Joe wrote:
Having worked beside and for 100's of skippers I can tell you when the
**** hit the fans having courage can save you and your crews life. And
a coward can get you all killed.




???

How about not being there in the first place?

Joe wrote:
How about not having a choice? The sea can change in a heartbeat Doug.
You should know that.


Actually, I don't know that.
The sea can surprise you, but with study & forethought, surprises can be
minimized... probably not ever eliminated totally.

Anything as big as an ocean cannot change "suddenly" but the factors
affecting it can bring about a change that may be overlooked, until it
becomes all too obvious.

A bad driver is often "surprised" by things in traffic that seem to pop
up in front of him. An observant, defensive driver sees things long before.


Any skipper who deliberately exposes his vessel & crew to unnecessary
danger because he is "brave" is a fool and a hazard.

Joe wrote:
Yes he is.

A coward may always opt out .....and say it is not necessary that it is
just to dangerious.

A person with courage will say it is necessary and do what is needed.
If he is an "outstanding" skipper he will get the job done and not one
will be hurt.


Like what?
if you are talking about warships, then part of that job is to perform
dangerous tasks. Otherwise, I have a hard time picturing a danger that
is "necessary."



Like what?

To refuse a load and get everyone fired, takes courage IMO.

Yep.


Out racing on a 62 pearson and the owner had a tape drive foresail on
one of those dangerious roll up furlers.

A tape delaminted and tangled the fore sail making it stuck half way
open. He bitched and wined and was ready to throw in the towel because
he thought it was just way to dangerious to shimmy up 15 feet with a
knife and cut the tape fouling things up. I shimmied up and cut it
without a problem after taking 10 min to convince him, we lost the race
btw.

Sounds like poor judgement coupled with poor maintenance. This is what I
mean by having the foresight to avoid danger... this whole situation
should have been avoided.

OTOH your action was risky but it enabled the vessel to carry on.
Probably one of those cases where it may seem "brave" but is actually
taking the less risky of available options.



One time while working for Mobil we were in route to a rig offshore
rig when another companies rig hit a poison gas pocket, no helos would
land, The SB boat in the area refused to move in but my skipper moved
in offloaded everyone. I thought it took alot of courage and we were
all scared. They say if you smell this gas your dead.

Had he asked the corporate office for permission the bean counters
would of freaked and shut it down, had he hesitated the guys on the rig
would of all died if the wind shifted.


IMHO that's another case of taking the less risky of available
options... while one is obligated to rescue others at sea, it is not an
obligation to place one's own life, vessel, or crew in peril. It sounds
like the men on the platform would probably have died if your boat had
not rescued them... for them, it was *far* less risky!

An outstanding skipper also has the knowledge & skills (and foresight)
to minimize dangers that may trap other skippers... and has confidence.
Some might call this bravery.

DSK