Rosalie B. wrote:
"JG" wrote:


"Frank" wrote in message
groups.com...

Why do you feel that your 14-year-old is unqualified? Maybe we have
different definitions of "qualified to stand watch" but I'd rely on my
12-year-old daughter under these circumstances. Maybe this is the
universe giving him an opportunity to show you he's more responsible
than you think? I know I tend to underestimate my kids 'cause I think
of them as having been newborns about 5 minutes ago. They're often
capable of so much more than I give them credit for.


There are two parts to whether someone is qualified to stand watch

a) Are they physically capable of sailing the boat - i.e. do they know
how to sail?

b) Do they have the judgment and experience to do so?

It is easy enough to give a 14 year old the knowledge to sail the
boat. I can sail our boat by myself so I can take a watch for Bob.
There are some things I can't do very well - I'm not strong enough to
manage the main. But I can tack and trim the sails and steer a course

A person taking a watch should know what the course is, and whether
boats that are seen are on a collision course and what to do if they
are.

If you are sailing with just the 2 of you, the second issue can be
addressed by telling him to wake you if he has a question about the
course or the weather or another ship. In my case, if the wind picks
up and I need to furl the main, I have to wake Bob up. That's one of
the reasons we do not go offshore for long passages. In your case,
you might sleep in the cockpit next to your son.


He should know how to operate the VHF and what to do in a man overboard
situation. This could save your life.

wrote in message
oups.com...
After my aborted cruise, I want to bring my boat back from Sarasota to
Shell Point in N. Florida (Just south of Tallahassee) for hurricane
season. It is 185 miles straight across the northern Gulf of Mexico
and I estimate this is about 36-48 hours sail. My only crewmember
currently is my 14 yr old son who isnt really qualified to do a watch.
I do not want to do the several days coast hopping route as I have done
that too many times and just want to get her home (a 28' S2). So, I am
wondering if I should venture to do it with just my son or if I really
need another crew member. Strange but I no longer know many qualified
sailors, most I know are beginners who would just get in their own way.
"Ragtime" is a 1981 8.5 M S2 with new standing rigging, running
rigging, sails etc, Epirb, etc so is probably well equipped. What do
Y'all think?


Hey, you need crew, drop me a line. Can't contribute towards provisioning
but I like going offshore, even if it's only in the Gulf. Currently have
crewed 5000+ bluewater miles, all of it extended passages of a minimum 3
days, including an Atlantic crossing last year.

John Cairns

wrote in
oups.com:

my 14 yr old son

In spite of the really stupid answers I just read to your post......let me
ask you a question to think about.

You just fell overboard out there in the Gulf. You're fine
bobbing around there in your fancy, self-inflating Sospenders. Question:
Can he turn the boat around, by himself, and come back and get you in 8'
seas?

Whoever you take with you, just ask the same question about the lot of
them, as a group. Test it out on a daysail, sometime. Just let go of the
helm and throw a PFD overboard. Go sit down and say, "I just fell
overboard. What are you going to do?" It's a good idea to have up the old
sails you don't really care about for the test...(c;

Sometimes thinking about the answer can be really scary! I hope you'll
seriously consider the answer. Everyone should test it with their "crew".

cammon.. when I first got my 25-footer I sailed her from LA to San Diego,
110 miles, in 9-12 foot swells and wind whipping from 0 to 25 mph and back
to 0 in an instant, at night, with lightning cracking above my head and rain
pouring down so hard I had to sit in the cabin with my compass holding the
boat on course with a rope tied to the tiller, and there was nobody but
myself on the boat. And that was the first time I'd ever sailed in my
entire life. I didn't even know how to hoist a mainsail until I set out
that day. Just do it yaself and bring lots of caffeine tablets.


"Larry W4CSC" wrote in message
...
wrote in
oups.com:

my 14 yr old son

In spite of the really stupid answers I just read to your post......let me
ask you a question to think about.

You just fell overboard out there in the Gulf. You're fine
bobbing around there in your fancy, self-inflating Sospenders. Question:
Can he turn the boat around, by himself, and come back and get you in 8'
seas?

Whoever you take with you, just ask the same question about the lot of
them, as a group. Test it out on a daysail, sometime. Just let go of the
helm and throw a PFD overboard. Go sit down and say, "I just fell
overboard. What are you going to do?" It's a good idea to have up the
old
sails you don't really care about for the test...(c;

Sometimes thinking about the answer can be really scary! I hope you'll
seriously consider the answer. Everyone should test it with their "crew".

"Falky foo" wrote in
:

cammon.. when I first got my 25-footer I sailed her from LA to San
Diego, 110 miles, in 9-12 foot swells and wind whipping from 0 to 25
mph and back to 0 in an instant, at night, with lightning cracking
above my head and rain pouring down so hard I had to sit in the cabin
with my compass holding the boat on course with a rope tied to the
tiller, and there was nobody but myself on the boat. And that was the
first time I'd ever sailed in my entire life. I didn't even know how
to hoist a mainsail until I set out that day. Just do it yaself and
bring lots of caffeine tablets.



See? Real stupid answers......like I said.

no you are!!!



See? Real stupid answers......like I said.

Last summer I had the odd experience of having a crew member "jump ship"
after sleeping on the mooring preparatory to an early morning start. He
just said, "I have to go" leaving myself and my 12 year old daughter
on board.

I had a "serious" talk with her, along the line of "If we go, you have
to really help work the boat, not just be a passenger" I told her we
could change our plans, keep closer to home, etc., etc. If we went she
had to do *exactly* as I said, ask why later

Up till now I have let her participate as she wishes, which varies from
day to day.

As we went down river and different situations came up, I illustrated
some of my criteria, such as, "If I am resting and you see a boat get
this close, wake me ASAP", "if the autopilot does this, do that, or
call me, etc. etc."

I would not have traded the ensuing trip for anything, she really
reached down inside and found what I hope is her responsible future
self, and brought her out for the next three days.

You are making a bigger passage than we did, but I would still urge you
to give yourself and your son the chance to stretch the limits a bit, if
you are reasonably sure you can mostly carry the load yourself if need
be. You will probably be pleasantly surprised, I know I was. Worth every
stressfull minute on my part.

Jonathan

wrote:
After my aborted cruise, I want to bring my boat back from Sarasota to
Shell Point in N. Florida (Just south of Tallahassee) for hurricane
season. It is 185 miles straight across the northern Gulf of Mexico
and I estimate this is about 36-48 hours sail. My only crewmember
currently is my 14 yr old son who isnt really qualified to do a watch.
I do not want to do the several days coast hopping route as I have done
that too many times and just want to get her home (a 28' S2). So, I am
wondering if I should venture to do it with just my son or if I really
need another crew member. Strange but I no longer know many qualified
sailors, most I know are beginners who would just get in their own way.
"Ragtime" is a 1981 8.5 M S2 with new standing rigging, running
rigging, sails etc, Epirb, etc so is probably well equipped. What do
Y'all think?

In article .com,
wrote:

After my aborted cruise, I want to bring my boat back from Sarasota to
Shell Point in N. Florida (Just south of Tallahassee) for hurricane
season. It is 185 miles straight across the northern Gulf of Mexico
and I estimate this is about 36-48 hours sail. My only crewmember
currently is my 14 yr old son who isnt really qualified to do a watch.
I do not want to do the several days coast hopping route as I have done
that too many times and just want to get her home (a 28' S2). So, I am
wondering if I should venture to do it with just my son or if I really
need another crew member. Strange but I no longer know many qualified
sailors, most I know are beginners who would just get in their own way.
"Ragtime" is a 1981 8.5 M S2 with new standing rigging, running
rigging, sails etc, Epirb, etc so is probably well equipped. What do
Y'all think?


I'm a little nervous about you (or anyone) pushing to get somewhere on a
time table, a recipe for disaster.

That said, we pushed Xan about 175 NM in 3 days, anchoring each night.
In the next 7, including a couple of lay-days for weather, we went
another 250.

The first days, we started hauling anchor at first glimmer of light,
well before dawn, and stopped just before sunset, giving us 15+ hours
per day. Most of the time, we motored to just get through areas we'd
already cruised, but somtimes the wind was helpful. Because good
anchorages were often a couple of hour detour, we often took less than
ideal ones, just to save time.

In other words, it is possible to move quickly and sleep in a safe
place. But it requires an autopilot or the crew get very very tired.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Jere Lull wrote in news:jerelull-
:

crew get very very tired

There is the real danger. When I'm exhausted, I'm near useless and can't
focus well, even on simple tasks.

The autopilot is useless when the going gets especially rough, when you
need it the worst. I've never found one that can cope with heavy seas at
odd angles in a cruising sailboat pitching and yawing wildly in the swells.

Exhausted crew is just a disaster waiting to happen, and being in a hurry
to get there just compounds the problems and risk-taking.

In article ,
Larry W4CSC wrote:

Jere Lull wrote in news:jerelull-
:

crew get very very tired

There is the real danger. When I'm exhausted, I'm near useless and can't
focus well, even on simple tasks.

The autopilot is useless when the going gets especially rough, when you
need it the worst. I've never found one that can cope with heavy seas at
odd angles in a cruising sailboat pitching and yawing wildly in the swells.

We have a tiller and have adjusted the stroke for speed, which may
change the mix somewhat, but I've been quite impressed by our AutoHelm's
ability to keep us on a reasonable track in some pretty unquiet
conditions. Xan has little directional stability, which makes it tougher.

Otto never likes broad reaches, but close through beam reaches are a
piece of cake if the sails are set properly. In a pinch, the boat can be
set to luff slightly with shortened sail when the seas are up.

Now, if sustained winds are high, we're in port most times, but we've
done days in 20-25 with gusts towards 35 -- when they were on the beam.
(we start reefing at 12.) The autopilot did a better job of steering in
those conditions than I did.

Exhausted crew is just a disaster waiting to happen, and being in a hurry
to get there just compounds the problems and risk-taking.

Obviously, I'm in full agreement. Been there, done that, am very glad
our boat is tough.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/