A couple of weeks ago, I wrote the Just Cruising column on how we as a couple sail our boats and asked for comments. We got this thoughtful reply from Bob Mersereau. GD
Greetings George,
My wife drives the boat into and off the dock, and when we drop and pick up the anchor. This approach has worked well during our 10+ years and 20,000+ miles of cruising our 45’ cutter. She is now an ace at boat handling, much better than I am. I am much better at line handling than she is.
We agree on our big picture cruise plan (to and from the Bahamas the last eight winters). I do the weather forecasting and route planning. We stand watches while underway for more than just a day. We don’t fix our watch change times. But we do try to follow the rule that someone should be asleep all the time on a long passage.
I do the menu planning, provisioning and cooking.
I have an extensive monthly maintenance checklist (it includes exercising the seacocks etc. etc). She does it with me at least three times a year. In that way she will know how everything on the boat works should I become disabled. We change the oil in the engine, transmission and generator together.
I learn a lot from reading Cruising Compass, keep up the good work.
Bob Mersereau
S/V Grand Cru Island Packet 440
