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Do I need crew?
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? |
aw just do it yourself ya pansy.
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? |
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. I say, give him the opportunity to show his mettle. It'll be a great bonding and growth experience for both of you! |
Frank wrote:
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. I say, give him the opportunity to show his mettle. It'll be a great bonding and growth experience for both of you! When I was 14 I took watches at the helm at night in small craft warning seas in the Molokai channel in my Dad's Blanchard 33.' One crew member sleeping below, the other sleeping beside me in the cockpit. Stephen |
Stephen Trapani wrote:
Frank wrote: 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. I say, give him the opportunity to show his mettle. It'll be a great bonding and growth experience for both of you! When I was 14 I took watches at the helm at night in small craft warning seas in the Molokai channel in my Dad's Blanchard 33.' One crew member sleeping below, the other sleeping beside me in the cockpit. Stephen I'd be a little more conservative in this area. Could he steer a compass course? Would he know what to do if he saw another boat approaching? Probably depends on what hazards lay along your intended track. |
"Frank" wrote in message
oups.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. I say, give him the opportunity to show his mettle. It'll be a great bonding and growth experience for both of you! What's wrong with sending him to a sailing class? That would give him an opportunity to learn and build self-confidence. It would also give some confidence in his abilities to his father. |
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 |
"JG" wrote:
"Frank" wrote in message roups.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. I say, give him the opportunity to show his mettle. It'll be a great bonding and growth experience for both of you! What's wrong with sending him to a sailing class? That would give him an opportunity to learn and build self-confidence. It would also give some confidence in his abilities to his father. grandma Rosalie |
"Rosalie B." wrote in message
... "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. Actually, this is true even for experience, completely capable crew. If you need help or are unsure of something, wake up the skipper. I've yet to protest being awakened or had anyone protest if I woke them. |
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