Well I promised you a post about sailing didn't I...

First off, I'm a complete novice. Been on a few day sails and loved
it, but we're not really near enough to water to do it often and
sailing just isn't in the family.

Thing is...

I'm contemplating a sailing trip for the summer, a week sailing on
a squarerigger with the Tall Ships Youth Trust. However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.

I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

I'm fully functioning again in daily life; one of the few things
that give me trouble are holding something small (like needles) for
a length of time (I squeeze too hard, apparently) and things like
holding a heavy pan in one hand while drying it off with the other.

I'd love to go sailing but it is very expensive for me (am not a
British native so cannot get sponsoring) and if I'm going to spend
that money, I'd like to be reasonably confident about being able to
handle the work!

Anyone have advice, tips, experiences, etc? Would be much
appreciated.


Cheers,
Arwen Lune

--
Look, if I could make one thing perfectly clear,
then believe me I would.

"Arwen Lune" wrote in message
...
However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.
I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble. Sailing involves a lot
of pulling as hard as you can on ropes. You need to be able to grip hard,
or wrap the rope around your hand and pull.

Arwen Lune wrote:

Well I promised you a post about sailing didn't I...

First off, I'm a complete novice. Been on a few day sails and loved
it, but we're not really near enough to water to do it often and
sailing just isn't in the family.

Thing is...

I'm contemplating a sailing trip for the summer, a week sailing on
a squarerigger with the Tall Ships Youth Trust. However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.

I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

I'm fully functioning again in daily life; one of the few things
that give me trouble are holding something small (like needles) for
a length of time (I squeeze too hard, apparently) and things like
holding a heavy pan in one hand while drying it off with the other.

I'd love to go sailing but it is very expensive for me (am not a
British native so cannot get sponsoring) and if I'm going to spend
that money, I'd like to be reasonably confident about being able to
handle the work!

Anyone have advice, tips, experiences, etc? Would be much
appreciated.


Cheers,
Arwen Lune


Give it a go. The OYT are very used to making allowances for people with
much more dibilitating conditions than RSI, and will allow you to do things
at a pace that suits you. I personally cant think of a better way to get
on the water if you have the opportunity, (and the cash!). As for tall
ships... I'd love to hear about your experiences when you return, as it's
always been an ambition of mine.

Handling small objects, or taking large amounts of strain on one hand (ie.
the panhandle) are not necessarily things you will encounter during
sailing. Most rope work involves linear forces where you are exherting a
pulling force in the same direction of the sheet (rope)... Saying that, I
can't think of any situation where you would exert large fulcrum forces,
apart from perhaps cleating off a sheet where a little bit more wrist force
is can be a bonus!)

Good luck with it.

PG

--
ALTERNATIVE SAILING TERMS - Uniform:
As worn by yacht club members and other shore hazards, a distinctive form of
dress intended to be visible at a distance of at least 50 meters which
serves to warn persons in the vicinity of the long wings and dense masses
of hot air associated with these bores.
http://www.Love2Sail.co.uk

"Arwen Lune" wrote in message
...
Well I promised you a post about sailing didn't I...

First off, I'm a complete novice. Been on a few day sails and loved
it, but we're not really near enough to water to do it often and
sailing just isn't in the family.

Thing is...

I'm contemplating a sailing trip for the summer, a week sailing on
a squarerigger with the Tall Ships Youth Trust. However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.

I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

I'm fully functioning again in daily life; one of the few things
that give me trouble are holding something small (like needles) for
a length of time (I squeeze too hard, apparently) and things like
holding a heavy pan in one hand while drying it off with the other.

I'd love to go sailing but it is very expensive for me (am not a
British native so cannot get sponsoring) and if I'm going to spend
that money, I'd like to be reasonably confident about being able to
handle the work!

Anyone have advice, tips, experiences, etc? Would be much
appreciated.

My slightly arthritic hands sometime ache after hauling a lot on ropes, as
the strain pushes the fingers sideways and compresses the joints in a way
they are not really designed for. The answer is, wherever possible, get
other people to do it for you, and use winches where you can. Never make it
easier by wrapping the rope around your hand or arm to get a better grip
though, as if the rope pulls back your hand may get trapped leading to a
serious injury. Also, if it means you have a weak grip, tell the skipper so
you can be excused climbing the rigging, or given extra safety provision.
On a properly skippered tall ship, you'll have lots of help and if you talk
to the skipper about it when you arrive it will be factored in to the
crewing arrangements, so I shouldn't let it worry you too much, and go and
enjoy yourself.

"Stefan Lloyd" wrote in message
...

"Arwen Lune" wrote in message
...
However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.
I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble. Sailing involves a lot
of pulling as hard as you can on ropes. You need to be able to grip hard,
or wrap the rope around your hand and pull.

I can't agree with the last bit. Wrapping a rope around your hand is risky
and should not be done. You must
always be able to let go in an emergency.
If the rope pulls back your hand can become trapped in a block or similar
and give you a serious injury. Don't do it, or if you do, don't complain
when you get hurt.

"Duncan Heenan" wrote in message
...

"Stefan Lloyd" wrote in message
...
Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble. Sailing involves a
lot
of pulling as hard as you can on ropes. You need to be able to grip
hard,
or wrap the rope around your hand and pull.

I can't agree with the last bit. Wrapping a rope around your hand is risky
and should not be done. You must
always be able to let go in an emergency.
If the rope pulls back your hand can become trapped in a block or similar
and give you a serious injury. Don't do it, or if you do, don't complain
when you get hurt.

I don't know about "risky". Depends on the boat, surely? Frequently done it
in dinghies, sometimes in the keelboat (33') but never on anything bigger,
when tensions are higher. Also, personally, I don't just wrap the line round
my hand but as it comes out of the bottom of my fist I pass it across the
top of the wrist and under the thumb so that it comes out forwards. Works
for me - increases the grip I have on the line compared to just holding it,
without trying to hold two passes of the line, but YMMV.

In article ,
says...

Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble. Sailing involves a lot
of pulling as hard as you can on ropes. You need to be able to grip hard,
or wrap the rope around your hand and pull.

I can't agree with the last bit. Wrapping a rope around your hand is risky
and should not be done. You must
always be able to let go in an emergency.
If the rope pulls back your hand can become trapped in a block or similar
and give you a serious injury. Don't do it, or if you do, don't complain
when you get hurt.


No way I can pull enough tension on the mainsheet without doing this.
Class rules only allow a 5:1 system. I wind the sheet around one hand
and partially stand up so my thighs do most of the work. The other hand
is occupied steering.

Ditto for many control systems on most boats I've sailed e.g. heaving on
outhaul or kicker on boats where you cannot winch them on.

"Stefan Lloyd" wrote in message

"Arwen Lune" wrote in message
...
However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.
I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

Sorry but I think your hands will give you trouble.

Possibly, but I think the better course is to give it a try.

Sailing involves a lot of pulling as hard as you can on ropes.

Not necessarily: the cruising world (and certain strata of the
competitive world) is full of people who couldn't pull the skin off a
rice custard and wouldn't know how to try. More generously, as others
have posted, there is ample opportunity, in the non-competitive world,
to arrange and regulate your physical involvement to accomodate any
pain, discomfort or disability you may experience.

You need to be able to grip hard, or wrap the rope around your hand
and pull.

Prolly not so much on a Tall Ship: not so much 6mm Spectra as 2 inch
laid rope, which is quite easy to grip. Ronstan also make sailing
gloves with 'sticky' palms which helps gripping ropes: can't say I've
noticed the difference myself, but it may help a bit.

John

In article , J.
Allan proclaimed...

there is ample opportunity, in the non-competitive world,
to arrange and regulate your physical involvement to
accomodate any pain, discomfort or disability you may
experience.

Thank you, I've understood that they can work with people who can't
climb the rigging (which I can, my grip is okay) so it would appear
that there are enough other things to do without needing to do much
hauling on ropes.

Ronstan also make sailing gloves with 'sticky'
palms which helps gripping ropes: can't say I've
noticed the difference myself, but it may help a bit.

Interesting. I'll look into this, was planning on getting gloves
anyway.

Cheers,
Arwen

--
"Bother" said Pooh. "We... have no use for adventures. Nasty
disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!"

ALSO try the Jubilee Sailing Trust - who have TWO superb tall ships
and specifically cater for almost anyone with a physical ailment from
mild (like yours) to serious (even wheelchair users).

See http://www.jst.org.uk

On the JST ships we've rarely had any problems, and we've found the
permanent crews to be very approachable and accommodating. The watch
leaders have all been great. And the voyage crews have always been
great so that we've made more permanent friends on JST voyages than on
any other tall ship we've been on.

Chris B.

Arwen Lune wrote in message .. .
Well I promised you a post about sailing didn't I...

First off, I'm a complete novice. Been on a few day sails and loved
it, but we're not really near enough to water to do it often and
sailing just isn't in the family.

Thing is...

I'm contemplating a sailing trip for the summer, a week sailing on
a squarerigger with the Tall Ships Youth Trust. However, I have, or
rather have had, RSI (repetitive strain injury for those who
wonder). I am healed now and fully functioning again, but my hands
will always be a bit of a weak point. I am a bit worried about how
much this will be a problem on board.

I'd like to hear some input from you people, especially those who
have sailed on a tall ship and/or with the Youth Trust. If you have
healthy hands, did yours ever hurt from the work? (I don't mean
blisters, but internal) What is the hardest/heaviest tasks you
performed? Do you think my hands will give me much trouble during
the trip?

I'm fully functioning again in daily life; one of the few things
that give me trouble are holding something small (like needles) for
a length of time (I squeeze too hard, apparently) and things like
holding a heavy pan in one hand while drying it off with the other.

I'd love to go sailing but it is very expensive for me (am not a
British native so cannot get sponsoring) and if I'm going to spend
that money, I'd like to be reasonably confident about being able to
handle the work!

Anyone have advice, tips, experiences, etc? Would be much
appreciated.


Cheers,
Arwen Lune