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Lost a bet

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TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/24/2011 : 10:20:27

Right after we bought the Watkins 25 (and after a few beers) my wife and her friend were saying they could take the boat out i.e. start the engine, leave the dock and marina, setting up and raising the sails, sail the boat, and everything in reverse to secure the boat at the end of the day. We made a bet, that by July 15th (because of house guests we we pushed the date back one week to July 23rd) the girls would be able to do all of the above and had a dinner riding on it. I have to admit, I really wanted to lose the bet and for her to succeed, I've been trying to get her more involved since I bought a Capri 22 in 2005. They use to joke that their job was to sit around and "look pretty"...in other words - bow fluff.

I sensed my wife was serious, she started reading a book called "It's your boat too", asking questions whenever we went out, raising and lowering the sails, handling the lines, docking and un-docking, etc, I still thought I'd win the bet, but I was thrilled that she knew how to tie a figure eight, a bowline, hank on the jib, fall off the wind, etc (and more importantly, how to lower and start the engine).

We left the dock yesterday with a nice 8-10 knot easterly sea-breeze, pulled out into the river and headed north for a nice long beam reach. As we started heading south for home, the wind shifted a little south and she had to make a few tacks to make it in, but she handled it like an old pro. She did a great job, we don't even have any new dock marks that I'd have rub out next time the boat was hauled out. She did pick up one annoying habit...calling me "swabby"

She loves Bonefish Grill and the closest one is in Orlando, about an hour away, so I guess I'll have to leave the island and head inland soon. Her friend never got beyond cabin wench, so my buddy gets the free dinner. Oh well, having my wife more involved and confident on the boat is worth a free dinner, even if I have to cross a bridge

Tom Curran
1981 Capri 25 Hull #101 "Dirty Debbie"
1988 Watkins 30
PAFB, FL

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2011 : 10:56:18

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Oh well, having my wife more involved and confident on the boat is worth a free dinner, even if I have to cross a bridge<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Awesome. Totally agree with your last.

Paul

Edited by - britinusa on 07/24/2011 10:56:34

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2011 : 11:12:40

Congratulations on your "loss". What I wouldn't give for a similar loss...

Can she fly out and coach my wife? We've only been out twice so far this year, both times had some sort of bad experience for her and she's soured on sailing. She's reading "The Complete Sailor" and "Dragged Aboard", but I'm going to look for "It's your boat too", I want that to be her attitude.

I was hoping to go today, but NOAA is predicting 10-15 knots in the Elliott Bay area and if it's anything like yesterday while we were riding our bikes along the shore, I don't even want to try to take her out in it. I was thinking a double reef and our 70% jib might do the trick, but I'll have to see what she says. I'm not overly hopeful, at least we can go to the target range & get some practice in, it's a glorious day here.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2011 : 11:35:57

thumbs up!

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2011 : 13:43:30

Good for her! Tom, Sounds like your soon to be not needed....

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2011 : 19:25:21

That's about as good as it gets! Congrats to dabodayas!! Enjoy that dinner!

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3477 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2011 : 04:37:45

Hmmm wouldn't it be fun to install a web camera looking at that helm.

My grlfrnd took the boat out alone with two grlfrnds about a month ago, and they just loved it. It was such a thrill for me, and she gets to really understand more about the whole experience. Cant wait to see her take it out in November, a little different from the Summer winds.

I'm really trying to get her up to speed as quickly as possible, as you need as much experience as possible when conditions change for the worse.

"The Girls of Summer" ( and I would be a dead man if she heard me say that! ) Great to have someone that can really, truly "take the helm".

I hope you get to buy many dinners, and everyone, pray for my boat!

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NCBrew
Captain

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USA
338 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2011 : 06:41:03

If your sailing mate cannot drop the sails, start the motor and get you to a dock where the ambulance is waiting for you, you may be in serious trouble.

Heart attack, stroke, fell down the ladder, etc

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2011 : 14:48:37

Great stuff Tom!

My wife is great crew, but scared of the helm. I'm working on it with her.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2011 : 15:04:53

Chris hasn't tried maneuvering in the marina or docking yet. Best to let her go at her own pace.

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