Exactly. And alcohol has useful calories, remember that!


Capt.Mooron wrote:
Although I surprisingly do not encourage the use of alcohol in very rough
conditions... I have been known to take a swig of "Liquid Courage" during
exceptioanally difficult situations.


Alcohol is also a short term stimulant, but a depressant if
you track it's effects for more than about 10 minutes. If
you have both watches on deck, and a difficult or strenuous
maneuver to tackle, issue a tot of grog to the ones who will
be going off watch as soon as they're done... they'll leap
into the fray with great energy, then go & sleep soundly below.

The trick is to do this without the guys staying on deck get
mad because they're not getting their share. If you have
stocked awful tasting booze and can pass them mugs of flat
"Jolt" soda without them wising up, you're golden!


I'd hesitate to call the vessel "ill-prepared" not knowing the man or his
boat or his habits with it, but it does sound like he wasn't ready for
this trip in this kind of weather.


The story speaks for itself Doug.... he was cold and wet... no reason for
either condition.


Wet can be hard to avoid... cold can be inevitable in the
short term, but the boat *must* have provision to recover
from both or the voyage will be short & miserable.

As I've always said, once you're out of dry towels, the
cruise is over.



About proper trim, maybe so... one reason why he may have had trouble
keeping the boat on course is from unbalanced sail plan. A staysail eould
have been a better choice than the tip of a rolled-up genoa.


Without a doubt a hank on sail is a much better choice to maintain
sailshape.


Nah, a luff foil.



... Double checking all gear prior to departure is extremely important.


Agreed, and that doesn't cost anything.

Damn it, this is no way to run a newsgroup, agreeing all the time. WTF is
wrong with you? Go ahead, say it, the man had a fin keeler!


Even a fin keeler should have aced that situation had the crew been dry,
warm and suficently nourished to maintain the pace required by the vessel.

If you live through it and learn from it.. it's adventure.


What is it if you live thru it and don't learn?


That's called a Bobsprit....


No, that's if you live thru it and others wish you hadn't.

DSK