"Arwen Lune" wrote in message
...
However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.
I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble. Sailing involves a lot
of pulling as hard as you can on ropes. You need to be able to grip hard,
or wrap the rope around your hand and pull.

"Stefan Lloyd" wrote in message
...

"Arwen Lune" wrote in message
...
However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.
I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble. Sailing involves a lot
of pulling as hard as you can on ropes. You need to be able to grip hard,
or wrap the rope around your hand and pull.

I can't agree with the last bit. Wrapping a rope around your hand is risky
and should not be done. You must
always be able to let go in an emergency.
If the rope pulls back your hand can become trapped in a block or similar
and give you a serious injury. Don't do it, or if you do, don't complain
when you get hurt.

In article ,
says...

Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble. Sailing involves a lot
of pulling as hard as you can on ropes. You need to be able to grip hard,
or wrap the rope around your hand and pull.

I can't agree with the last bit. Wrapping a rope around your hand is risky
and should not be done. You must
always be able to let go in an emergency.
If the rope pulls back your hand can become trapped in a block or similar
and give you a serious injury. Don't do it, or if you do, don't complain
when you get hurt.


No way I can pull enough tension on the mainsheet without doing this.
Class rules only allow a 5:1 system. I wind the sheet around one hand
and partially stand up so my thighs do most of the work. The other hand
is occupied steering.

Ditto for many control systems on most boats I've sailed e.g. heaving on
outhaul or kicker on boats where you cannot winch them on.

"Duncan Heenan" wrote in message
...

"Stefan Lloyd" wrote in message
...
Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble. Sailing involves a
lot
of pulling as hard as you can on ropes. You need to be able to grip
hard,
or wrap the rope around your hand and pull.

I can't agree with the last bit. Wrapping a rope around your hand is risky
and should not be done. You must
always be able to let go in an emergency.
If the rope pulls back your hand can become trapped in a block or similar
and give you a serious injury. Don't do it, or if you do, don't complain
when you get hurt.

I don't know about "risky". Depends on the boat, surely? Frequently done it
in dinghies, sometimes in the keelboat (33') but never on anything bigger,
when tensions are higher. Also, personally, I don't just wrap the line round
my hand but as it comes out of the bottom of my fist I pass it across the
top of the wrist and under the thumb so that it comes out forwards. Works
for me - increases the grip I have on the line compared to just holding it,
without trying to hold two passes of the line, but YMMV.

"Stefan Lloyd" wrote in message

"Arwen Lune" wrote in message
...
However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.
I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble.

Possibly, but I think the better course is to give it a try.

Sailing involves a lot of pulling as hard as you can on ropes.

Not necessarily: the cruising world (and certain strata of the
competitive world) is full of people who couldn't pull the skin off a
rice custard and wouldn't know how to try. More generously, as others
have posted, there is ample opportunity, in the non-competitive world,
to arrange and regulate your physical involvement to accomodate any
pain, discomfort or disability you may experience.

You need to be able to grip hard, or wrap the rope around your hand
and pull.

Prolly not so much on a Tall Ship: not so much 6mm Spectra as 2 inch
laid rope, which is quite easy to grip. Ronstan also make sailing
gloves with 'sticky' palms which helps gripping ropes: can't say I've
noticed the difference myself, but it may help a bit.

John

In article , J.
Allan proclaimed...

there is ample opportunity, in the non-competitive world,
to arrange and regulate your physical involvement to
accomodate any pain, discomfort or disability you may
experience.

Thank you, I've understood that they can work with people who can't
climb the rigging (which I can, my grip is okay) so it would appear
that there are enough other things to do without needing to do much
hauling on ropes.

Ronstan also make sailing gloves with 'sticky'
palms which helps gripping ropes: can't say I've
noticed the difference myself, but it may help a bit.

Interesting. I'll look into this, was planning on getting gloves
anyway.

Cheers,
Arwen

--
"Bother" said Pooh. "We... have no use for adventures. Nasty
disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!"