Dinghy piloting styles

Our mooring is just off the channel leading to the marina and dinghy landing area. All of the people that go into the marina from the west side of the mooring field have to pass right by our boat. Being retired and all, we have a lot of time on our hands to just sit and watch them. This retirement gig is pretty neat, you all should give it a try. Mostly we just sit around all day on our fat asses and talk about what's for dinner. The conversation mostly goes like this: "what ya want for dinner tonight? I don't know what do you want? I don't know babe what do you want?" and that continues for a good hour, but I digress.

Anyhoo, the dinghys all drive by us. Most people sit on the side towards the rear of the tube in an inflatable or on a seat in a hard dinghy and handle the tiller from there. If there significant other is onboard they either sit in the front on the tube or seat. That is what we do when we go dinghy. Now there are a surprisingly number of individuals, couples or families that have a unique style. There is the Navy Seal secret mission style where they lay completely down in the dinghy floor with only there head showing. I actually saw a family of four doing this one. Dad, mom and two little kids all flat in the bottom. Then there is the Chariots of Fire style where the person stands up towards the front of the dinghy and uses an extension handle to steer. One couple had everyone beat with this style. They were both standing in the front of the dinghy cruising along with there chins held high, Looky us, looky us!! I can't wait to see a nice wave come by and knock them overboard. And of course there is the Look ma, no hands style. That is where they lock the engine so it won't turn, set the tension on the throttle and let it go. I actually saw a man that had combined the Chariots of Fire style and the Look ma, no hands style. He was standing in the front of the dinghy with no control of the outboard motor. He was steering by using his weight to go either left or right. Damn if he wasn't doing a good job at it also. I can just see him in the water and the dinghy heading for never, never land. And last, but not least there is doggie style. No, not that doggie style. You wouldn't believe how many boats have dogs on them. Some have multiple dogs. When the dogs are in the dinghy's they point the way. They are always standing in the bow or hanging over the bow to catch everything that is coming their way.

Well, so much for observations at the mooring field. Honey, what do you want for dinner tonight?