Bart Senior wrote:
Hurricane Charlie was a wet firecracker here in Connecticut
today. This year everything has gone either north or south of
us.

You sound disappointed. We didn't have any real excitement, other than a
long neglected boat nearly sinking in it's slip. But we went through a
fair amount of work preparing and cleaning up after.

The eye wall of (downgraded) Hurricane Charley was disintegrating as it
passed about 30 miles west of us. Peak gusts around 58 knots and enough
rain that it was hard to breath facing away from the wind. We had out
doubled dock lines and took down all canvas.

The marina was well prepared, except for a few stupid people who did not
take down their roller furled genoas... I climbed aboard two and added a
set of securing hitches, one with the owner standing there telling me
the whole time that he didn't need it, didn't want it, and I better come
back right after the storm and get it off of there. This is what a I
call a damn Yankee. Other people secured biminis & roller furlers for
people who either couldn't or wouldn't take them off themselves.

Why are people so friggin' dumb?

One of these bozos said to me, "The predicted wind is only 60 knots or
less, that's not going to be a problem." I told him that 1- less than 60
knots could shred his bimini, yank his genoa off it's furler and dismast
him, as well as causing major damage to boats around him (this last
being my own concern) and 2- there was a good possibility of tornados.
This guy also has dock lines that look like old ratty clothesline.. the
marina dockmaster had to loan him some real lines.

Is there a tactful way to tell these people that laziness is *not* a
good principle of seamanship?!?

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

These are people who probably don't know how to sail. If they
learned on small boats they would understand how powerful the
wind really is.

"DSK" wrote

The marina was well prepared, except for a few stupid people who did not
take down their roller furled genoas... I climbed aboard two and added a
set of securing hitches, one with the owner standing there telling me
the whole time that he didn't need it, didn't want it, and I better come
back right after the storm and get it off of there. This is what a I
call a damn Yankee. Other people secured biminis & roller furlers for
people who either couldn't or wouldn't take them off themselves.

One of these bozos said to me, "The predicted wind is only 60 knots or
less, that's not going to be a problem." I told him that 1- less than 60
knots could shred his bimini, yank his genoa off it's furler and dismast
him, as well as causing major damage to boats around him (this last
being my own concern) and 2- there was a good possibility of tornados.
This guy also has dock lines that look like old ratty clothesline.. the
marina dockmaster had to loan him some real lines.

Bart Senior wrote:
These are people who probably don't know how to sail. If they
learned on small boats they would understand how powerful the
wind really is.

I think that's a BIG issue. Most of these people don't know how to sail
a small boat (ie *really* sail) and don't want to learn; but I also
think there is the issue of not spending very much time on their boat
and not spending much money on their boat. OTOH I feel that if one
cannot afford to spend fifty or a hundred bucks on new dock lines, or
unwilling to, then one probably can't (or should not attempt to) afford
the boat.

But you could be too harsh in applying this kind of thinking... I spent
a few hours before the hurricane helping one of my wife's friends, who
is trying valiantly to keep her father's boat while on a very tight budget.

Then there's the guy with a lavishly equipped Colin Archer type of forty
feet or so, who sent his daughter and son-in-law who know nothing about
seamanship and care less, to secure the boat for the hurricane. Spent
some time helping them too, the son-in-law said that the old boy would
be better off watching Popeye cartoons. His boat was lavish but
dishevelled & disorganized, an accident waiting to happen (but for
different reasons).

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

"DSK" wrote
Bart Senior wrote:
These are people who probably don't know how to sail. If they
learned on small boats they would understand how powerful the
wind really is.

I think that's a BIG issue. Most of these people don't know how to sail
a small boat (ie *really* sail) and don't want to learn; but I also
think there is the issue of not spending very much time on their boat
and not spending much money on their boat. OTOH I feel that if one
cannot afford to spend fifty or a hundred bucks on new dock lines, or
unwilling to, then one probably can't (or should not attempt to) afford
the boat.

I need new dock lines. For me it is a matter of time to splice them up
with thimbles and shackles. Also, I haven't decided if I want to keep the
boat bow in or stern in. With a 46' boat in a 40' slip, this is a big
consideration. I built a finger dock, but I'll need to extend it a ways
to be useful. Chances are I'll make up the new dock lines and then
decide to change everything around--that's boating. And it's probably
good seamanship to be willing to make necessary changes no matter
what the cost.

Ainslie just one a Finn race. Awesome wind in Athens. 25 knots and
gorgeous. Oh crap, now they are showing badminton! Time to change
the channel.

Then there's the guy with a lavishly equipped Colin Archer type of forty
feet or so, who sent his daughter and son-in-law who know nothing about
seamanship and care less, to secure the boat for the hurricane. Spent
some time helping them too, the son-in-law said that the old boy would
be better off watching Popeye cartoons. His boat was lavish but
dishevelled & disorganized, an accident waiting to happen (but for
different reasons).

I feel like that sometimes. I have 50 things to do.

This is what a I
call a damn Yankee.

Give me a break....us damn Yankees secure our furling after every use....we
have storms with 70 mph straight line winds that shred gennies right off the
furler if they're not tied up....those are just plain dumb people...

--
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.726 / Virus Database: 481 - Release Date: 7/22/2004

katysails wrote:
Give me a break....us damn Yankees secure our furling after every use....we
have storms with 70 mph straight line winds that shred gennies right off the
furler if they're not tied up....those are just plain dumb people...

I would not say anyone is a damn Yankee unless they
1- move to the South
2- screw something up through their own laziness or stupidity
3- announce that it is all because us Southerners don't understand

or

3 (alternate) cuss out a Southerner who is trying to help (in my case
out of self interest, sure).

In other words, if you secure your roller furler properly then you can't
be a damn Yankee. Sorry

As for Yankees moving to the South, I don't like it but I don't blame
them. I have plenty of Yankee friends.... I prefer good Yankees to those
few southerners who are stupid & mean.

DSK

I don't think I've met a Southerner that was stupid and
mean. I have to admit as a group, they rate about the
best in the US.

"DSK" wrote

As for Yankees moving to the South, I don't like it but I don't blame
them. I have plenty of Yankee friends.... I prefer good Yankees to those
few southerners who are stupid & mean.

that's because so many Yankees have migrated South.
Scout

"Bart Senior" wrote in message
et...
I don't think I've met a Southerner that was stupid and
mean. I have to admit as a group, they rate about the
best in the US.

"DSK" wrote

As for Yankees moving to the South, I don't like it but I don't blame
them. I have plenty of Yankee friends.... I prefer good Yankees to those
few southerners who are stupid & mean.

Scout wrote:
that's because so many Yankees have migrated South.

It certainly explains the traffic problems. And why so many restaurants
have given up serving sweet tea.

DSK

Bart Senior wrote:
I don't think I've met a Southerner that was stupid and
mean. I have to admit as a group, they rate about the
best in the US.

Thanks. I am a Southerner and am proud of it. Cultural differences are
being erased in this country, partly because of mass media and partly
because of everybody moving around so much.

There certainly are mean-spirited and/or stupid and/or dishonest
Sotherners, just like among any other people... we try to weed them out
early though Some cultural anthropologists studying the matter have
identified a number of characteristics of Southerners, the main two are
generosity and sense of honor. This doesn't necessarily mean that
Southerners are more honest or have better families, just that we get
PO'd if you insult them!

Speaking of which, this guy is a hoot... genuine PhD and Southerner...
used to write a column for the local paper until it was bought up by a
Yankee franchise...
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~DRBR/REED/tears.html


DSK