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See Bill Dial's Dockside, Tim
Sherman's What's Bitin' Where?
current fishing
report and more
in the free newsstand
edition of
the Mariner.
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Sailing
The voice in your head
By David Berry
The voice in my head was saying, "This is the
wrong time and place. You're not prepared and the conditions are
bad." Ignoring the voice led to a chain of events that resulted in
the final humiliation of the outboard falling off the boat.
That outcome was not directly connected to what the voice warned
me about, but had I listened, we would not have been there when the
motor took a plunge into the water. The story is too complicated to
tell, but fortunately the motor was rescued and all passengers were
safe.
How many times have you been on the boat when a voice in your
head was telling you to stop and think? Go to any marina on a summer
Sunday afternoon when a thunderstorm is approaching and see how many
people insist on docking at the precise moment the storm hits. They've
had a long weekend, it is getting late, and there is still the drive
home. The voice in their head is saying, "these storms don't last
long, wait until the wind dies down." But the voice is ignored and
they risk life, limb, and the boat to get into the slip.
We know people who have retired, taken their boat down the
Intercoastal Waterway to Florida, and then sailed across to the Bahamas.
You have to wait for a weather window where skies will remain clear for
four or five days before leaving for the islands, but people get
restless and head out early. Those that do usually say, "I should
have listened to that voice in my head."
The voice says, "check the oil, replace the worn halyard,
empty the holding tank, or take on fuel before I leave," but you
depart anyway. A lack of time, impatience, or just plain stubbornness
overrides the voice.
Sailors often develop a macho attitude about reefing their sails.
The voice says, "it is getting windy, take the time," but they
sail on until the boat is overpowered, scaring the passengers and
wearing themselves out.
What not to do
My voice is always telling me what not to do. It recognizes when
something has not been thought through completely and warns me to take a
minute, to make sure everything is prepared and the conditions are good.
The voice is not happy when it is ignored, usually setting off a cascade
of problems as punishment.
We listen when the voice says, "reef the sail before leaving the
dock." It is far easier to take it out underway than to put it in
during heavy weather." The voice knows the boat sails better with a
reef if the wind is around 15 to 17 knots. One voice in your head that
you can ignore is the voice that says, "you're being overly
cautious," if what you are about to do, or not do, is necessary as
well as safe.
There is a fine line between fear and common sense, but the voice
usually provides good advice. Have you checked all your equipment and
made any repairs? Have you checked the weather for the time you will be
on the water? Do you know when you have to be somewhere and allowed
enough time for unforeseen events? Have you plotted a course?
We have a friend that takes forever to find a spot he likes in an
anchorage. He says his voice has seldom let him down, and the truth is,
he seldom drags his anchor. Another friend spent five days in one
anchorage in the Bahamas because his voice was telling him to stay. Sure
enough, a strong storm came unexpectedly through the islands. They were
safe and sound, not out on unprotected seas.
Everyone has a voice
If you spend any time on the water you wonder if everyone has a
voice. You see jet skiers jumping a boat wake 20 feet behind the stern,
children on the bow without PFDs, (they should not be out there with or
without safety equipment), boats challenging a container ship to the
center of the channel, and boats cutting off others when the entire
Chesapeake Bay is available. We were crossing the mouth of the Chester
River many years ago when a large powerboat almost ran us down. We
veered away and when it passed near our bow we could see that no one was
on deck. Their autopilot was engaged.
A psychologist once told me that except for an extremely small
percentage of people, everyone has a voice that warns them. It just
speaks at different times and volume depending on who you are, your
experiences, background, and overall personality. People range from
cautious to daring in all walks of life.
People with other hobbies have a voice. My golfing friends say their
voice constantly tells them, "wrong club, don't swing too hard,
keep your head down, don't try to make this putt, just get it
close." Selecting a wedge instead of a nine iron seldom injures
people, though scores might improve if golfers listened to their voice.
Sailing is seldom a solo pastime. Friends and family, your racing
crew, other boats and their passengers are placed at risk when you don't
listen to the voice in your head. As you gain experience on the water
the voice allows you to go beyond what once were your limits, but your
voice has gained experience also, making it even more important to pay
attention when it speaks.
The voice in your head defines the line between safe, enjoyable
time on the water and going beyond what common sense dictates. Next time
you hear your voice in your head, listen. Maybe everything will remain
attached to the boat.
David Berry is an ASA certified sailing instructor who holds a
US Coast Guard 100-ton OUPV license. He lives and works in Havre de
Grace during the boating season. Prior to becoming a full time sailor he
held a number of executive positions in the telecommunication industry.
His hobby is sailing his own boat. You can reach him at themariner@chespub.com
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The Mariner is a
Chesapeake Publishing magazine