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Skippy Sycophants
Dear Skippy Sycophants,
While poor, hapless Skippy certainly has a lot to learn about sailing I give him credit for at least trying to learn something about sailing by doing it. My beef with him is not that he's doing it but that he's doing it rather poorly. He seems to lack the basics. He seems to be going about it for all the wrong reasons. He's got too big a boat and it's too overloaded with frivolous crap. Something or other is always breaking down and the repairs occupy most of his time. It seems he has his boat so stuffed full that he lacks room for basics like a real spinnaker, cruising chute and probably storm sails. In other words his priorities are all out of whack. And then there's Lydia - but that's a whole new story entirely. Suffice it to say she seems to be about as much trouble as his constantly failing systems only she's less predictable and, if she's like today's typical woman, probably ten times more expensive to keep up to operating standards. I certainly would not sleep well if she was on watch. Why, she doesn't even keep to the proper side of a navigational aid. With these things in mind please consider that it's not my desire to attack Skippy or his chattel. But, I must define THEM in order to define YOU Skippy and Lydia sycophants. In doing so I can more easily prove my point which is as lacking in experience, know-how and competence as Skip et al are they have risen almost to the Lhotse face summit of sailing proficiency compared to you Mariana Trench dwellers who constantly slobber all over them and the most mediocre of their dubious accomplishments. You wannabes demonstrate your hopelessness by quickly running to the defense of a couple of cruising noobs you seem to think exemplify sailing expertise just because they manage to blunder from port to port in a mostly haphazard and lubberly fashion. It goes to show that you wannabes don't have anything but a lubber's frame of reference to go by or your attitude would be quite different. Every time Skippy posts one of his tome-like trip logs there are always too many mistakes to count with respect to proper seamanship but you Rubes don't recognize any of them. Perhaps I expect too much from all of you. It's difficult for me, who notices every unseamanlike blunder they make, to come to the realization that I am perhaps the only one here who is aware of them all. I suppose this is due to my many long years of cruising and voyaging experience. I am also an avid reader so I supplement my experience with the wisdom of other notables of sailing fame. I am definitely an expert and I know of which I speak probably to a much greater extent than the lot of you combined. So, spare me the platitudes and sarcasm when attempting to disparage my wealth of expertise. Try listening to me with understanding for once as you could learn ten times what you know now in less time than it takes for Skippy to run aground again. Wilbur Hubbard |
Skippy Sycophants
Wilbur, AKA, I'm too chicken **** to post under my real name, is
orally ****ting in his toilet again. Retch on pathetic one. |
Skippy Sycophants
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Skippy Sycophants
On Oct 20, 3:55*pm, Bruce in Bangkok
wrote: For example, we are leaving this afternoon for a trip down south to Malaysia........But hardly something to "write home about". Bruce-in-Bangkok Dear Bruce: There lies the diffrence between you and Skip. While you wouldnt consider that trip "...something to write home about...." Skip would post an epic manuscript detailing every event. Im surprised Skip hasnt started logging and psoting his BMs and Lydia's menstrual cycle.... oh, actually I think he did make a vailed reference to her menstruation. Humm, ever wonder why "men" is in the word men- sturation? So to Bruce hearty praise! Bob |
Skippy Sycophants
In article , Bob wrote:
Dear Bruce: There lies the diffrence between you and Skip. While you wouldnt consider that trip "...something to write home about...." Skip would post an epic manuscript detailing every event. Im surprised Skip hasnt started logging and psoting his BMs and Lydia's menstrual cycle.... oh, actually I think he did make a vailed reference to her menstruation. Humm, ever wonder why "men" is in the word men- sturation? I can see your point, Bob, Skip can be verbose in his trip descriptions. Some of us (well, me at least) enjoy hearing tales from those who are doing what it is we wish to do. I am without a boat. I am very inexperienced. I'm trying to raise the money for a boat and getting in as much sailing as I can. 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. While I'm waiting to afford my dream I enjoy living it through Skip and Lydia. If his story telling bugs you, don't read it! Justin. -- Justin C, by the sea. |
Skippy Sycophants
On Oct 21, 2:52*pm, Justin C wrote:
While I'm waiting to afford my dream I enjoy living it through Skip and Lydia. If his story telling bugs don't read it! Justin C, by the sea. Hi Justin: Thank you for your thoughtful post. Your honesty is refreshing. I began reading this discussion board 1999 and lurked around for a few years. I was able to glean lots of info.... mostly from rec. boats.building/ electricts. But here I find mostly the philosopy of boating and crusing ie lots of opinions and little facts. Then there is SKip. Ive read his psot for the very begning. But on occasion I fear that his posts will be considered by some as accurate methods of operating a vessel. Ill let his actions speak for its self. Now, for you. Good on for wanting the sailing life. Ive always enjoyed the ocean and boat so i went out and bought one. Actually it Ive had this one since 2001. It weigs in at 17 GRT. Up till then it was sailing dorys and such. If you really want to go sailing........ go buy a nice late 1970s 28'-32 cruiser and hone your skills coast wise first. Hve you read the Mahina crusing boats that sliped though the cracks article online??? Do it if not. Now Skip on the other hand bought the BIGGEST damn thing he could afford.... and spends 1/2 his time fixing things, half his time writting about it, most the time complaining sweetly that NOAA weather dont work, running aground, and motering around a cannel. But you are correct. I have stoped reading his posts. They are simply too tirsom. But on occasion I will skim one and find the obvious baffonish statment that cries for common sense comment. Why, so guys like you wont think it is normal seamanship. Bob |
Skippy Sycophants
On Oct 21,
I forgot to ask Justin, what part of the country do you live? Bob |
Skippy Sycophants
On 2008-10-21 18:52:30 -0400, Justin C said:
Unfortunately the only crew places I find are racing, which, though enjoyable, are not the type of sailing I really want to be doing. Understand that, but the only better way to learn how to sail and handle a boat is racing dinks. Some big-boat owners have never been taught by someone who knew more than they. They can get by, most times, but.... Use the time onboard to your advantage. Experience will help you find the *right* boat for you, too. -- 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/ |
Skippy Sycophants
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! I've been sailing on some really neat boats for 20 years and have never owned any of them. Any boat owner is always in DIRE need of HELP to do all kinds of things to his boat, some as simple as handing him his tools! It says you're by the sea so you're, obviously, already in prime country. Now all you need to do is to start hanging out around the docks on Saturday morning after they've had their breakfast and watch for that guy carrying stuff down the dock who isn't all ****ed off at the world. Ok, you see someone working on something YOU know something about, make a nice comment about his boat and ask him what's ruining his Saturday he could be out sailing from. Befriend him. If his demeanor or attitude turns you off, say a pleasant goodbye and head down the dock...nothing lost. If he seems to enjoy at least your company while he's pulling the damned valve out of the plugged head, you've already started the befriending process. Your mere being on the dock in WORK CLOTHES you're not afraid to get diesel fuel on...or worse...shows your interest in boats. A sharp boater EASILY recognizes a potential VICTIM he can hoodwink into helping him get the damned head working, again. ANY of his NASTY jobs is PRIME TERRITORY for you to wheedle your way aboard and make a friend for life! Don't be afraid to mention your best skills in passing conversations. I'm an electronic technician with electrical and diesel skills, all 3 of which are like GOLD on that dock. The cleanest boat you see is an electrical disaster area unless you see full time, paid crew pouring over it in crisp uniforms. Those bankers, doctors, lawyers, real estate tycoons and the president of the local Chamber of Commerce OWN the boat, but have to pay through the NOSE to get someone to fix anything, even the simplest faucets. NOTHING is scarier than a lawyer with a 7 figure income holding his neat little plastic tool box...staring into the engine compartment, scowling.....(c; I'm nearing the end of my sailing days because of failing knees and the reality that I don't really belong at sea any more because I get winded walking to the mailbox. But, not having spent a small fortune on boats, I've had a lot of fun working on other people's boats. I still help out and take the occasional daysail with friends. A non-drinker, they usually like to take me along so SOMEONE can be "captain" and sober for the Coastie inspection. I didn't come along to drink his booze....I CAME TO SAIL HIS BOAT!...(c; These old curmudgeons are never going to get you aboard a nice cruising sailboat headed out of the harbor on usenet. You need to position yourself at the dock, about 9ish on Saturdays so they get to know you. Once a trusted presence, you won't have any trouble finding boats to play with and sail on....or power yachts, either. I used to have the run of a Hatteras 56 FBMY that belonged to a local medical researcher. He doesn't have the boat any more, but we're still great friends. After they sold the boat, his wife told the two of us she was going to buy us a Detroit Diesel V-8 on a stand for their garage so we'd have something to keep us busy on weekends....(c; I spent many weekends in the Hat's bilge fixing all kinds of stuff....when I wasn't going somewhere with them as phony captain or crew. (I always tell people I'm "3rd Mate - Engineering and not to blame for it being aground". That's the captain's job.) ================================================== ================ OK, now what do you do for a living? Can you fix: Plumbing? Electrical? Air Conditioning and refridgeration? Diesel Engines and transmissions? Electronics (RADAR, SONAR, GPS, VHF radios, antennas, cables)? Are you a woodworker?!! Man, they LOVE woodworkers! You say you're "inexperienced" so I assume you're not a salty sailor. That doesn't make a lot of difference. Everyone ELSE aboard is a salty sailor, or tries to look like they are. The boat's overrun with sailing experts, none of which wants to know anything about why the holding tank leaks or how to fix it. The plan is simple....HE has the boat you want to sail on and is quite willing to let you crew-for-nothing IN EXCHANGE for your particular skills HE needs, quite badly, to keep us from sailing in the dark without an engine that runs or a head that flushes. If you can be a part of that plan, you won't get to sail on his boat. You'll get to sail on EVERYBODY'S boat!...(c; One more word, just in case you get the head working before the tide starts ripping and he offers to take you for a little spin. DON'T ACT LIKE ONE OF HIS GUESTS. You'll see his guests in action soon enough. They come aboard, usually with some food or booze to share. Some of them are good sailors and work very hard to sail the boat as "important crew", not the galley slaves he really needs. Then, as SOON as the boat bumps the dock and the first two lines are secure....before even the power has been plugged in, they are collecting their stuff and heading for the parking lot....GUESTS on this little harbor cruise, leaving him with dirty dishes, spilled booze, dirty decks and half-assed stowed sails in need of C-L-E-A-N-I-N-G everywhere. If you REALLY want to secure your position and get asked to go almost every time he's not courting some horny honey....HELP PICK UP, CLEAN UP AND STOW HIS BOAT nicely upon return....not run off to the party. I don't leave any boat who's taken me sailing, fed and watered me all day, UNTIL THE BOAT IS NEAT AND CLEANED to HIS satisfaction....just as if it were MY boat....which 4 of them became in later years. "Larry, can you get the boat from the yard, load up the fridge and beer cooler so WE can go sailing with some of my clients on Saturday morning about 10?", he'll ask me....(c; "This isn't that trick where you try to get me to pay the yard bill, again, is it?", I'll ask jokingly....(c; It's all sitting there at the dock when they all arrive, lines singled up and the diesel warmed just as if he were CEO of Micro$oft bringing Warren Buffett aboard for a harbor cruise.....like the big ships on the face dock. If it sounds important, I even swap my "uniform" (jeans/t- shirt/sneakers) for something nicer and more socially acceptable. Man, these nice folks have great boats to play with and YOU don't have to spend a dime if you're useful!....(c; |
Skippy Sycophants
On Oct 21, 5:16*pm, Jere Lull wrote:
On 2008-10-21 18:52:30 -0400, Justin C said: Unfortunately the only crew places I find are racing, which, though enjoyable, are not the type of sailing I really want to be doing. Understand that, but the only better way to learn how to sail and handle a boat is racing dinks. Some big-boat owners have never been taught by someone who knew more than they. They can get by, most times, but.... Use the time onboard to your advantage. Experience will help you find the *right* boat for you, too. - Jere Lull Excellent advice Jere. Its easy to know when you screw up in a 16' open boat............ Your in the water ! I dont know if racing is such a great advantage though. I know tons of racer types. Ya, they know the name of every deck gizmo and sail tweak but……….. They also typically have their own philosophical, judgment, temperament, and skill set liabilities. Typical yellers and screamers who believe they are always right and must command the boat! But that’s just my impression. I wont sail with "im an experinced racer." My other advice would be sail a small boat around then go get a deck job on a tug. Make money AND learn about passage making and “other” ways to sail. Its pretty easy. Just go get your MMD from the uscg. There are a couple other things but nothing a couple hundred bucks and the ability to fill out a few forms. Plus you can make $250-300/day sweeping floors and cleaning toilets. Where else can a janitor make that money??? Oh, and tossing lines. Hell get yourself a tattoo too. Pretty cool. Enjoy life ! Bob |
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