Wind knocked out of your sails

[riggs]

Hi Alice, I'm not a sailor at all, at least not in a sailing boat, it all sounds like far too much work. My friends have a sail boat and are quite experienced but the man still ended up in hospital a few weeks ago when it capsized and he took in too much sea water. I love to be on the sea though and my favourite way is by fishing boat, it's just so peaceful. When I actually go out in one at fishing time it's huge fun as lots of locals will be out there at the same time laying their lines down for later and calling across to compare catches. I'm really lucky to be able to go out like this as it is strictly against the law for professional fishermen to take anyone in their boats with them as the sea police might think they are using the boat as a water taxi service, but my friends are usually ready with a fish bribe. Not that it's ever been needed I should add.

[sealey79]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend and hope he is ok. I see this fishing lifestyle in developing countries and small coastal villages, a real community spirit when they are out on the water fishing...i'm quite envious! lol No throwing back of overfish there aih? I can see them all helping one another too, mending nets and sails etc.

[berenger]

Hi Alice, well the hardy old chap was fine, think they probably just pumped a bit of seawater out of him and fixed his concussion, not put him off going off on a long sailing hol next week though. You have so totally the wrong idea about a nice lets all help each other close knit fishing village It's total rivalry out here and all about who caught the most fish. I have one friend who fears the day when the other fisherman finally work out how he prepares his lines at eight times the speed of them as then they will have more time to fish. Of course their view is that he's not been fishing as long as them so he can keep his new fangeled ideas to himself as they know best, whilst of course wondering how he does it. One chap is mad enough to actually buy the fish from the others when he doesn't catch any and then sells it on to the tavernas as his own. Saying all that there is a community spirit if one of them had an accident, they'd all be out there to the rescue, and if there's a sudden bad storm they take it in turns to watch over the boats in the harbour through the night.

[hakim]

Glad to hear he is ok. Well that just shows that looks can be deceiving, I thought small fishing communities were all for helping and supporting one another, yet here you are telling me that there is as much rivalry here as there probably is in the stock markets I wonder how your friend manages to prepare his lines at 8 times the speed of them! No doubt it will be a well guarded secret lol. Does this other chap sell the fish at a higher price? IMO that's just enterprise. I think that's when true spirit shows... when people can pull together in a crisis, pity they can't be like that in ALL things.

[ascot]

Well my friend with the fast hook on line method studied physics so he didn't start out as a fisherman at all, and I know his secret. The fish sells at a price set by the sea police so the chap who buys the other fishermens catches is getting no more for it when he sells it except that he is so stupid he thinks that everyone who buys it thinks he has caught it to enhance his reputation as a good fisherman, whilst the ones who sell it to him don't have to bother having it all poked through and save themselves some time. Of course everyone knows who actually caught the fish so they are all laughing at him behind his back. He's actually one of the few I have nothing at all to do with, he's even odder than the rest of them. I don't recall at any time saying Alice that this place had any sanity in it, the fact that they are all related to each other says quite a lot

[hakim]

Maybe your friend should have stuck to physics! lol @ relatives Do they play banjoes too?

[shepherd]

What can I say Alice except family obligations, not much call for physics lecturers in a fishing village. Nothey don't play the banjoes round here. They play the bazoouki and it's lovely, especially when a sexy voice is crooning along to an old song. Good bazoouki players are much respected and I love to hear them play.

[talon]

I have never been in a boat, and don't know the first thing about it unless you count what I've seen on t.v. in drama shows. I think I could read a compass and a map but I doubt there's a map of the sea, lol! I would hope to go to a friendly island or country who can help me to direct myself back to the USA!

[nat]

hiya SCG I'm totally sea green too but I think you do get sea mapping, depth and underwater caves etc, distance from shore maybe? I'm sure there wouldn't be a shortage of friendly foreigners to help us find the way back home. Thanks for responding