I emailed him back and asked him to call be
before I left for the Thanksgiving. He did call
me back and told me he decided NOT to sail
the ditch this year. I was pleased because
that is the advice I was going to give him. I
suggested he spend more time getting to
know the boat and perfecting his systems
learning all the harbors in Long Island Sound
and getting more experience in places like
Maine, Shelter Island, and the Vineyard. It
turns out he does have 90 and 100% jibs. I
have no clue why he was not using the 90.

To his credit, he dived on the boat himself
yesterday and cleared the fouled prop. Not
bad for a man nearly 60. You would not
catch me diving this time of year and I have
a 7mm wet suit!

My other friend is sailing to Bermuda on
Sunday--I'm a little concerned because I'm
not sure he is up for it. He does not know
how to use his SSB, but he does have a Sat
Phone. This will be his "final exam" as a
sailor. Another case of leaving to late, although
that will not matter once he crosses the Gulf
Stream--it will be shorts and T-shirt weather.

At some point you reach a level of experience
where you know what you are getting into and
still decide to go forward. It is a second coming
of age that most people never reach.

Bart

Well said Bart....

CM

"Bart Senior" wrote in message

At some point you reach a level of experience
where you know what you are getting into and
still decide to go forward. It is a second coming
of age that most people never reach.

Bart

"Bart Senior" wrote
At some point you reach a level of experience
where you know what you are getting into and
still decide to go forward. It is a second coming
of age that most people never reach.


Yep. It's a jumping-off point, a leap of faith (faith
tempered by knowledge, of course).

The key is to build up experience & skills consistently and
remain aware of your limits, and those of of your vessel &
crew. A lot of people have been sailing for years, but
really have not expanded their experience beyond anything a
relative novice would encounter. We call this the "20 years
of experience versus 1 year of experience repeated 20 times"
syndrome.


Capt.Mooron wrote:
Well said Bart....


Dang it, there you go agreeing again!

DSK

"DSK" wrote

The key is to build up experience & skills consistently and remain aware
of your limits, and those of of your vessel & crew. A lot of people have
been sailing for years, but really have not expanded their experience
beyond anything a relative novice would encounter. We call this the "20
years of experience versus 1 year of experience repeated 20 times"
syndrome.

I meet people like that all the time. I was speaking to a
group of skippers at a club meeting a few years ago.
My point was obvious, the best way to learn to sail is on
small boats. One fellow was very vocal about that not
being true. He'd only been sailing a few years, mostly on
one 32 boat. He had very limited experience and would not admit it.