Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

For the first time since this whole thing happened, I’m really angry.
Not because of what happened, but because I just finished composing a
letter to the Log, which immediately disappeared into the ether. So,
ARGHHHH!! I say to you. :/

I wanted to say a few more things before we (hopefully) get wrapped up
tomorrow in trying to get back to living on our wonderful home, Flying
Pig.

We are so grateful for all your love and support, well wishes,
encouragement, and beautiful, warm emails. You have no idea how
sustaining they have been to us both.

There have been many, many offers of help, ranging from car loans, to
vacant boats to live on temporarily, to cash donations. I’m not able
to answer all those mails individually as yet, but I wanted to make
these blanket comments to those of you who have made offers.

There are some Angels out there, disguised as sailors, who have taken
steps to set up a means to make donations. (Email not posted here), aka
William V Hoyle Jr. has set up a Flying Pig Trust account, into which
some people have wished to contribute by snail mail. His address is:

10401 Warwick Blvd
Newport News, VA 23601
(Office phone not posted, either)

(another email deleted here) has also set up a PayPal account in which to
make
donations.

Having said that, I must also tell you that among the cruising
newsgroups, there has been some dialogue about whether or not we need
any financial help, and that perhaps we should have been consulted
first before Angels stepped in. These are my thoughts on this:

I am comfortable sharing with you that our boat was insured for $140K,
subject to the underlying mortgage of $64K. The salvage of Flying Pig
from the reef to Marathon, some 25 miles, which involved a 70’, 1000HP
landing craft, two SeaTow boats, a BoatUS boat, a ferry boat, 4
divers, 2 helpers and the salvage Captain, cost $30K of which $7K is
covered by insurance. Obviously there will be a shortfall. We
anticipate that all other repairs will be covered by insurance. Any
costs for living expenses incurred since the wreck, has been absorbed
by the Red Cross, to whom we’re very grateful, with the exception of
the car rental for a week. We had just gifted our van to a needy guy
in the old boat yard we left, the day before we departed. In truth,
he needed it more than we.

I will also tell you that while we don’t have the shortfall at hand,
we would be mortified and very uncomfortable if anyone out there were
to make donations based on anything other than desire and ability.
For those who have the ability and are not driven by desire, that’s
entirely OK by us. We don’t expect anything, and we wouldn’t have
felt either disappointed or abandoned if these Angels-posing-as-
sailors had never brought this subject up. So, for those of you who
want to help us financially, we thank you with all our hearts. For
those of you who can’t or don’t, we thank you too for following your
comfort level, as we would have done, I’m sure, were the shoe to be on
the other foot.

We are Pay Forward people, I think, and over and over, it has paid us
back. We carry spares for others that we know we would never use for
ourselves; in kind, we have received spares we needed from others we
didn’t have. This is part of the cruising mentality. And it’s
good.
However, we don’t expect anything; in return, it seems, we have
everything.

So, that’s that. I mean it.

As to the grounding …

There are some of you who might be sitting back, scratching your
heads, wondering if we were out there playing “silly buggars�, as my
British ex-husband would say. Well, we obviously weren’t adhering to
our own rules of safety.

1. We were exhausted and sleep deprived when we left.
2. When I got seasick on my second Scopalamine patch while I was on
watch, I didn’t wake Skip, knowing he badly needed rest, to get help.
As discussed in earlier log posts, I feel this really impacts your
judgement.
3. As a result of either the patch (which I’ve heard affects vision)
or just the rough seas and exhaustion, I didn’t focus well on pretty
much anything, including the instruments.
4. While we diligently checked the weather in St Pete and Marathon
before leaving, which looked very good for a downhill run, we weren’t
adequately prepared to hit surprise bad weather.
5. We were in a hurry to leave, to reach George Town, Exumas by 3/1
when my son and girlfriend were arriving by air to join us. I didn’t
want them arriving without us being there to greet them. Big no-no.

We live and learn �

We were taken out for a wonderful dinner tonight by Jay and Diane,
more amazing people we’ve never met, who happened to be in a slip in
Key West and contacted us. We had a marvelous evening together.
We’re so grateful for them, and for all of you who have lent your
shoulders as props.

Stay tuned – this will be the last mail from me before we’re safely
back on the boat in the Keys Boat Yard, Marathon, which we anticipate
to be tomorrow. Yay for that – I’m ready to kick butt again �

With love, Lydia (and Skip)

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

OK - I will go for it. This couple seems unsuited for short handed sailing.
Helping them out simply helps them to kill themselves.

Why would you do that?


"Larry" wrote in message
...
For the first time since this whole thing happened, I’m really angry.
Not because of what happened, but because I just finished composing a
letter to the Log, which immediately disappeared into the ether. So,
ARGHHHH!! I say to you. :/

I wanted to say a few more things before we (hopefully) get wrapped up
tomorrow in trying to get back to living on our wonderful home, Flying
Pig.

We are so grateful for all your love and support, well wishes,
encouragement, and beautiful, warm emails. You have no idea how
sustaining they have been to us both.

There have been many, many offers of help, ranging from car loans, to
vacant boats to live on temporarily, to cash donations. I’m not able
to answer all those mails individually as yet, but I wanted to make
these blanket comments to those of you who have made offers.

There are some Angels out there, disguised as sailors, who have taken
steps to set up a means to make donations. (Email not posted here), aka
William V Hoyle Jr. has set up a Flying Pig Trust account, into which
some people have wished to contribute by snail mail. His address is:

10401 Warwick Blvd
Newport News, VA 23601
(Office phone not posted, either)

(another email deleted here) has also set up a PayPal account in which to
make
donations.

Having said that, I must also tell you that among the cruising
newsgroups, there has been some dialogue about whether or not we need
any financial help, and that perhaps we should have been consulted
first before Angels stepped in. These are my thoughts on this:

I am comfortable sharing with you that our boat was insured for $140K,
subject to the underlying mortgage of $64K. The salvage of Flying Pig
from the reef to Marathon, some 25 miles, which involved a 70’, 1000HP
landing craft, two SeaTow boats, a BoatUS boat, a ferry boat, 4
divers, 2 helpers and the salvage Captain, cost $30K of which $7K is
covered by insurance. Obviously there will be a shortfall. We
anticipate that all other repairs will be covered by insurance. Any
costs for living expenses incurred since the wreck, has been absorbed
by the Red Cross, to whom we’re very grateful, with the exception of
the car rental for a week. We had just gifted our van to a needy guy
in the old boat yard we left, the day before we departed. In truth,
he needed it more than we.

I will also tell you that while we don’t have the shortfall at hand,
we would be mortified and very uncomfortable if anyone out there were
to make donations based on anything other than desire and ability.
For those who have the ability and are not driven by desire, that’s
entirely OK by us. We don’t expect anything, and we wouldn’t have
felt either disappointed or abandoned if these Angels-posing-as-
sailors had never brought this subject up. So, for those of you who
want to help us financially, we thank you with all our hearts. For
those of you who can’t or don’t, we thank you too for following your
comfort level, as we would have done, I’m sure, were the shoe to be on
the other foot.

We are Pay Forward people, I think, and over and over, it has paid us
back. We carry spares for others that we know we would never use for
ourselves; in kind, we have received spares we needed from others we
didn’t have. This is part of the cruising mentality. And it’s
good.
However, we don’t expect anything; in return, it seems, we have
everything.

So, that’s that. I mean it.

As to the grounding …

There are some of you who might be sitting back, scratching your
heads, wondering if we were out there playing “silly buggars�, as my
British ex-husband would say. Well, we obviously weren’t adhering to
our own rules of safety.

1. We were exhausted and sleep deprived when we left.
2. When I got seasick on my second Scopalamine patch while I was on
watch, I didn’t wake Skip, knowing he badly needed rest, to get help.
As discussed in earlier log posts, I feel this really impacts your
judgement.
3. As a result of either the patch (which I’ve heard affects vision)
or just the rough seas and exhaustion, I didn’t focus well on pretty
much anything, including the instruments.
4. While we diligently checked the weather in St Pete and Marathon
before leaving, which looked very good for a downhill run, we weren’t
adequately prepared to hit surprise bad weather.
5. We were in a hurry to leave, to reach George Town, Exumas by 3/1
when my son and girlfriend were arriving by air to join us. I didn’t
want them arriving without us being there to greet them. Big no-no.

We live and learn �

We were taken out for a wonderful dinner tonight by Jay and Diane,
more amazing people we’ve never met, who happened to be in a slip in
Key West and contacted us. We had a marvelous evening together.
We’re so grateful for them, and for all of you who have lent your
shoulders as props.

Stay tuned – this will be the last mail from me before we’re safely
back on the boat in the Keys Boat Yard, Marathon, which we anticipate
to be tomorrow. Yay for that – I’m ready to kick butt again �

With love, Lydia (and Skip)

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Feb 8, 10:00 pm, "Olecapt" wrote:
OK - I will go for it. This couple seems unsuited for short handed sailing.
Helping them out simply helps them to kill themselves.

Why would you do that?


.....and why help them out?

1) Tuition at the School of Hard Knocks is expensive at times, but the
education is priceless.
2) Learning aaint pretty.
3) Its the right thing to do.

Bob

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

In article ,
"Olecapt" wrote:

OK - I will go for it. This couple seems unsuited for short handed sailing.
Helping them out simply helps them to kill themselves.

Why would you do that?


Evidently, you haven't been following them for very long.

As I see it, an understandable enthusiasm dulled their normal
cautiousness, compounded by the *many* dock mates wanting to say
farewell and the flurry of activity attending finally getting away
after so many years' hard work that we've been following, sometimes in
excruciating detail. They have many friends here.

I know they know the first rule of cruising: never sail to a "date", I
called them on it before they left the dock, but I can certainly
sympathize with a "just this one time".

Had they been in a similar situation after a week's settling in and
getting the watch schedules set, I'm sure they would have handled it
better.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's NEW Pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

[quote=Olecapt]OK - I will go for it. This couple seems unsuited for short handed sailing.
Helping them out simply helps them to kill themselves.

Why would you do that?


Because everybody deserves a second chance and I think you're over stating quite a bit there.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

Olecapt .. I am not in a position to help financially but if I was anywhere
near where they are I would do whatever I could to help.

Why? Because this can happen to anyone. That's why. The best sailor on
earth has run aground.

I ran aground in New Bedford Mass once. That is not easy to do, I did it.
Sure enough if another sailor didn't help me get off the mud, give me a ride
to a coffee place, help me get set up at a marina .. and he was just doing
his thing.

I've never forgotten that man. He was Portuguese. I also remind every
Portuguese person I ever meet what great people they are.

It is the little things.. that is why folks help out.


ps:: this doesn't mean I would help out a nut job such as Ken Barnes, the
screwball with the beautiful people family.

Ya gotta draw the line somewhere.

ps ps ps .. not helping out Donna Lange either. She is another nut job, and
giving her something will only encourage her to go out and kill herself.


But with Flying Pig .. what you have as far as I can see from here is a
simple case of "oh ****".

You tell me the sailor who hasn't said "oh ****" and I will introduce you to
someone who has never taken the boat out of the marina.


-------------
"Olecapt" wrote in message
...
OK - I will go for it. This couple seems unsuited for short handed
sailing. Helping them out simply helps them to kill themselves.

Why would you do that?


"Larry" wrote in message
...
For the first time since this whole thing happened, Iâ?Tm really angry.
Not because of what happened, but because I just finished composing a
letter to the Log, which immediately disappeared into the ether. So,
ARGHHHH!! I say to you. :/

I wanted to say a few more things before we (hopefully) get wrapped up
tomorrow in trying to get back to living on our wonderful home, Flying
Pig.

We are so grateful for all your love and support, well wishes,
encouragement, and beautiful, warm emails. You have no idea how
sustaining they have been to us both.

There have been many, many offers of help, ranging from car loans, to
vacant boats to live on temporarily, to cash donations. Iâ?Tm not able
to answer all those mails individually as yet, but I wanted to make
these blanket comments to those of you who have made offers.

There are some Angels out there, disguised as sailors, who have taken
steps to set up a means to make donations. (Email not posted here), aka
William V Hoyle Jr. has set up a Flying Pig Trust account, into which
some people have wished to contribute by snail mail. His address is:

10401 Warwick Blvd
Newport News, VA 23601
(Office phone not posted, either)

(another email deleted here) has also set up a PayPal account in which to
make
donations.

Having said that, I must also tell you that among the cruising
newsgroups, there has been some dialogue about whether or not we need
any financial help, and that perhaps we should have been consulted
first before Angels stepped in. These are my thoughts on this:

I am comfortable sharing with you that our boat was insured for $140K,
subject to the underlying mortgage of $64K. The salvage of Flying Pig
from the reef to Marathon, some 25 miles, which involved a 70â?T, 1000HP
landing craft, two SeaTow boats, a BoatUS boat, a ferry boat, 4
divers, 2 helpers and the salvage Captain, cost $30K of which $7K is
covered by insurance. Obviously there will be a shortfall. We
anticipate that all other repairs will be covered by insurance. Any
costs for living expenses incurred since the wreck, has been absorbed
by the Red Cross, to whom weâ?Tre very grateful, with the exception of
the car rental for a week. We had just gifted our van to a needy guy
in the old boat yard we left, the day before we departed. In truth,
he needed it more than we.

I will also tell you that while we donâ?Tt have the shortfall at hand,
we would be mortified and very uncomfortable if anyone out there were
to make donations based on anything other than desire and ability.
For those who have the ability and are not driven by desire, thatâ?Ts
entirely OK by us. We donâ?Tt expect anything, and we wouldnâ?Tt have
felt either disappointed or abandoned if these Angels-posing-as-
sailors had never brought this subject up. So, for those of you who
want to help us financially, we thank you with all our hearts. For
those of you who canâ?Tt or donâ?Tt, we thank you too for following your
comfort level, as we would have done, Iâ?Tm sure, were the shoe to be on
the other foot.

We are Pay Forward people, I think, and over and over, it has paid us
back. We carry spares for others that we know we would never use for
ourselves; in kind, we have received spares we needed from others we
didnâ?Tt have. This is part of the cruising mentality. And itâ?Ts
good.
However, we donâ?Tt expect anything; in return, it seems, we have
everything.

So, thatâ?Ts that. I mean it.

As to the grounding â?¦

There are some of you who might be sitting back, scratching your
heads, wondering if we were out there playing â?osilly buggarsâ??, as my
British ex-husband would say. Well, we obviously werenâ?Tt adhering to
our own rules of safety.

1. We were exhausted and sleep deprived when we left.
2. When I got seasick on my second Scopalamine patch while I was on
watch, I didnâ?Tt wake Skip, knowing he badly needed rest, to get help.
As discussed in earlier log posts, I feel this really impacts your
judgement.
3. As a result of either the patch (which Iâ?Tve heard affects vision)
or just the rough seas and exhaustion, I didnâ?Tt focus well on pretty
much anything, including the instruments.
4. While we diligently checked the weather in St Pete and Marathon
before leaving, which looked very good for a downhill run, we werenâ?Tt
adequately prepared to hit surprise bad weather.
5. We were in a hurry to leave, to reach George Town, Exumas by 3/1
when my son and girlfriend were arriving by air to join us. I didnâ?Tt
want them arriving without us being there to greet them. Big no-no.

We live and learn ï?O

We were taken out for a wonderful dinner tonight by Jay and Diane,
more amazing people weâ?Tve never met, who happened to be in a slip in
Key West and contacted us. We had a marvelous evening together.
Weâ?Tre so grateful for them, and for all of you who have lent your
shoulders as props.

Stay tuned â?" this will be the last mail from me before weâ?Tre safely
back on the boat in the Keys Boat Yard, Marathon, which we anticipate
to be tomorrow. Yay for that â?" Iâ?Tm ready to kick butt again ï?S

With love, Lydia (and Skip)

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:41:04 GMT, "NE Sailboat"
wrote:

You tell me the sailor who hasn't said "oh ****" and I will introduce you to
someone who has never taken the boat out of the marina.

Can't remember exactly what I said when we were dismasted off the New
Jersey coast in 1987 but I'm pretty sure the "s" word was in there
someplace.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

Wayne.B wrote:
You tell me the sailor who hasn't said "oh ****" and I will introduce you to
someone who has never taken the boat out of the marina.

Can't remember exactly what I said when we were dismasted off the New
Jersey coast in 1987 but I'm pretty sure the "s" word was in there
someplace.

As I recall, when we lost our backstay about 02:30 on our first night
out on the leg from Tonga to Hawaii last September, I used the "f" word
pretty vigorously.

I sympathize very strongly with Skip and Lydia. Especially so early in
their adventure that they haven't yet discovered their abilities and
limits, I can understand how it could happen.

Skip & I corresponded from before they even purchased the "Pig" (in
fact, I understand they used our boat evaluation form to assist them
during the search). I'm really not in a position to help them
financially unless they get desperate, and being on the left coast,
there's not a lot I can offer them in terms of physical aid, but Kathryn
and I are sure sending as many good thoughts their way as we can.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Dan Best" wrote in message
...
Wayne.B wrote:
You tell me the sailor who hasn't said "oh ****" and I will introduce
you to someone who has never taken the boat out of the marina.

Can't remember exactly what I said when we were dismasted off the New
Jersey coast in 1987 but I'm pretty sure the "s" word was in there
someplace.

As I recall, when we lost our backstay about 02:30 on our first night out
on the leg from Tonga to Hawaii last September, I used the "f" word pretty
vigorously.

I sympathize very strongly with Skip and Lydia. Especially so early in
their adventure that they haven't yet discovered their abilities and
limits, I can understand how it could happen.

Skip & I corresponded from before they even purchased the "Pig" (in fact,
I understand they used our boat evaluation form to assist them during the
search). I'm really not in a position to help them financially unless
they get desperate, and being on the left coast, there's not a lot I can
offer them in terms of physical aid, but Kathryn and I are sure sending as
many good thoughts their way as we can.

I can't help but be reminded of Jamie Bryson and his family's trip upon
first buying their Rawson 30. Between Cabo and Alaska they ran aground (with
damage to repair), were rammed by a fishing boat (with more damage to
repair) and were nearly sunk more than once. Either of those collisions
could have resulted in the totalling of their boat by an insurance companay,
yet they bounced back and completed a circumnavigation. Skip and Lydia have
been preparing for this new chapter in their lives for years -- I'm not
ready to close the book on them just yet.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

I sure never want to sail with the Bryson family. They sound cursed.

================================================== ==
"KLC Lewis" wrote in message
et...

"Dan Best" wrote in message
...
Wayne.B wrote:
You tell me the sailor who hasn't said "oh ****" and I will introduce
you to someone who has never taken the boat out of the marina.

Can't remember exactly what I said when we were dismasted off the New
Jersey coast in 1987 but I'm pretty sure the "s" word was in there
someplace.

As I recall, when we lost our backstay about 02:30 on our first night out
on the leg from Tonga to Hawaii last September, I used the "f" word
pretty vigorously.

I sympathize very strongly with Skip and Lydia. Especially so early in
their adventure that they haven't yet discovered their abilities and
limits, I can understand how it could happen.

Skip & I corresponded from before they even purchased the "Pig" (in fact,
I understand they used our boat evaluation form to assist them during the
search). I'm really not in a position to help them financially unless
they get desperate, and being on the left coast, there's not a lot I can
offer them in terms of physical aid, but Kathryn and I are sure sending
as many good thoughts their way as we can.

I can't help but be reminded of Jamie Bryson and his family's trip upon
first buying their Rawson 30. Between Cabo and Alaska they ran aground
(with damage to repair), were rammed by a fishing boat (with more damage
to repair) and were nearly sunk more than once. Either of those collisions
could have resulted in the totalling of their boat by an insurance
companay, yet they bounced back and completed a circumnavigation. Skip and
Lydia have been preparing for this new chapter in their lives for years --
I'm not ready to close the book on them just yet.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

Wayne.B wrote in
:

I'm pretty sure the "s" word was in there
someplace.


Not only the "s" word, but the "s", too, I suspect....(c;

Larry
--
VIRUS ALERT! VISTA has been released!
NOONE will be spared!

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Jere Lull" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Olecapt" wrote:

OK - I will go for it. This couple seems unsuited for short handed
sailing.
Helping them out simply helps them to kill themselves.

Why would you do that?


Evidently, you haven't been following them for very long.

As I see it, an understandable enthusiasm dulled their normal
cautiousness, compounded by the *many* dock mates wanting to say
farewell and the flurry of activity attending finally getting away
after so many years' hard work that we've been following, sometimes in
excruciating detail. They have many friends here.

I know they know the first rule of cruising: never sail to a "date", I
called them on it before they left the dock, but I can certainly
sympathize with a "just this one time".

Had they been in a similar situation after a week's settling in and
getting the watch schedules set, I'm sure they would have handled it
better.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's NEW Pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

You are all making excuses. If these folk are your friends I would think
counsel that they not go off shore without at least a third capable member
on board would be in order.

Skip regardless of his skills or abilities ended up with a lady made ditzy
by seasickness on the helm in dangerous conditions in dangerous waters.
How much more can one screw up?

From long experience one has to be very careful with those who have a sea
sickness proclivity. They can get totally out of it particularly if they
dehydrate.

Sure it was the start of the voyage. That is one of the standard times when
things go wrong.

And no I have never run into anything hard on a bad weather night on the
deep blue. If I ever do I think that will be it.

Sure I can get demasted. Or charged by a whale I suppose. Those however
are problems that were inflected on me. Completely different from those I
inflect on myself.

I would very strongly suggest this couple is unsuited for double handling
anything more than day runs. Other than that they should have a good third
crew.

..

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Feb 8, 8:39Â*pm, Larry wrote:

Stay tuned – this will be the last mail from me before we’re safely
back on the boat in the Keys Boat Yard, Marathon, which we anticipate
to be tomorrow. Â*Yay for that – I’m ready to kick butt again ï?Š

With love, Lydia (and Skip)

I read in other post the weather that brought these two down was:

NE at 25 and seas of 7-8 feet.

Is that true?????
Bob

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Bob" wrote in news:1171091251.462212.220950
@v33g2000cwv.googlegroups.com:

NE at 25 and seas of 7-8 feet.

Is that true?????
Bob


Yes

Larry
--
VIRUS ALERT! VISTA has been released!
NOONE will be spared!

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Bob" wrote:

On Feb 8, 8:39*pm, Larry wrote:

Stay tuned – this will be the last mail from me before we’re safely
back on the boat in the Keys Boat Yard, Marathon, which we anticipate
to be tomorrow. *Yay for that – I’m ready to kick butt again ?

With love, Lydia (and Skip)

I read in other post the weather that brought these two down was:

NE at 25 and seas of 7-8 feet.

Is that true?????
Bob

Sea height is VERY hard to estimate accurately, at least for me and I
suspect for other people as well. More important than just the height
is the wave period (that is how close together they are). Waves of
7-8 feet out in the Atlantic someplace are almost non-events. Waves
of 7-8 feet in the Chesapeake, and I suspect also along the Florida
Gulf Coast, and certainly in the Gulf Stream resulting from a NE wind
are entirely different and a MUCH worse problem, because they are
close enough together that the boat is burying the bow in the next
wave while still on the crest of the previous wave.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Feb 10, 6:01 am, Rosalie B. wrote:
"Bob" wrote:
On Feb 8, 8:39 pm, Larry wrote:

Stay tuned - this will be the last mail from me before we're safely
back on the boat in the Keys Boat Yard, Marathon, which we anticipate
to be tomorrow. Yay for that - I'm ready to kick butt again ?

With love, Lydia (and Skip)

I read in other post the weather that brought these two down was:

NE at 25 and seas of 7-8 feet.

Is that true?????
Bob

Sea height is VERY hard to estimate accurately, at least for me and I
suspect for other people as well. More important than just the height
is the wave period (that is how close together they are). Waves of
7-8 feet out in the Atlantic someplace are almost non-events. Waves
of 7-8 feet in the Chesapeake, and I suspect also along the Florida
Gulf Coast, and certainly in the Gulf Stream resulting from a NE wind
are entirely different and a MUCH worse problem, because they are
close enough together that the boat is burying the bow in the next
wave while still on the crest of the previous wave.

Good points you describe. I agree. But was that weather I read above
an operator observatoin or from NWS/OPC?
Bob

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Bob" wrote:

On Feb 10, 6:01 am, Rosalie B. wrote:
"Bob" wrote:
On Feb 8, 8:39 pm, Larry wrote:

Stay tuned - this will be the last mail from me before we're safely
back on the boat in the Keys Boat Yard, Marathon, which we anticipate
to be tomorrow. Yay for that - I'm ready to kick butt again ?

With love, Lydia (and Skip)

I read in other post the weather that brought these two down was:

NE at 25 and seas of 7-8 feet.

Is that true?????
Bob

Sea height is VERY hard to estimate accurately, at least for me and I
suspect for other people as well. More important than just the height
is the wave period (that is how close together they are). Waves of
7-8 feet out in the Atlantic someplace are almost non-events. Waves
of 7-8 feet in the Chesapeake, and I suspect also along the Florida
Gulf Coast, and certainly in the Gulf Stream resulting from a NE wind
are entirely different and a MUCH worse problem, because they are
close enough together that the boat is burying the bow in the next
wave while still on the crest of the previous wave.

Good points you describe. I agree. But was that weather I read above
an operator observatoin or from NWS/OPC?
Bob

I don't know, but IME the wave heights reported by NOAA aren't very
accurate either. I don't really know how wave heights can be
accurately measured.

When I'm in our boat, I measure them against the topsides of the boat
if they are close enough and at an angle that I can do that. If the
wave is crashing down over the bow and green water rolling down the
deck of our boat, I know the waves are at least 10 feet.

From an airplane or from a large ship, it becomes more difficult,
because there's no scale to go by. (Unless as happened to Bob once,
the green water is crashing over the flight deck of the aircraft
carrier and then you know that the waves are probably 50 feet)

I'm not sure how they do the waves from the buoys, but there aren't
that many of those.

As far as weather forecasts go - more than once the forecast has been
15-20 decreasing during the day, and it has actually been 15-20
increasing to 25-30 with gusts to 50.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

I don't know, but IME the wave heights reported by NOAA aren't very
accurate either. I don't really know how wave heights can be
accurately measured.

I'm not sure how they do the waves from the buoys, but there aren't
that many of those.

Bouys, satellites, ship obsevations....





As far as weather forecasts go - more than once the forecast has been
15-20 decreasing during the day, and it has actually been 15-20
increasing to 25-30 with gusts to 50.

More important at the top of every Ocean Prediction Center weather fax
you'll read:
SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT IS SHOWN (THE AVERAGE HEIGHT OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE WAVES)

In other words, the forcasted/observed wave hight means you gonna see
lots bigger ones too. Average = mean.
Bob

That is exactly what happens in the Gulf. Although, as I'm sure you know, you are never in the Gulf Stream in that area of the Gulf.
And as you approach the Keys from the Gulf side it gets very shallow well offshore of the Keys.

I'm not sure who's local knowledge Skip was relying on but I bet if they real had made 200 deliveries to that area and known it was going to be blowing 20-30 with 6-8 foot seas with a 6 1/2 draft vessel, they would have told them to go to Key West and not try to get in Marathon in those conditions. If they had to go.

The distance to Key West from the Tampa Bay sea buoy is in fact a few miles less (as the crow flies) than if you go to Vaca Key (Marathon). And the entrance to Key West in bad weather out of the North is much better than Marathon to say the least.

Of course going to Key West adds distance to your trip to the Bahamas. But at least you are going with the Gulf Stream on your way up and over.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 20:14:27 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

As far as weather forecasts go - more than once the forecast has been
15-20 decreasing during the day, and it has actually been 15-20
increasing to 25-30 with gusts to 50.


Amen to that! Once on the way from Dog Island to Anclote Key, leaving
with a forecast of 10-15 with 2 to 5 ft seas, we were in 30-40 with 15
ft seas. NOAA was still giving that same forecast/conditions that
night, but when the bouy (about 15 or 20 miles away) report came on it
agreed with what we were experiencing. Don't the NOAA folks check
their own bouy reports and listen to their own computer voice
forecasts? Believe the bad forecasts / don't believe the good.

Rick

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Bob" wrote:


I don't know, but IME the wave heights reported by NOAA aren't very
accurate either. I don't really know how wave heights can be
accurately measured.

I'm not sure how they do the waves from the buoys, but there aren't
that many of those.

Bouys, satellites, ship obsevations....

It's the ship observations that I don't trust. We just got back from
a cruise and the wave heights that they reported were just
unbelievable to me. Either they said it was calm with no significant
waves when it was not, or they said that the waves were 7-8 (feet or
meters can't remember which) when there looked to me that there
weren't any to speak of.

As far as weather forecasts go - more than once the forecast has been
15-20 decreasing during the day, and it has actually been 15-20
increasing to 25-30 with gusts to 50.

More important at the top of every Ocean Prediction Center weather fax
you'll read:
SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT IS SHOWN (THE AVERAGE HEIGHT OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE WAVES)

In other words, the forcasted/observed wave hight means you gonna see
lots bigger ones too. Average = mean.
Bob

I know what average and mean are. But if it is the average tallest
1/3rd, I would expect to see more smaller ones (the other 2/3rds). (I
don't get weather faxes as a rule, so I would not have seen that)

When they report the weather at Thomas Point light, they say the same
thing about the wind speed and the waves there. And what they report
is sometimes significantly different from what we see at our boat even
though we are within sight of the light.

Also when we go past Cedar Point at the mouth of the Patuxent, the
wind there is often completely opposite of any other place on the
Chesapeake.

My point is that a lot of weather is really localized and broad
observations may not really reflect what is happening at a specific
boat.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Olecapt" wrote in message
...

"Jere Lull" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Olecapt" wrote:

OK - I will go for it. This couple seems unsuited for short handed
sailing.
Helping them out simply helps them to kill themselves.

Why would you do that?


Evidently, you haven't been following them for very long.

As I see it, an understandable enthusiasm dulled their normal
cautiousness, compounded by the *many* dock mates wanting to say
farewell and the flurry of activity attending finally getting away
after so many years' hard work that we've been following, sometimes in
excruciating detail. They have many friends here.

I know they know the first rule of cruising: never sail to a "date", I
called them on it before they left the dock, but I can certainly
sympathize with a "just this one time".

Had they been in a similar situation after a week's settling in and
getting the watch schedules set, I'm sure they would have handled it
better.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's NEW Pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

You are all making excuses. If these folk are your friends I would think
counsel that they not go off shore without at least a third capable member
on board would be in order.

Skip regardless of his skills or abilities ended up with a lady made ditzy
by seasickness on the helm in dangerous conditions in dangerous waters.
How much more can one screw up?

From long experience one has to be very careful with those who have a sea
sickness proclivity. They can get totally out of it particularly if they
dehydrate.

Sure it was the start of the voyage. That is one of the standard times
when things go wrong.

And no I have never run into anything hard on a bad weather night on the
deep blue. If I ever do I think that will be it.

Sure I can get demasted. Or charged by a whale I suppose. Those however
are problems that were inflected on me. Completely different from those I
inflect on myself.

I would very strongly suggest this couple is unsuited for double handling
anything more than day runs. Other than that they should have a good
third crew.

Hmm silence. Is it the "we are not going to offer an opinion because Skip
and Lydia will see it?" Or is the subject simply too painful to raise.
That is how we avoid a lot of the truths in blue water sailing.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

Hmm silence. Is it the "we are not going to offer an opinion because Skip
and Lydia will see it?" Or is the subject simply too painful to raise.

Maybe just too obvious. The mans boat was on the reef. What can you
say??

That is how we avoid a lot of the truths in blue water sailing.- Hide quoted text -

Id say truth at times is very painful:
Kennedy.... Bay of Pigs............. origin of the term "Group Think"
Bush.........Iraq....... stay the course.

And many wont speak up for a varity of reasons. And those who do are
punnished with frowns for not being a team player or raining on
somebodies parade.

I was 17 years old when i saw my first crusing boat sanded in on a
beach. It think it was 1969 or so. Same story thats been repeated
countless times on every sho Couple in their early 60s retire
early, sell everything to spend a their life in blissful cruising.
Never sailed much, physical conditioning??? Sailing is HARD work. In
my case they left southern CA late in October and headed north. Got
tossed around about Cape Blanco, Or. Got seasick-bounced and bruised
no longer able to sail the boat and ended up on the beach at Waldport,
OR. It happens way too often.

Bob

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:56:25 -0800, Olecapt wrote:

snip

I guess you feel compelled to **** in these folks' corn flakes at this
time in an effort to be helpful. Just because we can say a thing, doesn't
mean we have to.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Olecapt" wrote in message
...
Hmm silence. Is it the "we are not going to offer an opinion because
Skip and Lydia will see it?" Or is the subject simply too painful to
raise. That is how we avoid a lot of the truths in blue water sailing.


Do you really think there's anything to be said that Skip isn't already
saying to himself, in no uncertain terms?

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Bob" wrote:


Hmm silence. Is it the "we are not going to offer an opinion because Skip
and Lydia will see it?" Or is the subject simply too painful to raise.

Maybe just too obvious. The mans boat was on the reef. What can you
say??

Having read Skip's assessment of the situation, I'd say a lot of the
problem was the newness of the cruising experience, the inadequacy of
the weather reports, and, yes, the inexperience of Lydia.
Inexperience can be remedied. On our first cruises, I also had to
rely a lot on Bob even though I had taken some sailing lessons.

The part of Skip's story where he went forward to reef was similar to
something that happened to us, except that we didn't have jack lines,
and Bob had to do it twice (during the day, but we were not setting
off on a big cruise, we were just going down around the peninsula on a
day trip). I knew that if he fell overboard I would not be able to
retrieve him. Our experience was in April in the Chesapeake so cold
water would also have been a problem. Bob was very careful, and
obviously did NOT go overboard, and installed jacklines the very next
thing. (In our defense I have to say that he did have a harness, and
we had practiced retrieving each other from the water)

We've also been in a bad storm (right after Bob's heart attack) where
he didn't listen to the weather report and I let him persuade me to
leave. I was worried about his getting rest then too, as once out
there we had nowhere to go except to keep on going as we were doing.

But by that time (we'd been cruising for 2 years and we had been
married for 43 years), I was in charge of the route planning so we
both knew where we were (we could both read the charts and the radar),
and I let him stay at the wheel all night. After we made port the
next day I insisted that he take a nap and I made him go to bed early
the next night (which he didn't want to do).

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"KLC Lewis" wrote in message
et...

Do you really think there's anything to be said that Skip isn't already
saying to himself, in no uncertain terms?


Good point! This isn't some kid with stars in his eyes... or some recently
retired baby boomer who bought his boat last month.....

Professional sailors have been known to run aground... the captain of
Bluenose II did it right in Halifax harbour.. during a clear day.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2001/04...grd010416.html

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Feb 11, 4:08 am, "mr.b" wrote:
On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:56:25 -0800, Olecapt wrote:


I guess you feel compelled to **** in these folks' corn flakes at this
time in an effort to be helpful. Just because we can say a thing, doesn't
mean we have to.


Dear mr.b:

As I said a few post ago.......................

"....And many wont speak up for a variety of reasons. And those who do
are
punished with frowns for not being a team player or raining on
somebodies parade....."

Or in this case where mr.b. said, "...I guess you feel compelled to
**** in these folks' corn flakes..." See how we punish the "Devils
Advocate." Another way we keep good info/intel from seeing the light
of day is, "...If you can not say anything good. Don't say anything
at all...." Or "there is no reson to be rude." Thats real common with
women, southerners, and the people over 60 generation. These are just
a few of several examples that tell people to keep your mouth shut
even if you know some one is about to FU or just FU. Very subtle how
we punish people back into line. Or as the many Asian cultures say,
"...the nail that stands up gets hammered down...." Personally I
recruit asshole opinion regularly just so I get EVERY option/opinion/
observation possible. Assholes have soemvery good advice at times and
are more than willing to share it. My advice: seek out assholes.

Did any of Skips so called friends stop and ask, "...when was the last
time you spent 2 consecutive nights at sea in small craft warnings? If
its been more than a year, why not go 50 miles out and sit in some
rough weather just to see how everything goes...." Did anybody say
that?!?!?! Why not?!? If not, you aint no friend! People who are truly
Good Friends wont let the people who they care about go diddy bopping
down the blissful trail of destruction.

I say we need more cornflake ****ers, parade rainers, and you just
aint a team player types in our life.
Ya its a damn shame they ran their boat on reef. So give them a hug
and a helping hand. But NEVER avoid the reason how they got there.
Some reader hear might LEARN somthing!
Bob

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

In article ,
"KLC Lewis" wrote:

"Olecapt" wrote in message
...
Hmm silence. Is it the "we are not going to offer an opinion because
Skip and Lydia will see it?" Or is the subject simply too painful to
raise. That is how we avoid a lot of the truths in blue water sailing.


Do you really think there's anything to be said that Skip isn't already
saying to himself, in no uncertain terms?

That's certainly true.

Their plan was good, what I would have counseled, but then they made
slight adjustments that individually were minor, made sense even in
hindsight, and normally wouldn't have caused problems, except that they
added up the wrong way.

Ahhh, I see his "I learned about sailing from that" has finally shown up
here. I think we can all learn from that.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's NEW Pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

Their plan was good,

Jere Lull


Hello Je
This is where we disagree. After reading Skip's latest post crash
debrief his usual amazingly detailed description screams of a sequence
of pre-departure problems. And of even greater concern to me is that
he does not seem to recognize any and blames 1) faulty weather reports
and 2) his less than capable wife. My prayer for S&L and others is to
take a long hard look at the events that preceed their departure and
know that more of the same will only bring more of the same.
Bob

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On 11 Feb 2007 09:59:25 -0800, "Bob" wrote:

But NEVER avoid the reason how they got there.
Some reader hear might LEARN somthing!

The lessons are there for all to see.

No need to belabor the obvious.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

Bob wrote:
I say we need more cornflake ****ers, parade rainers, and you just
aint a team player types in our life.

Bob,
Constructive criticism can be given in a positive manner. In the Pig's
case, mistakes were certainly made and Skip has been the first one to
admit that. In fact, he has bent over backwards to analyze everything
that happened while it is still fresh in his mind and share his
conclusions with us. He has been frank and open with the events that
led up to the grounding and the mistakes he sees that were made.

I've never been in a boat in that part of the world, so I refrain from
forming any opinions based on the local conditions, but I have done a
fair amount of double handed cruising (17,000+ miles in the last 2
years). From my perspective, the primary problem that led up to the
grounding was that Lydia was not yet a full partner in the team when it
came to running the boat. Specifically in her understanding of
navigating with the chart plotter. Skip, himself admits this.

...since she'd not been monitoring it,
and making range adjustments to look ahead and also in detail at where we
were headed by zooming in along the intended route - she really couldn't
comprehend...

A major contributing factor seems to be a reluctance to get out of the
cockpit and reef the main. With more on-the-water experience, I suspect
it would have been reefed much earlier, thus allowing them to stay on a
more optimal course. By letting the boat stand more upright, it would
also have reduced the fatigue factor among the crew of the Pig.

I think that what this incident points up most of all is the need for
both members of a double handed crew to be comfortable performing all
tasks: navigating, reefing, trimming the sails, anchoring, avoiding
traffic, etc.. Further, they should be comfortable performing the
various evolutions on the boat in all conditions. The difficulty is in
acquiring these abilities without actually getting out there and doing it.

In retrospect, perhaps it would have been wise to take a few more baby
steps with the boat once it was finally ready (day sails, some easy
coastal cruising, etc.) before taking off on a multi-day leg in
challenging waters so early in the adventure.

We've all made mistakes and most of us have been lucky and gotten away
with them without major consequences. Skip and Lydia were not so
fortunate and their lessons came at a very expensive cost. I'm just
thankful no one was hurt.

- Dan

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:13:21 GMT, Jere Lull wrote:

Their plan was good

On that point I disagree but will not discuss here.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Feb 11, 1:12 pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:13:21 GMT, Jere Lull wrote:

Their plan was good.

On that point I disagree but will not discuss here.


Hello Wayne:

I second your comment. And hope others will look closely to what
preceeded their departure.
Bob

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

On Sun, 11 Feb 2007 09:59:25 -0800, Bob graced the ethernet with:

yadda, yadda, yadda

snip

psst Bob...switch to decaf, and take some time to look up the 'tact' in
the dictionary. Skip and Lydia drove their boat onto the rocks, not you
and the olecapt. The last thing they need right now is a couple of
armchair admirals telling them about their competence.
Grow a brain.

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

In article ,
Wayne.B wrote:

On Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:13:21 GMT, Jere Lull wrote:

Their plan was good

On that point I disagree but will not discuss here.

Their original plan was to do daylight-only, pulling in at night for
that stretch. That's pretty conservative and I think appropriate.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's NEW Pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Olecapt" wrote in
:

Hmm silence. Is it the "we are not going to offer an opinion
because Skip and Lydia will see it?" Or is the subject simply too
painful to raise. That is how we avoid a lot of the truths in blue
water sailing.


As I was talking to Skip on Skype, I told him we don't take Lionheart
offshore to do anything serious without 6 sailors aboard, 2 per watch
section, 3 watch sections so you can get some REST under any conditions.
Most everyone out there trying to get away from humanity is sailing with
way too few actual sailors, not professionals but able hands strong
enough to haul in a fouled main tearing up in the wind at 2AM.

It's none of my business how others sail, but as we're talking about it,
I think an able man sailing with a wife who couldn't bring the boat
around and save his life if he simply fell overboard is really too
dangerous for all. Even if she doesn't get him back aboard, able or even
alive, what is she to do, stand and scream? She MUST be properly trained
and be able to handle the boat in fair, not just wonderful,
conditions....especially alone offshore.

You all know what I'm talking about.....It's not about Skip and Lydia.
How many of you have told your best sailing friends, "John, I don't think
you and Julie should go offshore by yourselves like you do."......do you?

Larry
--
VIRUS ALERT! VISTA has been released!
NOONE will be spared!

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

Rosalie B. wrote in
:

Inexperience can be remedied. On our first cruises, I also had to
rely a lot on Bob even though I had taken some sailing lessons.



You are right...inexperience can be remedied. But, alas, ABILITY cannot.
A 40' cruising sailboat is a handful for a 250 pound, able male. I'm
sure glad I sail on one with roller furling main and mizzen. Sailing the
Endeavour in bad conditions where you had to take the main down and lash
it to the rolling, rocking boom was a handful for 2 big people, not one.
Lazy jacks are really nice until there's a gale. The finest thing about
Lionheart's roller furling mast is its GEARBOX. I can furl the main,
alone, hanging on for dear life strapped to the base of the mast cranking
in a sail at full load. Coming into the wind, possibly rolling over
because that's not necessarily coming into the wave train, isn't
necessary at all. Roller furling mains make sail handling for less
experienced hands just so simple. It's not necessary for them to figure
out which line reefs which section and how to set it under pressure.
Just roll the damned thing into the mast until what's left outside
relieves the pressure trying to rip it off the boat and that, although
not really "nautical" to brag about at the yacht club bar, way good
enough in 40 knots of wind and 12' seas. Try it sometime...even you
diehard traditionalists.

For a 120 pound female teacher who has had all the sailing classes in the
best schools in the nation....a 40' cruising sailboat in a gale is a
recipe for disaster. She's just not big enough, weighs enough and is
strong enough to do it. It's not politically correct, it's truth. Even
standing at the wheel, to say nothing of going forward to do anything
about reefing the main and furling the ripping jib, she won't be strong
enough for long. I'm 255 and moved pianos for a living for many years.
I'm not "physically fit", but I'm strong. Lifting an end to a 900 pound
piano became easy. I cannot haul the wheel back and forth fighting to
hold any kind of course with the swells against the rudder for hours and
hours to keep the boat off those reefs. My strong arms get so sore and
my back in so much pain, I'm sure glad there are 5 other big souls to
relieve me. What about the "cruising couple"? The man is totally
exhausted. His arms have given out. The 120 pound teacher must now
stand at the helm, hauling the wheel back and forth in a losing battle
with the rudder and course. She has no more relief aboard. She's
DOOMED! Face it...it's true!

But, every one of you know who the "dock hermits" are who go off way out
there for adventure, him and her, in their fancy sailing clothes and
bushy beards trying to look like sailors of 1852. They'd rather die
first than take some really strong 20-somethings with them who know how
to sail, for hours and hours if necessary....

The boat manufacturers are also to blame. We've no place to SLEEP those
boys on a 35' Endeavour, except on the cabin deck or that little cubby
hole of a quarterberth. Berths are ugly, especially berths that are
USEFUL rolling 35 degrees over so you don't get thrown out. That won't
do.....

Good enough? Amazing how many survive out of just luck.

Larry
--
VIRUS ALERT! VISTA has been released!
NOONE will be spared!

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

"Bob" wrote in news:1171228147.825891.228200
@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

My prayer for S&L and others is to
take a long hard look at the events that preceed their departure and
know that more of the same will only bring more of the same.
Bob


My analysis long before the event was that they HAD to be in the Bahamas
on a certain day to meet the kids. They "HAD to get there". I think
that is patently wrong on any sailboat that has less than a 1000 HP
engine.

No sailboat can be forced to "get there" on a certain day...sometimes
even a certain week! It's just not going to happen....safely. There's
way too many SUV drivers who are used to making Miami in 7.5 hours behind
that helm. We get there when we get there....and not a minute before we
get there. If we don't get there on schedule, we screwed up not because
we did it wrong....but because there was a schedule in the first place.

We left on schedule, no matter whether everything was running right and
everything was fixed.

We sailed on schedule, taking a chance heading into Marathon from the
wrong direction because the stupid Florida Keys are just AWFUL in a boat.

The schedule was the problem.

The solution is easy. You sail to the Bahamas, safely, no matter how
long it takes, even weeks. Isn't that great?! AFTER you've settled into
a slip or anchorage, THEN you call the kids and say, "We've arrived in
the Bahamas, safely, and will wait any length of time it takes for you to
get here and enjoy it with us!" There was no schedule to get there, no
timetable to disaster. There was no schedule for the kids to get there,
either, even though they are flying which is less of a schedule problem.

Damn everyone in a sailboat that's always in a HURRY! I sure hate to
sail with them. So doesn't my captain.... Becalmed 90 miles S of
Charleston on 80W in flat seas and NO WIND, he asked me what I thought.
"I think I'm going to get some sleep, how about you? The wind will come
up sometime this week, probably, maybe, enough to make it worth our while
to put the sails back out. I need to be home by November." (It was July
or something like that.) Isn't that why we took $400 in gourmet food
aboard and cases of beer? We weren't transporting them from Florida to
Charleston to resell..(c; "Hmm...which pate will we serve with cocktails
at happy hour this afternoon?....should we break out the sliced Salmon?"
Decisions, decisions..... "Hand me that half gallon of single malt
Scotch, will you? My glass has a leak.....God the stars are beautiful in
flat seas 90 miles out totally becalmed, laying here on the aft cabin on
my back looking straight up.....and it's SO PEACEFUL!" If it's like this
in the morning, we'll check the water in the batteries and pull that
cable for the XM antenna we forgot for the stereo.

Larry

RELAX-----WE'LL GET THERE--------------------SOME DAY!

Flying Pig News, late edition...
 

Larry wrote:
....a 40' cruising sailboat in a gale is a
recipe for disaster. She's just not big enough, weighs enough and is
strong enough to do it.

Larry,

While I agree with your comments regarding a schedule, I'm not sure the
above is universally true. No doubt on some boats it is, but certainly
not all. Ours is a Tayana 37 with a 42' sail plan (5' bow sprit).
We've got no roller furling on either the main, jib or staysail, just
regular old hank on sails. While it's true that when it comes to some
jobs such as retensioning the main after reefing, I sure get it done a
lot faster than Kathryn (and probably a little tighter), but Kathryn is
certainly able to perform all of the sail handling tasks and does
perform them when she is on watch and I'm alseep (if I'm awake, I
usually offer to do the muscle jobs).

As to your comments on steering the boat, I've met very few cruisers who
routinely steer for hours on end in good weather, let alone when things
pick up. That's what the vane is for. Even if something were to happen
to the vane (and our wheel pilot and backup tiller pilot) and we had to
hand steer like that, if there's a lot of pressure on the helm, that's a
sure sign on our boat that we've got way too much sail up. Reduce sail,
let the boat stand upright and take the strain off everything. As far
as we are concerned, we aren't racing anybody. We are far better off
taking a bit longer to get there than to push things and break
something. Enough things break as it is. If all else fails and you've
got sea room, heave to until things settle down. If you haven't figured
out how to get your boat to heave to, then you're in too much of a hurry
(refer to your comments regarding schedules). Take the time to
experiment and figure these things out before your in a position such
that you really need it.

One of the legacies that my father left me with was the concept that
"Good Seamanship" means mostly never letting yourself get into a
situation that requires good seamanship to get safely out of it. In
other words, keep things under control at all times. Being even a
little bit out of control is a recipe for disaster. The sea holds no
animosity towards us, but it can be coldly unforgiving of any mistakes
we make.