Help us shorten our learning curve... What was the dumbest/worst mistake you've made?

[Freesail99]

Lol, I love it !!!

[sailortjk1]

A long time ago, no a very long time ago, I hate to admit it. During a crowded festival in a crowded anchorage; he were drifting straight down wind when we thought we should put the anchor down. The anchor does catch and we begin to swing straight into a very impressive and very expensive mega yacht.

Well the captain of this boat/yacht was not to pleased with our anchoring techniques and he let us know how he felt.

More to follow..........

[camaraderie]

Didn't we already have this thread recently?

[Idiens]

Sure did Cam. But there's a snag, anyone here admitting to a mistake has survived it.

[PBzeer]

Yes, I believe we did cam, don't recall the name of the thread though.

JodyKS - while it certainly helps, to know some things not to do, you'll find that even if you know not to do something, that it still may well happen. The best advice, is to be sure to think things through, before you do them.

[goose327]

"The best advice, is to be sure to think things through, before you do them."

That's it in a nutshell. But also remember Murphy always has something to say about best laid plans, so be ready for the unexpected.

[JodyKS]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Didn't we already have this thread recently?

Hey, i certainly didn't mean to repeat threads... I've been reading alot... and hadn't seen it.... you can delete if you choose

[tigerregis]

My biggest mistake besides marriage, was not paying attention when the prof was lecturing on sycophancy.

[pirateofcapeann]

“Those who would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime”

I can give you some suggestions on what TO do. It looks like you’ve got a 22 – 25 footer so as newbie’s, here’s what I’d suggest:

-Take a CG Auxiliary Safe Boating Course. Practice what you learn!

-Find other people who have a boat similar to yours and cruise in transient with them on weekends. Do the raft-ups, cookouts and overnights (Please, lay to your own gear overnight) and ask your new friends, “what would you do if…” over rum and cokes.

-Start out slow. Don’t try to cross the Atlantic on yer first cruise. Get a chart that shows like 30 miles either side of where you keep your boat moored and pin it to a wall in your house. Keep the weather radio next to it and use it as your planning board.

-If you can, get involved with a yacht club (I can’t believe I’m suggesting this) and utilize the facilities they have. Someone’s always looking for crew for Saturday’s big race. Watch what some of the more experienced sailors do. Some, you’ll like and can learn from. Others are @$$ #@(&$ and you’ll not want to be like them at all!

-Buy a copy of the Chapman’s and look through it like a coffee table book. You’ll be surprised how much information you glean from just flipping through those pages.

-You are now the skipper of a boat that can take you to your death just as easily as she can take you to paradise. Keep that in mind as you prepare her and yourself for voyaging.

Have fun. After all, isn’t that why you spent all of that money that you worked yer butt off for???

[sailortjk1]

Originally Posted by JodyKS

Hey, i certainly didn't mean to repeat threads... I've been reading alot... and hadn't seen it.... you can delete if you choose

It happens all the time.