On Tue, 2 Nov 2010 14:02:57 -0400, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

(rules about what cruising is all about listed in order of importance)


1) Cruising is a planned, uneventful, private and successful voyage from one
venue to another that takes into consideration the vessel, the crew, the
weather, the water, the stuff upon which the water lies and the hard stuff
around the edges of the water.

That's not cruising, that's voyaging. Of course voyaging is part of
cruising, but only a part. Uneventful? No, that would be BOR-ING!
Some, if not most, voyages will be eventful for one reason or another,
and some events will be quite pleasant and others very unpleasant.
Planning will vary, from a number of legs with pretty definite goals
to exiting the pass and tossing a mental coin or noting wind direction
as to which way to turn. I've done it both ways. Of course one has to
be prepared.


2) Cruising under sail is doing the above without using the motor unless the
wind dies completely.

Agree. I once spent about 6 months and over 2,000 NM and burned 2.5
Gal of diesel (I checked).


3) When cruising you should remain as inconspicuous as possible at all
times. This includes while underway and entering and exiting ports of call.
This also includes anchoring. If anybody's head pops out of a nearby
companionway or hatch to see what all the commotion is about as you pass by
or anchor you are doing something wrong.

I think I agree. Not so much with that "inconspicuous as possible"
part, but yes with the "head pops" part.


4) The same can be said about when you are getting under way.

5) When you're anchored don't run a portable generator. Don't run your
diesel at all unless there is an emergency and unless you are downwind of
EVERYBODY (diesel fumes go a long way downwind and are sickening and
unhealthy to breathe). Put a strap on that noisy wind generator in an
anchorage. If you need terawatts of electricity then stop being an obnoxious
skinflint with your noisy Honda portables and cheapass wind generators
whooshing and whistling and grinding away. Purchase and install a
water-cooled, inboard diesel generator and use it instead because they are
acceptable quiet but never use it upwind of anybody else.

I've read so much about "noisy wind generators" in this group, but
have never run into anyone at an anchorage that had any objections.
Way back when we actually asked a bunch of other folks if our wind gen
disturbed them and got looks like we were crazy.

I can't agree at all with #5. If somebody just has to have total quiet
they can go find it someplace else. They certainly aren't going to
find it at any fairly crowded anchorage.


6) Idle speed only when using your dinghy. Better yet, get your fat ass in
shape and use a rowing dinghy.

Agreed. We always had a hard dinghy so we could row. Also an
inflatable with a small outboard for exploring and diving.


7) Leave the barking dogs and crying babies at home.

That's simply not possible for some folks. Excessive barking or crying
is something that can and should be taken care of.


8) Cruising should be done for its own sake. If you can't enjoy cruising
without conducting a running dialog via the internet or telephone the whole
time, you aren't cruising - you're showing off or trying to show off and
you're making a pain in the ass out of yourself.

Cruising should be done for whatever the heck reason the cruiser is
doing it. We always did a web page because most of our friends and
family wanted to vicariously cruise with us. Other than that, which
was a bother sometimes, our reasons were to simply see new places and
enjoy life. Always on sailboats, mainly because of cost, but also
because of the lure of sail. To be honest, if money wasn't a
consideration I think I'd really enjoy cruising aboard a 90-foot,
45-knot motor yacht!



9) Cruisers are self-reliant. Never expect to be rescued. Don't ever call
for a rescue unless you're gonna die without a rescue. And, if you're gonna
die, think twice about calling for a rescue as the fact that you're gonna
die probably means you deserve to die because you've been too stupid to
live.


Except for the first sentence, that is pure bull crap.Well, sentence
three is true in most cases. There are many reasons to require a
rescue that have nothing to do with being stupid. One that comes to
mind is what recently happened to a friend - a drunk in a jet boat
(NOT a jet ski, a 21-footer) took his bow off and his underway
sailboat sunk almost instantly. Freak weather. Whales. Losing a keel
(a Benateau fovorite). Yes, these things are extremly rare, but they
do happen. Other than such a catasrophe, yes the cruiser should be
self reliant and able to repair or jury rig most anything.
Unfortunately, a lot of folks are simply not capable of doing this to
the n'th degree. Not a put down - as Dirty Harry said, you gotta' know
your limitations.


10) Go cruising. Shut up about it. Don't bother anybody else when you're
cruising.

Nothing to do with it.

Wilbur Hubbard

Rick Morel