What Scares You?
 

Well, with Halloween coming up this might be a good question. Some
folks really dread a squall and get worked up over them. I have a
friend who loves sailing, but he's truly scared of the water for no
reason he can put his finger on. My exgirlfriend gets spooked on board
at night, especially when anchored out alone.
For me...? Sharks. I really have to force it from my mind when cleaning
the bottom or just swimming with my wife. No matter how tiny the risk
(really tiny on the LIS), it still goes through my mind...that sudden
tug, the pop as my knee gives way and the rush of water as the 14
footer sweeps around for a second attack. Flailing, I manage to get a
few good strokes and I'm aware that my body is lighter...much lighter.
I get my forearms onto the 35s5 swim platform and sea water mixed with
blood washes over the white gelcoat. I manage to get halfway up and a
sudden pressure on my midsection takes my breath away. Instinctively I
sink my index finger into the shark's eye and he lets go. Deep in shock
I somehow manage to bring my head and torse onto the platform. Both of
my legs are gone above the knee. With each breath blood pumps slowly
from a dozen puncture wounds starting below my armpit. Glancing at my
hand I see part of the sharks eye smeared onto the top of the ladder.
At least they'll know I put up a fight. Thinking of all the movies
where dying actors said "I'm so cold." I smile and say it aloud, my
last words. I can't get into the cockpit, my arms useless lead now, but
I'm glad to die on board rather than in the water.

Happy Halloween!

Robert B
Beneteau 35s5
NY

What Scares You?
 

On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 17:18:37 -0700, Capt. Rob wrote:


but I'm glad to die
on board rather than in the water.

But on board, you are just a dead carcass. In the water, at least you
would be fish food, sustaining life. Besides, the story ends with the
body. Without the body, the mystery, the legend lives on.

What Scares You?
 

What scares me is totally incompetent sailors, the ones who pretend to know
the rules of the road, but actually don't. Power boaters I can deal with,
because I'm expecting the worst.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, with Halloween coming up this might be a good question. Some
folks really dread a squall and get worked up over them. I have a
friend who loves sailing, but he's truly scared of the water for no
reason he can put his finger on. My exgirlfriend gets spooked on board
at night, especially when anchored out alone.
For me...? Sharks. I really have to force it from my mind when cleaning
the bottom or just swimming with my wife. No matter how tiny the risk
(really tiny on the LIS), it still goes through my mind...that sudden
tug, the pop as my knee gives way and the rush of water as the 14
footer sweeps around for a second attack. Flailing, I manage to get a
few good strokes and I'm aware that my body is lighter...much lighter.
I get my forearms onto the 35s5 swim platform and sea water mixed with
blood washes over the white gelcoat. I manage to get halfway up and a
sudden pressure on my midsection takes my breath away. Instinctively I
sink my index finger into the shark's eye and he lets go. Deep in shock
I somehow manage to bring my head and torse onto the platform. Both of
my legs are gone above the knee. With each breath blood pumps slowly
from a dozen puncture wounds starting below my armpit. Glancing at my
hand I see part of the sharks eye smeared onto the top of the ladder.
At least they'll know I put up a fight. Thinking of all the movies
where dying actors said "I'm so cold." I smile and say it aloud, my
last words. I can't get into the cockpit, my arms useless lead now, but
I'm glad to die on board rather than in the water.

Happy Halloween!

Robert B
Beneteau 35s5
NY

What Scares You?
 

What scares me is going up the mast with
some guy I don't know and don't trust
tailing the halyard.

"Capt. JG" wrote
What scares me is totally incompetent sailors, the ones who pretend to
know
the rules of the road, but actually don't. Power boaters I can deal with,
because I'm expecting the worst.

What Scares You?
 

Yeah, that's pretty high on my list also.... no pun intended.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message ...
What scares me is going up the mast with
some guy I don't know and don't trust
tailing the halyard.

"Capt. JG" wrote
What scares me is totally incompetent sailors, the ones who pretend to
know
the rules of the road, but actually don't. Power boaters I can deal with,
because I'm expecting the worst.

What Scares You?
 

In that case, you are scaring yourself. If you had a lick of sense you
would not
go up a mast under those conditions.



Bart probably finds it hard to go up the mast with anyone at the
halyard who likes him. It's always gonna be a risk!

RB

What Scares You?
 

"Captain Joe Redcloud" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:21:19 -0400, "Bart Senior" .@. wrote:

What scares me is going up the mast with
some guy I don't know and don't trust
tailing the halyard.


In that case, you are scaring yourself. If you had a lick of sense you
would not
go up a mast under those conditions.

Ha ha ha... I just borrow the guy's digital camera for photos on the way up.
He won't drop you when you have his camera!

CM

What Scares You?
 

Capt. Rob wrote:

Well, with Halloween coming up this might be a good question.
For me, the worst would be to think that any of you losers owned
anything better that what I own.
I might have to admit that I'm not really a success at all and
Scuzzy might leave me.


Robert B
14 foot Sunfish with no sissy footwells
NY

Well, now we understand why you post the way that you do.

What Scares You?
 

Ha ha ha... I just borrow the guy's digital camera for photos on the
way up.
He won't drop you when you have his camera!

Scary good thinking!


RB

What Scares You?
 

"Peter Wiley" wrote in message
. ..

Climbing up a tree as high as you can get using an aluminium ladder,
because said tree sat back on the chainsaw bar, so you know there's not
a lot holding it up, to put a steel sling around the trunk as high up
as possible, so as to winch it over the direction it was *meant* to
fall. And it's windy. And there's a 415V 3 phase power line in the
direction it *wants* to fall. And last year you spent 2 weeks in
hospital being operated on numerous times after falling when a ladder
slipped.....

I've quit felling trees for the year. Especially near powerlines.

PDW

Management has mentioned on more than one occasion the possibility that we
might have to use fall arresting gear when climbing more than 6' high.

John Cairns


In article , Bart Senior .@. wrote:

What scares me is going up the mast with
some guy I don't know and don't trust
tailing the halyard.

"Capt. JG" wrote
What scares me is totally incompetent sailors, the ones who pretend to
know
the rules of the road, but actually don't. Power boaters I can deal
with,
because I'm expecting the worst.