C.P. Cavafy
Cavafy's poems are way more impactful when you read them at the place they happened
Sailing is like in a StartUp
At the end, you are at the top, all the responsibility & authority end with you, the Skipper !!
You are 24/7 with your 'Crew'
You should find sometime for yourself, to digest yesterday events, plan your coming day, and charge your batteries. For me, it was the Sunrise Coffee ritual.
Get the team to work together
Mooring a yacht or putting up your sails is a complex mission, which is built on several task that need to be synced and executed at the right time and in the right order. For most of the guys it was their first time on a Sailboat. They needed to learn new skills and work together with new team members.
"C'est la vie" (Shit happens)
We had our Anchor's winch jammed while lowering the Anchor for mooring, the Anchor stacked under a rock and under another Anchor's chain, and even had mooring lines released completely.
You need to quickly adjust your actions, instruct the team, and keep a positive attitude.
Steering a big boat
The first thing we all learned is that steering a 30 ton boat is totally different than steering a 470 dinghy.
You make your move, and it takes time for the boat to react. You need to anticipate and plan where the boat will be at the end of your maneuver, and make your move on time.
Fishing or Speargun diving ?
A daily dilemma: Should I put the rod & bait and wait for the fish to come, or should I put my fins & snorkel, take my Speargun, and go free diving?
Should we passively count on the bait, or should we invest time & energy into the quest ?
Going Sails or Engine ?
The ongoing debate I had with almost all of my crew members. I must say that Avishai, my co-skipper (for 1 week on the boat & for 20 years on the land) was the only one who was more fanatic than me on 'Sails only.'
As was said on our Skippers' shirt "you can’t change the wind, but you can adjust the sails."
Sailing is alway more interesting - harnessing external power (wind) to move you in the direction of your choice (under limitations), the tradeoff between Up-wind & Speed, ongoing optimization of the sails, and your ability to anticipate the wind changes ahead.
An Engine on the other-hand will take you directly to your destination, will use your fuel, and will be very predictable.
Fun & Responsibilities
We all had fun, but each of us also took responsibilities. Regardless who was on the boat : CEO's/ Students, Generals / privates, Strong guys / little girls - they all assumed responsibilities. Steering the boat, Mooring tasks, Producing fresh water, Opening and Closing the Waste, Cooking, Arranging the ropes, and Cleaning.
Keeping the Crew motivated
We had a few stressful situations on the boat. Twice we needed to get someone to a hospital. We sailed in very strong wind & waves and several times we found ourselves mooring at night after utilizing the full day. As we were literally 'on the same boat' and had to spend more days together, we supported each other and dealt with the situation as a team.
A small mistake can turn the situation into a catastrophe
There are many stories & movies about situations on boats turning into catastrophes. Living on a boat includes fun, sun, clear water, and relaxation, but we always have to remember that it is a 30-ton machine powered by the sheer force of the wind and the sea. Therefore, you should brief your crew to identify situations, and to report & react quickly as mistakes happen, before they escalate into something far worse.
Never run out of Power.
Diesel Engine, Wind & your personal energy.
One of the first things you learn on the boat is that you must have power handy and you always want to be on the move. (like a shark, who will die if he will stop swimming....) In order to keep control of the boat, you need to be on the move, otherwise you will quickly learn that you are 'floating in the wind'
Always make sure you have enough energy & momentum to reach your destination.
When you get into a tough situation, always find the right man for the job.
Zviki, you were expendable, just the right person to climb the Boom and reconnect the loose TopingLift.
As opportunity appears in front of you, make sure you recongnize it & change your plans accordingly, as you may never get another chance....
