Ep 157 Docking Challenges in Antigua, W.I.

[@Coleen_West]

I love watching you guys when thee wind is strong and you are sailing. So cool!. Could watch this for hours.

[@SailingTalisman]

We have some more of that coming up.

[@normanboyes4983]

Nice to have a bit of wind and current while in constrained waters to keep you on your toes when leaving the berth.😉👍

[@SailingTalisman]

Hi Norman. Yep. Things happen faster, and these boats have a lot of inertia. Slow to slow down, and slow to speed up. You know the drill.

[@PaulGabow]

Greetings from Russia) At last your exhibition in Annapolis I saw inflatable fenders from excellent companies Fendertex. You can simply vent the air for storage. Some friends have already bought it and are very pleased. I'm going too Best wishes)

[@SailingTalisman]

But they can't be cheap. The bigger ones we have cost nearly $300 apiece, and if the prices are comparable to that it's a purchase that would have to get in line behind a lot of other improvements. Plus the inflate/deflate versions I saw on the dock in SXM last year looked like rubberized fabric instead of the thick PVC or whatever product normal fenders are made of. These things get abused like nothing I've ever seen, often being dragged across proud nail-heads/splinters and I'd really like to not see them fail.

[@ricksimpson1543]

Skillful as always - thanks for sharing!

[@SailingTalisman]

Hi Rick. Not crazy stuff, but everyday operations. Things you're likely to see. And thanks for being with us.

[@gregvee2930]

Nicely done Captain.

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks Greg.

[@dutchglobetrotter4513]

The waters between Guadeloupe and Antigua are almost every time a bit sporty. Great vid like always.

[@SailingTalisman]

It does seem that way. We've done the trip about 8 times I'd say, and we've always had good wind. However, once you're in the wind shadow south of Deshays it really calms down. I don't think we've ever really sailed that section.

[@SailingTalisman]

BTW, how are Kim and Simon doing? I saw he had a girl on board his boat, and now not sure if they're selling or if he's continuing on his own.

[@dutchglobetrotter4513]

@@SailingTalisman Britican is still for sale. Simon is still doing charters on a big catamaran while Kim and Sienna are living in the USA.

[@radicalradiotech4944]

Excellent handling!!

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks so much.

[@erichyney6287]

First 😊

[@SailingTalisman]

Yep!

[@GeorgeGraves]

I love watching other people dock. I don't know why. Why is it such a specatator sport? It's not like nascar - I don't want to see them crash.

[@SailingTalisman]

Me too. I think people generally are wondering whether it's all going to go sideways. But there's also the learning part. As they say, it's better to learn at somebody else's expense. Watching is free. And I've seen some doozies.

[@GeorgeGraves]

@@SailingTalisman The only thing I can add to that, is people with perfect boats are at a disadvantage. The guy with the boat with a few battle scars isn't as worried about docking as others - and I guess there is value in that.

[@SailingTalisman]

@@GeorgeGraves So true! We can't make that assumption with other peoples' boats, but for us Talisman is a working boat of a sort. People ask why we're always fixing stuff, and the best answer I can give is that we ride the boat hard. And things break and wear out when you do that. Plus, what you see on our episodes is a snapshot, a microcosm even, of all that happens; 1% of the time on water. When we go to Oyster events (where there are a lot of new or newish boats) it always strikes me that I'm looking at artwork that everyone is scared to touch. Tradesmen are asked to wear booties and bunny suits, and the owners are hovering about worried that something might get scratched. We keep Talisman in fighting trim as best we can, but it's a constant effort. I should add that I tell people buying used boats to pick the one with the best interior. A good interior generally translates to "lightly used" because even living on a boat without sailing it will lead to scuffs and scratches.