Hi Grime, a couple things...

Posted By: Bruce, C&C 27 MKIII, "Moonstruck"
Date: 9/19/09 8:01a.m.

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Hello Grime, Even after 9 years of sailing on Lake Michigan and being in some pretty tough stuff (Tornado a few miles off, an experience with 70 kt. winds, engine shutdowns in the middle of the night, etc.) I still get nervous at the beginning of the season and sometimes for no real reason. The older I get, the worse it is. That being said, getting out there is the best therapy. Going alone can sometimes be even better, because if you're comfortable out there alone, then having others on board (who you don't want to embarrass yourself in front of) won't be as big a deal. Here's another thing I learned from diving. Never introduce more than one new experience/situation at one time. For example, first night sail? Don't do it in new waters - stay where you know. Don't mix in a new sail, first time reefing, a new whatever. One step at a time. I also learned a long time ago after being in some tough situations that the boat will take a lot more abuse than the people will. In other words, if everything is in decent condition, you have a 99.9% chance of being fine. Prepare in advance. Prepare, prepare, prepare. But don't overdo it. In other words, make sure everything you may want/need is consistently laid out where you will need it and know where it is. Make sure your halyards, etc. are all laid out and ready to go. Prepare a checklist for using before you go out and when you come back. Let me say that again. A checklist really helps. Once you're confident that the checklist covers everything, use it religiously. Have one for getting ready to go out, and one when you get back. This will make for a much more comfortable departure as you then gain almost immediate confidence that you didn't forget anything. Finally, if that doesn't quite do it, go to the doctor and ask if Clonazepam would work for you. This is a fast-dissolving anti-anxiety drug that is absorbed through the tissue under your tounge. Keep some on board, or take one 20 minutes before going out. It will break the cycle of nervousness and let you enjoy it, then you will gain confidence, and you won't need them anymore. After an insurance co-pay, they're downright cheap and it is a generic drug. I use them before diving to calm me and extend my bottom time substantially. I occaisionally use them to get to sleep if I am all wound up, as they don't act as a sleeping pill and leave you all groggy. They don't seem to affect my cognition, just calming me down. And of course, as Tom P. says, practice your worst case scenarios - man-overboard drills, sailing up to a floating piece of debris and stopping, heaving-to in order to just stop and relax, sailing in higher winds with less sail, etc. Finally, this is a GOOD thing. After 12 years of sailing on Lake Michigan, I still learn something new every time I go out. It might be a smaller and smaller lesson, but it has never gotten boring. Hope this helps, Bruce