In article 2008102206411416807-jerelull@maccom, Jere Lull wrote:
On 2008-10-22 00:03:25 -0400, Larry said:

Justin C wrote in
:

Unfortunately the only crew places I find are racing, which, though
enjoyable, are not the type of sailing I really want to be doing. I
read this newsgroup to learn from those who have done it, are doing it,
or have other interesting facts to pass on.

Justin, you've been hanging out in the wrong places!

Excellent post. The only thing I could add would be to show up in
spring as owners are getting things ready: fixing, sanding, varnishing
and so forth. Even if you don't know anything, just having you around
giving them a reason to keep working instead of taking a break will let
them get far more done. They'll be amazed how much "you" did and of
course think of you when they need crew to take their
too-big-for-singlehanding boat out.

For some reason Larry's post didn't make it to my server, I've just been
and read it on Google, so this reply is to Larry.

It's not easy hanging around the docks here. The only option I have is a
local marina which is locked down so tight that from the 'public' side,
where we can look at the boats without needing a swipe-card for entry,
it's a half-mile walk around to the gate to give the guy a hand... and
that's if he heard you yell across to him in the first place!

Most of the boats here never move at all, and most work seems to be
carried out by the local yard.

I hear what you're saying, Larry, and am trying! I don't have a lot of
manual skills, my job is desk-bound, but I'm a practical person and have
no problem getting my hands dirty. I've just gotta get one of those
swipe-cards without paying for a berth.

Justin.

--
Justin C, by the sea.

On Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:23:06 -0000, Justin C
wrote:

I've just gotta get one of those
swipe-cards without paying for a berth.

Perhaps you could launch a dinghy somewhere nearby and motor around
the docks from the water side as you get to meet people?

On 2008-10-23 19:23:06 -0400, Justin C said:

It's not easy hanging around the docks here. The only option I have is a
local marina which is locked down so tight that from the 'public' side,
where we can look at the boats without needing a swipe-card for entry,
it's a half-mile walk around to the gate to give the guy a hand... and
that's if he heard you yell across to him in the first place!

Then it seems the racing crowd is the way to go at first. I expect that
crew have some way of getting in without a slip holder being there.
Marina security usually isn't as tight as it seems. It's strong enough
only to keep the casual criminal and riff-raff at bay.

Once you get your foot in the door, so to speak, and you're recognized
as enthusiastic and/or capable crew, other opportunities will present
themselves. BTW, that "recognized" is literal. If you're around a lot,
crewing, chatting and offering help, other dockmates will remember.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Justin C wrote in
:

I hear what you're saying, Larry, and am trying! I don't have a lot of
manual skills, my job is desk-bound, but I'm a practical person and have
no problem getting my hands dirty. I've just gotta get one of those
swipe-cards without paying for a berth.



Hmm...I'm sorry marinas have come to that where you live. We have gates,
but they are only closed at night to prevent looting. I have the codes....

I only stay aboard any more if I get to bombed to drive at dock
parties...which I seem interested in less and less, any more.

Wonder what would happen if you just happen to be hanging out in the
parking lot when a card holder needed to carry a bunch of stuff to his
boat. "Here, let me help you carry that...", as you follow him through the
gate with his stuff.

As you can see, I'm a professional wheedler....(c; Don't try this at
home...

Oh, another word of advise if you're going to try this. NEVER bring any of
your friends to the docks. Always come alone. You don't want to bring
others to your new friend's boat....unless HE invites you to...

Good luck getting through the gate. Oh, the main head code number is
13452, if you gotta pee...(c;

damned locks.

In article , Larry wrote:
Justin C wrote in
:

I hear what you're saying, Larry, and am trying! I don't have a lot of
manual skills, my job is desk-bound, but I'm a practical person and have
no problem getting my hands dirty. I've just gotta get one of those
swipe-cards without paying for a berth.



Hmm...I'm sorry marinas have come to that where you live. We have gates,
but they are only closed at night to prevent looting. I have the codes....

I only stay aboard any more if I get to bombed to drive at dock
parties...which I seem interested in less and less, any more.

Wonder what would happen if you just happen to be hanging out in the
parking lot when a card holder needed to carry a bunch of stuff to his
boat. "Here, let me help you carry that...", as you follow him through the
gate with his stuff.

As you can see, I'm a professional wheedler....(c; Don't try this at
home...

Oh, another word of advise if you're going to try this. NEVER bring any of
your friends to the docks. Always come alone. You don't want to bring
others to your new friend's boat....unless HE invites you to...

Good luck getting through the gate. Oh, the main head code number is
13452, if you gotta pee...(c;

Larry, you just keep at it don't you?! You're like a dog with a bone! All suggestions are great. As another has said, racing is a good way to start. I do get in there quite frequently and am being recognised more often.

Another mentioned launching a dinghy... nice idea, except water height is controlled by a lock, I don't think they'd let me through with a little inflatable.

Hanging around the car-park to help carry is a bit hit and miss, there are three car-parks, and four distinct parts to the marina, the main basin, north harbour, west harbour and south harbour. I think I'm going to have to stick with the racing until I'm better known, it's only been about a year.

For those with Google Earth here's the lat/long so you can see it for yourself:

050 47'44.98"N 000 19'43.65"E

Justin.

--
Justin C, by the sea.

"Justin C" wrote in message
...
In article , Larry wrote:
Justin C wrote in
:

I hear what you're saying, Larry, and am trying! I don't have a lot of
manual skills, my job is desk-bound, but I'm a practical person and have
no problem getting my hands dirty. I've just gotta get one of those
swipe-cards without paying for a berth.



Hmm...I'm sorry marinas have come to that where you live. We have gates,
but they are only closed at night to prevent looting. I have the
codes....

I only stay aboard any more if I get to bombed to drive at dock
parties...which I seem interested in less and less, any more.

Wonder what would happen if you just happen to be hanging out in the
parking lot when a card holder needed to carry a bunch of stuff to his
boat. "Here, let me help you carry that...", as you follow him through
the
gate with his stuff.

As you can see, I'm a professional wheedler....(c; Don't try this at
home...

Oh, another word of advise if you're going to try this. NEVER bring any
of
your friends to the docks. Always come alone. You don't want to bring
others to your new friend's boat....unless HE invites you to...

Good luck getting through the gate. Oh, the main head code number is
13452, if you gotta pee...(c;

Larry, you just keep at it don't you?! You're like a dog with a bone! All
suggestions are great. As another has said, racing is a good way to start.
I do get in there quite frequently and am being recognised more often.

Another mentioned launching a dinghy... nice idea, except water height is
controlled by a lock, I don't think they'd let me through with a little
inflatable.

Hanging around the car-park to help carry is a bit hit and miss, there are
three car-parks, and four distinct parts to the marina, the main basin,
north harbour, west harbour and south harbour. I think I'm going to have
to stick with the racing until I'm better known, it's only been about a
year.

For those with Google Earth here's the lat/long so you can see it for
yourself:

050 47'44.98"N 000 19'43.65"E

Justin.

--
Justin C, by the sea.

Nice spot.
Just a little curio - when I was growing up, we had a large house across a
park from us (we could see it) that had a name embossed in the front fence.
Apparently we knew the people there because there's a picture of me at about
age 1 with my mother and another lady inside the property with the house
name underneath me.

The fence was brick, about waist high and it had its name "Sussex by the
Sea" stuck in the render in seashells.
Is that a common turn of phrase in your parts? I notice you use it.

hoges in wa

In article , Hoges in WA wrote:

"Justin C" wrote in message
...

[snip]

--
Justin C, by the sea.

Nice spot.
Just a little curio - when I was growing up, we had a large house across a
park from us (we could see it) that had a name embossed in the front fence.
Apparently we knew the people there because there's a picture of me at about
age 1 with my mother and another lady inside the property with the house
name underneath me.

The fence was brick, about waist high and it had its name "Sussex by the
Sea" stuck in the render in seashells.
Is that a common turn of phrase in your parts? I notice you use it.

hoges in wa

It is a phrase I've heard before, but was not in my mind when I came up
with the .sig line. I went for rhyme and meter.

WRT Sussex by the Sea, a quick Google throws up a song from 1907 called
"Sussex by the Sea", and also a Rudyard Kipling poem. According to
Wikipedia it's a phrase that has been adopted by various Sussex coastal
areas. There is even a sussexbythesea.com, though that seems to be
exclusively for those in West Sussex, who obviously have ideas above
their station, and appear to want nothing to do with us in East
Sussex... perhaps they're jealous of our "1066 Country" label (Battle of
Hastings took place not 10 miles from here).

Historically there has been a lot of sailing in this area, Hastings is
one of the original Cinque Ports URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Ports, but today there is very
little of the harbour left, the only vessels that sail our of hear are
small(ish) fishing boats, and they're all launched from the beach and
brought ashore when they return URL: http://tinyurl.com/646zvc. Google
Earth showing what's left of the fishing industry in the town:
050 51'18.80"N 000 35'36.55"E

Justin.

--
Justin C, by the sea.