Sometimes it’s not enough to know what to do, it’s being able to
to do it and often in a hurry. Somehow I’m heading toward analogy.
Quite a few years ago on a passage from Florida to Mexico, three of us aboard, sunny day, fair wind, we suddenly heard pop, pop, pop and
looked up to see the mainsail parting way with the mast starting
from the boom. Although not the Captain I immediately shouted “down sail”
and the three of us doused the sail quickly.
We reefed what was lost then hoisted what was left which held for the
remainder of the voyage as the remaining sail slides were under
much less pressure. Sail slides, for you lubbers, connect the sail
to the mast and in the above case were worn and fatigued.
But enough about me, let’s get back to my original premise, it’s not
enough to know what to do, it’s being able to do it and often in a hurry.
Islander