What's Your Demon ?

[susan kennedy]

Bridges. I hate waiting for them - circling or s- turning or avoiding clueless power boaters. Oh, and some bridge tenders too, the ones that say keep it coming then make you wait, I suspect they are drunk on power.

I must have bridge PTSD ; started in New Jersey, worsened in Miami/Ft Lauderdale area.

[Bash]

My wife going overboard while standing watch at night while I'm sleeping down below.

[Dkdoyle]

I am loving tgis open conversation. I think i figured out i like sailing for two reasons. One because i used to be scaredvto death of it and would buck up and force myself to go out but mostly for the thrill of conquering the fear. Don't fear docking any more. I have practiced that one. Don't fear loosing the engine. I can sail or skull or call seatow. I did take my boat 12 miles to the entrance to the bay and back. That was a first. Things i have not done alone i have to conquer. Overnight sail. Go under a bridge by myself, anchor out with a bahamian moor. Sail down the coast. Lots of fears left to conquer.

[motion30]

Originally Posted by sarafina

Since that describes my slip about 70% of the time, yeah that about sums it up....

My fear is your engine quites and you run into me

[Dkdoyle]

Ha that actually happened. The guy on my starboard was coming back in and lost power he says. He hit the neighbors boat off my port. The poor guy was on the boat when he did it. I thought he had lost steering. Don't really get that one.

[Capt Phil]

If I'm permitted another 'demon' it would be having a crew member go over the side at night. I have, on occasion, done a bunk count at '0 dark 30' and come up one short which scared the hell out of me until i tracked her down having a smoke on the aft deck... scary!!!! Capt Phil

[Target9000]

I fear seasickness.

[kjames]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Approaching a dock and sticking it in astern I never know which way the bum is gunna go.
If it goes the way I want then I'm fine. Its it uses its own ideas I am stuffed.

I fear Mark’s response. Compared to him I’ve had about 2 minutes’ sailing experience and my astern marina manoeuvres are already the stuff of legend (legendary joke that is) in my family. So this suggests with greater experience things are not likely to improve much………..great!

[Butler]

After everything I have done on this grrrl the last demon is any real engine work, removing the fuel injector pump for example. I will get it like I did the rigging etc etc but it will take a minute, oh yeah and fog, oh and...

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Approaching a dock and sticking it in astern I never know which way the bum is gunna go.
If it goes the way I want then I'm fine. Its it uses its own ideas I am stuffed.

Doesn't it always try to turn the stern to Port, when in reverse?
The majority of propellers are "right-hand", meaning that they turn clockwise, looking forward, when in forward gear.
These right-hand propellers "walk" the stern to port, in reverse gear.

[capn_billl]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Years of cruising, deliveries and crewing have never help me get over the fear of heavy coastal fog. Fifty or 100 miles out no worries but the heavy, goopy stuff close in and particularly in shipping lanes scares the hell out of me even with 3 radars running. Capt Phil

FOG puts a cold knot in my stomach also. I can't stand not being able to see where I am going...to hit.

[sarafina]

Originally Posted by motion30

My fear is your engine quites and you run into me

naw... that's what crew and fenders are for ; -D

[perchance]

The 40 foot booze cruiser upwind of me with 3 to 1 scope and a predicted wind increase in the offing.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Doesn't it always try to turn the stern to Port, when in reverse?
.

Yes it does. So if I need the stern to go to port its fine.
If I need it to go to Starboard its a little more difficult - and sometimes she gets outright naughty - I need to get the stern heading in that direction when still going forward.
Other trick I use is to take a long slow run up in astern. If I can have her going from stopped for 50 meters then she will come to starboard.

One member from here that I met a few months ago had a similar problem. When he was in the BVI's he took a box of beer into the Moorings/Sunsail base and asked the employees who park the boats if he could watch what they do. He went from boat to boat for a few hours and they backed boats into slips at 99 knots, showed him all the tricks! Best value box of beer!

When I first got this boat I used to do Figue of 8's in astern around a couple of mooring balls. Its good fun and helps get the hand of a new boat. Looks a bit weird to passers-by.

[Lucky Larry]

That we'll come back from going to shore and the boat is not where we left it. Moored or at anchor doesn't make much difference.