"Arwen Lune" wrote in message
...
Well I promised you a post about sailing didn't I...

First off, I'm a complete novice. Been on a few day sails and loved
it, but we're not really near enough to water to do it often and
sailing just isn't in the family.

Thing is...

I'm contemplating a sailing trip for the summer, a week sailing on
a squarerigger with the Tall Ships Youth Trust. However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.

I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

I'm fully functioning again in daily life; one of the few things
that give me trouble are holding something small (like needles) for
a length of time (I squeeze too hard, apparently) and things like
holding a heavy pan in one hand while drying it off with the other.

I'd love to go sailing but it is very expensive for me (am not a
British native so cannot get sponsoring) and if I'm going to spend
that money, I'd like to be reasonably confident about being able to
handle the work!

Anyone have advice, tips, experiences, etc? Would be much
appreciated.

My slightly arthritic hands sometime ache after hauling a lot on ropes, as
the strain pushes the fingers sideways and compresses the joints in a way
they are not really designed for. The answer is, wherever possible, get
other people to do it for you, and use winches where you can. Never make it
easier by wrapping the rope around your hand or arm to get a better grip
though, as if the rope pulls back your hand may get trapped leading to a
serious injury. Also, if it means you have a weak grip, tell the skipper so
you can be excused climbing the rigging, or given extra safety provision.
On a properly skippered tall ship, you'll have lots of help and if you talk
to the skipper about it when you arrive it will be factored in to the
crewing arrangements, so I shouldn't let it worry you too much, and go and
enjoy yourself.