Interesting debate on YBW R2R

[NigeL]

www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1805929/an/0/page/0/gonew/1#UNREAD

Regarding whether Skipper should be able to do all on board. As a guest I can still read all except the Lounge on YBW. I still venture over occasionally to have a look.

This particular one caught my eye and interest. Having been on big ships as well as all sorts of Yachts / boats - the views are striking, but not unexpected.

So what about it .. ? Do you think he / she should be able to do all, or understand what is needed ? It's interesting I think because I believe it depends on what angle you look at it and what style of boating you do !

[Ken.P.]

Not looked at the thread as I'm very choosy about what I look at over there.

As a single-hander, I have to be able to do every job even if crewed. On a bigger boat, one that always uses crew, why would the skipper need to know everything?
Not sure it works that way on an aircraft carrier. ;D

It's got to be a "sliding scale" type of situation.

I can imagine the entrenched replies on YBW...

[NigeL]

I think many will answer wherever it is .. YBW / Club bar ... pub etc. in entrenched style views. But that is life.

I didn't post my thoughts, as I wanted to see others. But think maybe I should ...

I spotted a few comments over there ... that echo my thoughts generally, but I cannot really agree with any totally. As Ken says - it all depends on the situation etc.

Having raced boats as well as pottered about - you soon learn to look at people on board with you and make decision as to what you'll ask them to do. That is the sign of a good skipper IMHO - to delegate and do it wisely, without fuss. The skipper may not be capable of doing it all - I certainly cannot go climbing masts ! or diving down to props - but I have a reasonable idea of what is needed - that doesn't mean to say I know it fully.
If singlehanded then of course that's a different matter as you are now Master and Crew all in one.

I can s/hand my boat, but know I am at limits quite often. The trick there is to realise the limits and not fudge over them. Know what you can do ... know what others can do ... that way you will have a safe trip and safe boat ...

That's my view anyway !!

[mirelle]

Well I think I agree with Nigel.

I would never want anything to do with a boat that I could not singlehand, but my way of sailing when singlehanded is different and much more cautious than normal.

I am fairly useless mechanically and totally useless electrically, so there are two jobs on the boat that the skipper can’t do. I can change a belt or an impeller on the engine but that’s about it.

HW Tilman who was my idea of a good skipper and a good seaman always made a point of “recruiting” someone who could and would cope with the engine and someone who would cook (note – not “could cook”)

[malcb]

As a single hander, like others, I can, and have to, be able to turn my hand to do anything on the boat.

However when I am skippering a boat with crew, in the MVS or the Gas Sailing Association, it is important to ensure that each member of the crew has a job/responsibility that fits with their skills and is allowed to get on with that job without interference from me. Guidance, yes, interference definitely not. Which means the skipper must be able to spot that something may go wrong well before it becomes obvious to others.

Believe me it is very difficult sometimes to give the helm to someone so that they can bring the boat alongside between two other craft when they have never actually done it before. OK they will have practiced on empty outside pontoons.

If you have a crew, the job should be to manage the crew, and give them the experiences to become skippers themselves.

[pyrojames]

As a sometime single hander now, (I used to be an all time) I can do everything on the boat except electronics. Electrics are fine. That is not to say that I will do everything as well as other crew, but I should at least be able to manage everything. As a mechanical engineer, and amateur boat builder I have a bit of an advanatge.

Adding, on ships however, there is just too much to know everything. Delegation is required.

[NigeL]

Here Here .... so far it seems IMHO comon sense prevails - a Skipper with crew is not expected to handle everything .. he should delegate and delegate as wisely as possible.

[olivepage]

Ah yes but:

It isn't a question of whether he SHOULD do everything

But Whether he CAN

A somewhat different thing

I guess most of us sail with small crews maybe only 1 or 2

In that case most of the crew should be able to do most of the jobs, and if the crew is only one - like me mostly then ideally both should be able to do it all.

Worked well when I had heart attack on boat and son was able to take over until I recovered. His nav was a bit shaky but he could steer a course, avoid a ship or 2 and handle the sails effectively single handed, at night for some 6 hours.

Suppose the real question must be "what do you think the skipper need not be able to do?" - and I'm thinking of a small family type yacht, not the USS Enterprise.

[NigeL]

I think the real crux is "the failsafe" part ...

What if scenario.

Like most things in life we can all come up with situations that would tax the best skipper in the world, but we usually manage with our limited ability / knowledge.

I regard myself as Skipper on all trips on my boat - but it's academic - as I usually say to crew - OK guy / guys etc. - there you are, go where you want ... if we get into trouble I'll be there. So I'm sort of not skippering if you see what I mean, but am in a sense. I get a great sense of satisfaction out of it - I've had some nervous, all sorts on board and I like to see them relax, calm down by doing it without pressure or fuss. I can sit back and enjoy it as well. I don't think there are many who can actually sit back as I do - why I can I have no idea ! I just can.
I don't know all the answers, I cannot do all the things on a boat. But I can survive.