"Capt.Mooron" wrote

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote
You and I have talked about keeping crew busy as a good
technique to maintain control and exercise leadership. Why
don't you relate some of your techniques.

Yes... I believe we were discussing a situation in which you were
reviewing
your response to a crew member questioning your actions. I believe I
mentioned that deployment was crucial.... in retrospect I would have
ordered all the crew to stand down and handled the vessel myself. I do
not
tolerate insubordination and make certain that the seeds of mutiny are
never
given opportunity to sprout. :-)

In that particular case I would have had to muzzle my girlfriend
as it took three verbal reprimands to get her to shut up. She was
very new to sailing, did not understand the situation, read it
completely wrong, and made a serious error in judgement. BTW,
we have not sailed together since.

In any event I agree with your suggestion to keep people
busy doing something else as it deflects the whole situation
and re-establishes control better than explainations or harsh
words--which I don't like to use.

You mentioned busy work. There are plenty of things
on a boat that could be classified as busy work like coiling
line that keep someone occupied

Why don't you give us some examples from your experience.