Negative learning experiences there are so many to choose from at school, however my story is of crewing on a sail training tall ship on the West coast of Scotland. The Captains teaching method was to shout orders in between swearing, never say well done and not even say sorry when he put you in a life threatening situation. An example: one night coming into an unknown harbour in ruff weather we where all ready with our ropes to jump off and moor the boat, however it was proving tricky to get close enought to the harbour wall, there was a courting couple having a nice romantic walk on the harbour wall and the captian started shouting at them to catch our line. They didn't have a clue so he went into full swear mode shouting at us "Someone throw them a f******* line" and at them "Catch the f******* line" "Please"
However the rest of the crew where great and we all learned from each other and I guess our mistakes and his. The first mate always had time to teach me and plenty of patience, and I never saw her panic she gave me confidence to climb the mast and furl the sail at the first yard. Something I never thought I could do as I have dreadful vertigo. Glynnis
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