GL: Man lost in the Gulf - some lessons

[FOREVERYOUNGBOAT at aol.com]

Idle thoughts late at nite..............on a tragedy...
 
We should ALL take a moment and say a short prayer for the poor man lost  
OB....
 
It can/could happen to any of us... but we all need to learn from this as  
well...
 
SCHEDULES will/can kill ya
 
If you do have a schedule, use it as a rough guide, and one that has plenty  
of flex built into it
 
6 to 8 ft waves... stay at the dock or on the hook... 
 
4 ft waves will keep me tied up...wife hates it, dog hates it, and i hate  
it...
 
Who hasn't gone aft to take a whiz?  If and when u do, make an  announcement.
 
We have a rule, on FOREVER YOUNG, when topside, there are two crew  awake, or 
we don't go topside, but steer from below, and at all times, when one  of us 
goes below we call out, LOUDLY, "down below" and  when we come out, we call 
out again LOUDLY.. "coming  out", that way helmsman knows status  of the other  
party...and keeps an eye on him/her till they are back where they belong.
 
There is a reason we all call it PLEASURE BOATING.. and boating in that  kind 
of water aint it.
 
NEVER fail to respect the water, and if it's the BIG water, it gets BIG  
respect..
 
I freely admit to being a "chikken skipper"  ... when it comes to  heavy 
weather, and I don't have any plans to change.
 
I welcome any other advice from more seasoned loopers at any time... 
 
Joe Manelis
Forever Young
44' Marine Trader
 
(leaving Seneca IL 10-8 heading South to Mobile)
 
 



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