Boating this Labor Day? : Yacht Etiquette

First of all a yacht is just a fancy word for any boat bigger than a skiff. Defined as a vessel used for private cruising, racing, or other non-commercial purposes, sailboats, motor boats, pontoon boats, and yes, Aristotle Onassis’s Christina are all considered yachts. Do not let the word — or the invitation — intimidate you. There is nothing greater than a day spent on the water on board a beautiful boat sailing the bounding main. Tasty drinks, beautiful company, the spray of the sea and a breathtaking sunset combine for one of life’s most inspiring moments. Parties on board a boat do not necessarily take place on the open sea. The boat can be tied up in the slip, on the mooring or at anchor. How you behave and the time you will have depends on the type of event your host has planned. So before you shove off, let’s go over a few things first. Drinks parties on board a boat follow the same rules as illustrated here with a few additions for the concerns of safety and respect for nautical tradition. In sailing, when you say someone is being un-Corinthian, you’re saying the person does not conduct themselves in a gentlemanly manner. Herewith your Corinthian guide to a well-spent and safe day on the water.

First, a few handy nautical terms:

Lines – the seaman’s word for rope.
Slip – A slip is where a boat is tied up beside the dock at the marina. This is the easiest to board as you walk right on from the same level dock.
Mooring – These are the buoys out in the mooring field where larger vessels tie up if they are not in a slip or on anchor, usually about a hundred yards out in the water away from the marina.
Dingy (or Skiff) – this is the captain’s little boat that shuttles you back and forth to the bigger boat out on the mooring.
Launch (or water taxi) – this is a bigger skiff that is usually run by the marina to take you out the boat on the mooring. If at a public marina, you should tip the driver a dollar to two for his service. FYI: You would never tip staff at any private club. This is taken care of by the member in his club dues.

Yacht Party Rules

Rule One: No Shoes on Deck. Do not wear hard-sole shoes on a boat. The deck of a boat is easily scuffed and no captain wants you marking up his shiny deck. To wear hard-sole shoes onto a boat is highly insulting to the captain. And tell your lady friend to leave her high heels on shore. White Rubber Sole Shoes are the only appropriate shoes to wear on board a boat. No Vibram black-sole work boots or any boots with a black sole as they can leave black scuff marks. Get thee to the Sperry store.

Rule Two: Permission to Come Aboard, Captain. Never climb aboard a boat until you are given permission by the captain or crew. This is not only respectful and traditional but gives the captain a chance to advise passengers on the proper boarding of the vessel. This rule is as old as the sea and still holds true today.

Rule Three: Bundle Up. It matters not if you are cruising the Gulf of Mexico, sailing out to Catalina or crossing Cape Cod Bay in the middle of the summer. Weather is a tricky friend on the water and it always gets chilly after dark. Bring a windbreaker and a sweater. No captain wants to hear you whine about how cold it is. Most boats have extra gear on board for just such occasions, but do you really want to wear a stinky mildew fish jacket that’s been stored down below for ten years?

Rule Four: Respect the Sea. Boats are mighty amazing vessels to spend an afternoon upon. Whether you are in the slip, on the mooring (or anchor) or cruising the open sea, boats are sophisticated creations sitting on top of bouncing water where at any moment things can go terribly wrong. Stay alert and stay out of the way. Respect the Captain, the crew and the vessel as if your life depended on it. Because it does.

Rule Five: Don’t Dangle. Do not wear anything loose or dangling, especially on a sailboat, that can get caught in the rigging. Scarves, jewelry, even a sweater around the shoulders can snag easily on a line or rigging. That goes for long flowing hair as well. And again, tell your lady friend this rule. Nothing can ruin a sunset cruise faster than someone being yanked overboard, getting hanged or decapitated in the rigging.

Rule Six: Be Ready to Crew. One of the joys of sailing is participating in the labor of making the vessel move. If the captain asks you if you would like to crew you should jump at the chance. Be honest. Tell him you’ve never done this before, but are eager to learn. Any captain worth his salt will relish the chance to order a novice around. Just pay attention to his orders and watch what the mate beside you is doing. If you choose to crew – and by all means don’t let the chance slip by — you must follow the captain’s directions in military style. The captain’s word is law on the sea.

Rule Seven: Don’t Jump Ship. Yes, it’s been a long afternoon at sea. You are windblown, sun burnt and probably a little drunk. You have had a great time but now that the boat in on the mooring you just want to jump in the launch and head back to shore. There are a lot of things to do on a boat, especially on a sailboat after a cruise. If there is no crew, you, my man, are the crew. Help to roll up and put the cover on the sail. Straighten out the lines and clean up the cups strewn about the deck. Many a time a generous captain has been left stranded on his boat while the guests he just spent an afternoon entertaining jump into the launch and head back to shore. Do not let this be you. You want to be invited back again, remember?

Basic Sailing Terms and Maneuvers:
The crew’s active participation is integral to the art of sailing. This applies to all passengers on a sailboat as well. When a sailboat changes its direction, the wind will shift the sails to new positions causing the center of gravity to shift to a new balancing point. This can be alarming to some passengers. An organized and controlled movement by the passengers and crew will make a much more pleasant and safe journey at sea possible.

Tacking. When tacking upwind, the captain will call out the following command, “Ready About” where upon all souls on board answer “Ready”. The captain will not start his maneuver to change direction until he has heard a reply from all on board.

Helms A Lee. After the response “Ready” the captain will command “Helms A Lee” telling the helmsmen (that’s the crew member behind the wheel) to turn the boat toward the direction of the wind by pushing the tiller to leeward slowly until the boat begins to head into the wind.

Windward is the direction from which the wind is blowing at the time in question. The side of a ship, which is towards the windward, is the weather side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind this will be the side higher in the air.

Heeling is when a boat leans over to one side and is caused by wind or waves.

Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of the boat towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind this will be the side lower to the water.

Tacking is the other way to change the side of the boat that faces the wind, turning the bow of the boat through the direction of the wind. This operation is also known as Coming About.

Jibing – A jibe or gybe is a maneuver where a sailboat turns her stern through the wind, such that the wind direction changes from one side of the boat to the other. In this maneuver the mainsail will cross the center of the boat while the jib is pulled to the other side of the boat. To the novice this is a somewhat violent maneuver. The most dangerous maneuver is jibing down wind. In this case the captain will instruct each passenger where he or she should be seated. The main sail (meaning the boom) must cross over the cockpit swinging directly overhead. The captain will command “Prepare to Jib”. Instructions regarding the maneuver will follow. Then the captain will command “Ready to Jib”. The crew and passengers respond, “Ready”. Then the captain calls out “Jib Ho” indicating the maneuver is underway. On a sailboat, it is critical that all on board work together. This is how it’s been done for centuries. Respond on every command. Nothing is more irritating to the captain and your fellow crew than to hear the captain call the command repeatedly waiting for you to respond. This is your duty should you choose to accept it. And you should choose to accept it. This is one of life’s greatest thrills.

Recommendations: Seasickness can not only ruin a boating excursion for everyone on board, but it is one of the most miserable experiences one can endure, especially if your cruise has taken you far out to sea and a quick return to shore is not possible. Don’t let this condition – or fear of this condition – stop you. There is seasickness patch you can buy by prescription at any drug store that you put on the back of your neck the night before a sail and you will be fine. If you are a novice on the water, stay above deck. Going below into the cabin is a sure way to get sick for those who are new to boating. And if you aren’t used to drinking on the rolling sea, refrain from drinking alcohol. Wait until the boat is back on the mooring or in the slip before a drink. – SocialPrimer

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