Out of My Mind
by Ruth Christie
Some Cruising Etiquette
“W
hat we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.” I love that line from the movie “Cool Hand Luke.” When out cruising the Bay, there are several unspoken rules that cruisers know from years for anchoring out and slipping into marinas. Here are a few of them:
Cruise Control
En route to your destination, watch your wake. Don’t roll other boats with your impressive gleaming speedster. Don’t rely solely on your autopilot to get to your chosen port or anchorage. Keep an eye out for other boats that are cruising, fishing, and sailing in your cruising waters.
Slipping into a Slip
If you are already safely tied up in a transient slip at your favorite marina, don’t do these four things… ever: One—don’t videotape or take photos of the boat next to you as it tries to dock in its slip. Two— don’t stare in horror and madly jump onto your boat to protect your pride and joy from the new arrivals; stay calm and cool.
Three—don’t just sit there, throw them a line and help fend off. In return, your slipmates will be forever grateful for your kindness and will be happy to return the favor. Four—during marina-designated “quiet hours,” don’t be loud or play loud music and don’t turn on your high beams so you can party on the docks and still see your buddies and brews well on into the wee hours of the morning. Nothing goes unnoticed by the people near you. Be considerate of them. Remember, unlike at your home, it’s not all about you. Finally, control your boat dog and rambunctious dock kids. Everybody needs to let off steam; that’s a given. It’s just that not everyone around you is as enthralled with your pooping growlers and crazy youngsters as you are.
“May I Help You?” ##Now, that’s more like it. I had to use my telephoto lens to capture this peaceful covemate this June up the Rhode River a piece. They gave us plenty of swinging space, unlike a claustrophobia-inspiring cruiser nearby.
10 August 2011 PropTalk
As you cruise, if you see another boat stopped and its crew madly waving their arms and yelling toward you, slow down and check things out. Chances are, you’ll be enlisted to call the marine police to help them, give them a short tow off a sandy bar, or help out in a more serious manner. If you do help, know that your boat gains good karma for the season and beyond.
“Um, Are You Rafting Up with Us?”
“Yup. I’m talking to you.” That’s the conversation starter we called out to one sailor years ago as he slipped into Harness Creek and nearly hit our anchored boat when he swung back to let out his anchor line. Needless to say, he ended up too close for comfort and had to turn tail and find another spot at dusk. There’s no need to crowd other boats already anchored in your chosen anchorage. Popular spots do get crowded, that’s for sure. But when you have a wide open anchorage, such as the stellar one up the Rhode River, there is never any need to anchor a stone’s throw from another boat. This June, with plenty of other open spaces available, a mammoth cabin cruiser from Dover, DE, anchored less than 20 yards from us, so we had the dubious pleasure of hearing their noisy generator, conversations, and musical selections from the time of their arrival to our departure the next morning. Have a heart and give others in your anchorage some safe swinging distance and a level of privacy, people. We’ll do the same for you. Oh, and if at the last minute, you happen to drop your hook in a nice, secluded cove already occupied by one boat, who no doubt thought he’d have the place to himself for the night, here’s a good tip to remember: as you pass by your cove-mates, who probably are glaring at you en masse and frowning at your anchor apparatus at the ready, say something like, “Hi. It’s OK. I own a winery. I’ll be by with a bottle of wine, before I set out my crab traps.” Worked well for us up the Wye River a few years ago, and it will for you, too. Offers of ice, wine, and beer are excellent ways to cool hot tempers. proptalk.com