Ep 150 More Docking Tips & Tricks, Plus Sailing Grenada

Tips and Tricks for Docking a Larger Sailboat
So rather than do an extended written essay like last episode, this time I decided to add voiceovers to the video, which is a less cumbersome way of getting to the same place. We’ll continue along this line in upcoming episodes, so make sure to “like” and “subscribe” by way of the buttons adjoining the episode screen at Sailing Talisman.
Wendy’s brother David came to visit for two weeks, which gave us time for an extended adventure. Starting at the main port of St Georges / Port Louis, we explored the south coast of the island, then headed up to Carriacou for some snorkeling time, before heading back down and doing a second tour of the south coast.
All of this gave us a huge amount of footage that ranged from snorkeling through giant schools of fish to sailing in epic conditions, to hiking up to waterfalls and the volcanic crater atop the island of Grenada. The southern coast of the island seems to get impressive (even dangerous) winds nearly all the time, and this outing didn’t disappoint.
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[@dancundiff3316]

Superb docking. Perfect set up and speed, and you know the boat well, very well done!

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks Dan. It's comments like this one that make the channel worthwhile.

[@dancundiff3316]

@@SailingTalisman Good, somehow, I had lost track of you guys, and my patreon support must have gone poof with an old pay method, so i am back in, all in, and enjoying getting caught up with your adventures, and dreaming about my future ones! Do you know of any Oysters that charter with a captain so I can experience this, on an Oyster, with a qualified Captain? Thanks, Happy New Year.

[@tweejmccollum]

Great docking maneuver! Thanks, Kevin and Wendy for the video, beautiful scenery, and a great story.

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ricksimpson1543]

Another great one. Thanks very much!

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks Rick. Much appreciated.

[@careystravels]

Grenada is Gorgeous!

[@SailingTalisman]

Indeed. We love it there.

[@mrjbbarker1947]

Great to see you again. Love the underwater.

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks so much Gerald. It was fun editing it.

[@careystravels]

Just found you by recommendation by YT.

[@SailingTalisman]

Awesome to hear. We wonder sometimes if they've forgotten about us. Apparently not.

[@ScottMeister]

At 23:50 ...you say that Kevin is at home with a hurt knee & is going to do your laundry, MEANWHILE your Brother takes you to the waterfall & a crater lake to have fun?? Hmmm....sounds like a fair trade to you, riiiight Wendy? 😁

[@SailingTalisman]

Yep, something like that. And I seemed to have missed the part about doing her laundry. But in all honesty, Wendy needed some one-on-one brother time with David. If there's a weak link in our lifestyle, it's that Wendy is often homesick.

[@geraldtribbe6363]

Understanding the allure of something shiny and new, from a form, fit, and function viewpoint, is there a ship beyond Talisman that would better fit your needs?

[@SailingTalisman]

Hi Gerald. We love Talisman, and the only change we'd consider would be to move up to a slightly bigger and newer Oyster. Perhaps MY 2000 or newer, 56-60', no bigger. However, that's unlikely to happen. We could probably afford it if we stretched, and got a good price for the existing boat. But the sentimental attachment to Talisman is quite strong.

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

You catch the fish and then just put them back again.? You don't want to eat them, you just want to make them late for something.

[@SailingTalisman]

We're happy to eat an edible fish, which is always the plan. But barracuda aren't edible. Except possibly in an emergency. And catch and release doesn't do much harm to the fish.

[@robertlaird6746]

What type of catamaran is that blue one on the starboard side called Sea Life? I love the look of the bows.

[@SailingTalisman]

Not sure Robert. I'm not the best cat guy.

[@robertlaird6746]

@@SailingTalisman OK, thanks. I like your content but I'm more of a cat guy. Your content has helped me understand many things that I will need to know and understand after I build my Cyber 48. I plan on starting the build as soon as the economy improves. Hopefully next summer but it probably won't happen till after the next election.

[@SailingTalisman]

@@robertlaird6746 Understood. Cats are easier to drive anyway. It's like a Bobcat. You've got two throttles and two props. Pretty easy to maneuver. People still screw it up, but people dent their cars in parking lots too. You just have to be a bit better than average, as they say.

[@en8581]

It is a Balance 482. Sailed from Cape Town.

[@robertlaird6746]

@@en8581 Thanks.

[@chrissnyder7968]

Do you tip the docket handlers ? Is that customary and/or expected? Thank you for another good video.

[@SailingTalisman]

Good question. Typically not. The dockhands are paid to be there and it's part of running a marina. But on some islands you do have "boat boys" that come out and lead you to a mooring. St Lucia and Dominica come to mind. In this case, they're kind of independent contractors that do it for the cash, and you're expected to give something. It's tough to know for sure how much is right, especially if it's in EC's, or Eastern Caribbean Currency, which is about 2.7 to the dollar. EC$10-EC$20 seems fair, and they're always reluctant to give a price. "Whatever, mon" with a big smile is what you'll get if you ask. On the other hand, if you ask for help from the marina dinghy drivers, like pushing your boat into a slip or similar, then a tip is certainly in order. But they'll probably take off before you can get to your cash. Note that worldwide, tipping is an American thing. It's rarely expected in Europe and most of the islands. But extra money is hard to turn down (American tipping culture coming to the Caribbean), and as a result we see restaurants simply adding a 10% or 15% service charge to bills if Europeans are a large contingent. I kind of prefer this model, as long as it doesn't get out of hand.

[@chrissnyder7968]

My wife and I had taken a side trip to Santorini, while in Greece, and all of the waitstaff told us the restaurant up-charges for "service" were never seen by the servers. But that was Santorini. Thanks for you response!

[@SailingTalisman]

@@chrissnyder7968 We spent a ton of time in Mykonos, which is just north of Santorini and rarely if ever saw service charges. That was 4 years ago, but still. It's something that follows from Americans being around. We get programmed to tip 20%, and it doesn't take long for that to become a really nice add to your evening. And I don't doubt that the servers see none of it.

[@careystravels]

last, what cameras do you use?

[@SailingTalisman]

All new stuff for 2024. But we use GoPro equipment mostly, because we can't bring ourselves to carry big cameras around. A lot of KZbinrs bring big and bulky stuff all over the place. But for us, if it doesn't fit in my pocket or Wendy's purse, we don't get footage.

[@careystravels]

what year, model, etcetera is your boat!?

[@SailingTalisman]

Talisman is an Oyster 485, 8th hull built of that model (out of about 34 total), 1994, so coming up on 30 yrs old.

[@robertlaird6746]

Company starts smelling like dead fish after three days.

[@SailingTalisman]

So they say, which is why we're pretty selective on who gets to come. Easily half the people we know, even good friends, simply aren't cut out for a week on the boat.

[@careystravels]

where can i buy your merch? do you ship to nepal?

[@SailingTalisman]

No ship to Nepal, and we'll try to get the merch up this season. We work through Bonfire and will have shirts available this season.

[@bojangles8837]

let us see one without crutches ( bow thruster) would be much more interesting/

[@SailingTalisman]

I'll look to see what I have for footage from the second half of the season, since I moved more and more to not using the bow thruster as voltage spikes from overloading the battery BMS units had fried two 24/12 droppers (VHF radio and stereo), which subsequently had to be replaced. That said, we also had battery issues with the cameras, and were down to one GoPro Hero 5 by the end. As for docking without a bow thruster, there will never be a time when I don't have it on as backup, since I hate laying up against other boats, even with fenders. You always get the evil eye from the owners if they're around. Finally, as you walk through a marina I would note that practically every boat berthed bow-to will lack a bow thruster, while every boat berthed stern-to will have a bow thruster. It's just super hard to back in and not have the bow blow off to one side.

[@bojangles8837]

@@SailingTalisman Makes sense; I did not think of the high voltage draw they have. For sure stern to can be more challenging and requires practice, knowing your boat. Many time depending, I will back down narrow alley. Med moor a whole other game. I reality I am a bit jealous not having one but do enjoy not one less system to care for. You guys are doing great and always enjoy your video blog.