What would YOU do?

[HoffaLives]

A night before a new trip somewhere, say a two week journey up the coast, and you have a nightmare. A real bad nightmare about you and your family and your boat. Everyone dies, or is about to, and you wake up just in time, eyes bulging, sweat running off your balls. You tell yourself it's just a dream, but all the next day you can't shake that bad feeling.

It was just a dream, right, and you aren't superstitious. But what would you do? Would you just throw back a few valium-laced pina coladas (with umbrellas) and carry on, or would you reconsider your options and suddenly remember a thru-hull that should be replaced?

[Valiente]

Well, I guess that depends greatly on 1) the confidence you have in your own seamanship, 2) the confidence you have in your crew should you be brained by the boom, and 3) the confidence you have in your maintenance and safety procedures.

Your own mind is either exhibiting a reasonable apprehension based on the factors you can't be expected to control (like weather and other idiot boaters), or guilt over the things you've had every opportunity to address, but haven't (like a dodgy thru-hull).

On days when "reasonable apprehension" is in play, I sometimes throw up my breakfast, because I HAVE been present when yard workers have dropped my boat in an egregious and avoidable manner. My knowledge of what could go wrong is influenced by what has already gone wrong...and might again.

On the other hand, I've left harbour under some pretty foul conditions, where just motoring out without clipping some rich guy's barbeque has been a challenge, but once under sail, I've been quite happy, puke-free and at peace, because I know I have a good vessel in good running order, and I feel competent enough at sea to focus on the series of events in a typical voyage...like cleaning up the hurl from my son, who should listen when his parents say "get on deck!"

It really comes down to this: If you are apprehensive, it is probably more seamanlike than being over-confident or even cavalier. The sea has great potential for mischief, but that potential is rarely realized with the prepared sailor.

[JohnRPollard]

This happens to lots of folks. I think it's just normal pre-departure anxiety bizarrely manifesting itself in your dream-state subconscious while you sleep. If we paid it much heed, we'd never go anywhere.

Because I AM a superstitious Irishman, I just touch wood and press on.

[AjariBonten]

Like in arms negotiations, Trust But Verify.

Yes, it does sound like a typical "performance anxiety" dream. And if this is about you, and current, it's not surprising with your recent prop-wrap misfortune.

However, take the opportunity to triple check everything on the boat and re-confirm the weather, etc.

You don't have to be superstitious to have a small measure of pre-cognition; but don't automatically think you are interpreting it correctly.

If you would do this trip yesterday, what has changed since? What could you know, but not be aware of? That is the likely source of you concern.

Have faith in yourself.

[southerncross31]

I always listen to my dreams because they always seem to be accurate. If that happened to me i would just re-schedule the trip in favor of suffering with the worry. However, everybody seems to know when to follow their own intuition.

[labatt]

Had the same dream before my delivery of Pelican from Annapolis to Lake Champlain - several times. Everything went well. I continue to have that dream when I read the recreational forecast and the winds are 25-35 with 4 foot+ waves. It's natural. BTW - the admiral says "Worry is good. Worry is healthy. Worry keeps you safe and sharp."

[AjariBonten]

Originally Posted by labatt

BTW - the admiral says "Worry is good. Worry is healthy. Worry keeps you safe and sharp."

Hey we're not sharing the same admiral are we??????

[sailingdog]

Fear is good, up to a point... it helps keep you aware and alert... Don't leave on a Friday... and make sure you file a good float plan, have all the safety and emergency gear aboard... and use the tethers and harnesses...

However, before leaving, take a really good look around the boat, check the bilge pumps and make sure they're working... make sure you've got the wooden plugs near the through-hulls...etc... your dreams are a product of the subconscious mind and it may have noticed something that your conscious mind has missed.

[Tartan34C]

Hoffa,
After reading what you have posted so far on this forum I don’t think boating is for you. Find another sport that is safer and requires less thinking.
All the best,
Robert Gainer

[Faster]

A friend of mine has also experienced anxiety-producing dreams of sailing in fog, uncharted rocks, sinking boats etc.... but always in the week or two following an enjoyable, uneventful cruise......

Just goes to show you that our minds work in mysterious ways!