NUTS & BOATS
The twice monthly newsletter for to-be and already-are cruisers Volume 2, Issue #7 - April 1, 2004
Publisher: Trish Lambert
www.takehersailing.com
(C) P. Lambert 2004
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WHAT'S NEW ON TAKE HER SAILING FOR APRIL 2004
This issue of Nuts & Boats is the product of a weekend of sailing that we had last month. It was our first foray out into the waters of Choctawhatchee Bay (Florida Panhandle, USA) and the nearby portion of the Intracoastal Waterway. Also, it was the first time that Nehalennia had had her sails unfurled since she arrived in Panama City early last fall. Being back at an angle with the water rushing under the hull and the wind whooshing by went a long way toward clearing the cobwebs out of my brain. And, as usual, I got to thinking about this and that--so it's not surprising that my articles for this issue stem from that weekend. I am looking forward to many more sailing trips in the area--if nothing else, I'm sure to come up with new things to write about!
A CRUISER'S EYE VIEW
Ego Be Damned! by Trish Lambert I think I've discovered one of the immutable laws of sailing. My discovery took place a few weekends ago, when Skip and I were returned from a great day of sailing. We had been on a running reach most of the time, Nehalennia's favorite tack, with all of our canvas up (even the usually neglected staysail). The wind speed indicator isn't functioning, so all I can tell you is that it was blowing hard enough to move our heavy little double ender at nearly hull speed, in spite of the fact that she was towing the dinghy. And when we rounded up toward the marina and tightened the sails into close hauled configuration, there was enough wind for the lee rail to go under water. Brisk--the wind was brisk. It was as we began to douse the sails that I suddenly realized that this brisk wind was going to be squarely on our collective butt when we went to dock. It would be pushing us into the pilings once we turned into the fairway, and then into the dock once we turned into the slip. My job in the docking drill is helmsperson; Skip is far more nimble and athletic than I am, so we agreed long ago that I manage the wheel while he manages lines, fenders, and boat hooks. We're a good team, and we've always been successful in our maneuvers. So it was natural for me to broach the subject as we approached the marina. "Yeah," Skip said. "It's going to be tricky. We've got that shoal on the other side of the fairway, so you won't be able to turn wide. And we'll be getting blown down on the other boats once you are broadside to the wind. Well, we need to go to the fuel dock first. Once we tie up there, I'll go over and see if there's anyone around the slip who can stand by to help." Good plan. So I steered us to the fuel dock--with the wind on our stern--and prepared to execute a smooth parking job. I mean how hard can tying up to one long stretch of pier be, even in this wind? I had no question that even with the wind pushing me, I would be able to bring Nehalennia in neatly like I've done so many times before. Ha. I came alongside all right, well enough for Skip to jump onto the dock with the stern line. I started forward to take care of the bowline, but then something went wrong. The stern started moving away from the dock, and kept moving until Skip was literally at the end of his rope. "I can't hold onto her much longer!" he yelled. "Are we still in reverse?" I ran back to make sure we were out of gear and got to the controls at the same time that someone on the dock shouted: "Your bow is stuck on the dock!" Turns out that the bobstay had neatly inserted itself between two dock planks, turning the bow into a pivot boat for the boat. Which was why Skip couldn't pull the stern in. With help from folks on the dock, we got the bobstay unstuck. There was no damage to vessel or pier, thankfully, but my ego was pretty dented. Feeling humbled, I sat in the cockpit while we fueled up, thinking about how much more difficult docking between four pilings was going to be. If I couldn't bring the boat alongside a dock safely in this stern wind, how the heck was I going to do it when our tying-off targets were even harder to hit? And there was going to be an audience-all those helpful folks standing by with extra hands and extra opinions. Ugh. I didn't wallow for long. By the time Skip returned from rounding up assistance at our slip, I had decided on the approach I should take to this challenge. Ego be damned, I said to myself. Let's just say right now that this docking is going to be a near disaster. No matter how sloppily I do this job, or how many aborted attempts I have to make, as long as we get the boat into the slip and tied up without major damage to hull, rigging, and people, we will consider it a success. Skip agreed, and off we went. It was one of the best docking jobs I've ever done. Compliments flowed from the group on the pier after we tied up. "Great job! Nice work! I wasn't sure you were going make it in this wind, but you made an outstanding landing!" And so on. I definitely did not get puffed up from all this backpatting. I thanked everyone politely and admitted to being greatly relieved. I knew that my prowess wasn't what had made the docking work. I had figured out a natural law of sailing: WHEN IT COMES TO TETHERING THE BOAT, WHETHER AT ANCHOR OR AT DOCK, THE PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE VESSEL IS INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL TO THE FEAR OF DAMAGE TO THE EGO. I am still completely amazed at the docking job I did that day, given the conditions. If I ever have to do it again, I am by no means complacent about my ability to pull it off. After all, there's no telling how much ego I will have invested next time!!
Have you posted your location on the THS GuestMap? We've now got folks in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand!
But I know there are more of you out there!
CRUISING STRATEGY
In Aid of Material Divestiture by Trish Lambert While we may be certain that the liveaboard and/or cruising lifestyle is worth seeking, the actual transition from land to sea is a challenge on many fronts. Going from a nonmoving, probably multi-room residence to a floating, possibly one-room abode takes a fair amount of adjustment, mentally and physically. One of the most daunting adjustments, I think, is the paring down of material goods to those that will fit onto a small boat, and possibly into a small storage space. Even though I have gone through the divesting exercise multiple times over the years, I never escape the sensation of overwhelm when I first start out. And I am always amazed at all the stuff I have accumulated that now needs to be gotten rid of. At the other end of the exercise, though, there is always a feeling of liberation and lightness that makes the ordeal worthwhile. To help you deal with this process, here are the basic steps for "material divestiture" that have worked for me: Consider all of the belongings you now have. Set aside any heirlooms or absolutely irreplaceable mementos. In addition to furniture, include paintings, jewelry, glassware, letters, journals, and photographs Canvass family members to see if anyone is interested in taking these items (either permanently or on loan, your choice). Find secure storage for the remaining items. I don't recommend using family members as storage providers; they have their own lives to live, and situations may change for them while you are out on the high seas that could put your belongings at risk. Take all the items that will be or might be useful in your new lifestyle to the boat. This includes the "usual" boat type stuff as well as favorite cooking pans, favorite cookbooks, pictures and photos that will fit on bulkheads, bed linens, favorite books/music, and so on. See if there is space for this stuff. If not, reorganize, cull more things out, and/or remove other items to make space. Evaluate what's left and dispose of useable items in the most appropriate manner (for example, send any intrinsically valuable items to auction, have a yard sale, donate to a charity, donate useable books to the local library or the schools. Take the rest to the dump.
This may sound easier said than done, especially if you are at the beginning of the process. But, trust me and the many other folks who have gone through this exercise: It IS doable. And once done, you will be amazed and probably gratified by how little you need to own to be happy! | 
