downthecreek
03-09-2009, 01:12 PM
Talk of the schooner Hoshi on a couple of different threads has caused me to think back fondly of my times sailing in her. Here's a memory I recall with a smile....
The old Island Cruising Club was always at the forefront of "equality for women" in sailing and when I first sailed in her in 1965 her skipper and mate were both women. Judy and Verity - probably, I would guess, "an item" and a fine pair of sailors. Judy, as good a skipper as I ever sailed with, was a nurse by profession and, when not sailing the Hoshi, she worked as a Ward Sister (as the senior nurse in charge of the ward was then called)
Now, not all men, then as now, were too happy about sailing under the command of a woman and Judy and Verity used to get a fair amount of lip. As we were practising sail hoisting and handing drills before setting off, one such gentleman (rather small, somewhat balding and a little chubby) muttered a stroppy comment while Judy was giving her instructions. Judy stopped, fixed him with a steely glare and, in loud, ward sisterly tones, addressed him thus:
"Well, I must say, you are a fine figure of a man! Have you opened your bowels today?"
Hilarity all around and collapse of stout party......
Nobody gave Judy any more trouble on that trip :D
The old Island Cruising Club was always at the forefront of "equality for women" in sailing and when I first sailed in her in 1965 her skipper and mate were both women. Judy and Verity - probably, I would guess, "an item" and a fine pair of sailors. Judy, as good a skipper as I ever sailed with, was a nurse by profession and, when not sailing the Hoshi, she worked as a Ward Sister (as the senior nurse in charge of the ward was then called)
Now, not all men, then as now, were too happy about sailing under the command of a woman and Judy and Verity used to get a fair amount of lip. As we were practising sail hoisting and handing drills before setting off, one such gentleman (rather small, somewhat balding and a little chubby) muttered a stroppy comment while Judy was giving her instructions. Judy stopped, fixed him with a steely glare and, in loud, ward sisterly tones, addressed him thus:
"Well, I must say, you are a fine figure of a man! Have you opened your bowels today?"
Hilarity all around and collapse of stout party......
Nobody gave Judy any more trouble on that trip :D