Fog Psychology

Used sailboats commonly list with radar so I share this story to urge my first time boat buyers to become wise radar users.

With the Auto pilot steering outbound a familiar channel, rock walls on either side, and myself on the bow prepping the staysail,  I noticed a different wave formation about 20 yards of the port bow.  Shallows?

I looked up to evaluate our distance from the jetties, but they were gone.  I couldn’t’ see them. I couldn’t see anything-  Just 360 degrees of pure fog, not even an outline of land.  A nervous imagination started spinning my mental compass.  Which direction am I going?  Grasping any barring- The only mark was the oddly placed little breaking waves now just 10 yards off the bow.  Yikes!

I thought I trusted my auto pilot but having purchased several used sailboats, trust in any device is scarce.  The sudden blindness and odd waves were spooky.  I hustled back to the GPS which showed us safe from rocks but headed towards a large channel buoy. I could not see it but when the radar “warmed-up”  The screen showed the bouys and our course relative to the rock wall.  That was reassuring.  I altered course and a minuite later saw the buoy pass close by.   

I was thankful to know what both the rocks and the bouys looked like on the radar.  Having studied them before instilled confidence in what the screen displayed. 

Relaxing some, I covered the GPS to simulate having to navigate by the radar alone.  This was a great exercise.

My initial reaction to the fog was to look “harder” and keep looking until something materializes.  This of course is wrong.  If, on a clear day, I look at the real world 80% and the electronics only 20% I now believe that, in dense fog, that ratio reverses (if single handed).  It was time to deepen my trust in the radar.

Use a clear day to learn how certain objects, buoys, small boats, big boats, and at various distances appear on screen.  You’ll find the knowledge particularly valuable against the emotions surrounding disorientation and may help let that used sailboat live to sail another day.

The Miami Strictly Sail Boat Show 2014

I view sailboats like an art enthusiast that sits still to "experience" a painting.  Yes, I liked the Miami boat show.  The scene is hot, slightly crowded, and frantic but there were beautiful new an used sailboats, and experts on every sailing accessory.  The knowledge was free to the asking and mostly within walking distance. 

The high point for us was John Kretschmer’s lectures on Ocean Passages and Storm Sailing.  John is a professional sailor and gifted story teller.  His lectures offered valuable facts and opinions that had us jotting notes, cringing, and laughing.  Here are a few subtopics I found interesting:

• Chafe is your number on enemy on a long passage.
• Don’t use your main sail in the down wind trades.
• Over purchase your auto pilot and furling rigs.

His latest book is A Serious Ocean- Sailboats, storms, stories, and lessons learned from 30 years at sea.

Rarely are two people equally tolerant of crowds, heat, and sales people.  So, next year we’ll plan to accommodate that inevitable point at which I’m getting started and my wife has had enough.

Boat Show Tips:

• The show’s last day was a Monday which was far less busy than the weekend. 
• Have a backpack with:  Water, snacks, hat, sun screen, and room for purchases.
• Set goals for the show.  It provides everyone a sense of purpose and progress. If the goal is simple and easy there’s also room for spontaneous excursions that would, with out a goal, feel like impulsive floundering.  If the couple, plans the goal together both parties work together during the show.  My targets were to board the Hanse 50, Passport 54, and Hylas 46.  Attend 4 lectures, See an AIS, and a wind generator rep. I boarded all the boats plus other used sailboats but only attended 2 lectures and missed everything else.

 Boat shows are a tremendous opportunity to see and touch new and used sailboats.  More importantly they provide a valuable learning opportunity for gadgets, new technology, and creative ideas for cruising racing.  Lastly, as a yacht broker it's reassuring for me to see other brokers in action.  it's reassuring to know that there is always room for my hallmark.  Honesty.