was I justified in throwing a D-cell at
| the skippers head?
|
|
|