Boating under the influence

[Halcyon Yachts]

As a professional skipper I would never take charge of a vessel under the influence...

News from the US though, it seems many do:

'Boating under the influence': Over 350,000 boaters contacted over alcohol concerns

What is your view? Do you ever sail under the influence?

Pete

 

[Clancy Moped]

Is having one beer or a glass of wine at lunchtime in a pleasant anchorage 'under the influence'?

 

[Biggles Wader]

I would never sail under the influence but I do think we fret too much about it especially when we are talking a couple of beers as opposed to pissed as a parrot. Drink can often be a very handy scapegoat when other issues are far too difficult and inconvenient to address. We do live in a far more "puritan" age than was so in my youth so perhaps it's me that is out of date.

 

[laika]

What is your view? Do you ever sail under the influence?

No. And <0.5% beer is tasty enough that a couple of cold ones works fine for a lunch stop.

When I'm not planning on moving for the next 12 hours it's more of a grey area and my temperance is inversely proportional to how securely the boat is attached to the ground.

Shame for you professional skippers that you're still "in charge of" a boat tied to a pontoon

 

[capnsensible]

Never. Neither when sailing commercially or for leisure. Personally, I prefer my judgement unclouded. But that's me.

 

[KevinV]

A tot of rum in the coffee to drive out the damp on a cold night watch, otherwise not a drop.

 

[Boathook]

The odd beer at lunchtime and sometimes a single G and T in the evening when underway. Whilst underway if the weather is inclement it is more likely tea. Once anchored or moored and unlikely to have to move the drinks locker is fully open.

Edit. Having just reread the original post I like to think that I don't sail under the influence. The exception would be in the forecast was inaccurate and I had to move anchorage during the night.

 

[Bouba]

Never when under way…to be honest probably don’t when at anchor because you still have to be ready to react…boat drags, weather changes suddenly, another boat presents a danger to yourself or you need to get to the dinghy (probably the easiest way for a drunk to drown).
Safely tied up in port…then drink ?

 

[Irish Rover]

As a professional skipper I would never take charge of a vessel under the influence...

News from the US though, it seems many do:

'Boating under the influence': Over 350,000 boaters contacted over alcohol concerns

What is your view? Do you ever sail under the influence?

Pete

If I understand the figures correctly 2 in every 1,000 found to be BUI. Hardly a huge or surprising number.
I don't indulge when underway but I have to admit I often have a couple of beers ashore before taking charge of the tender for the usually short return trip. I might have a couple more when safely back on board.

 

[flaming]

As a professional skipper I would never take charge of a vessel under the influence...

News from the US though, it seems many do:

'Boating under the influence': Over 350,000 boaters contacted over alcohol concerns

What is your view? Do you ever sail under the influence?

Pete

Whenever you see US based sailors talking about racing, especially club based "casual" racing, it is clearly considered completely normal to drink beer whilst racing. And almost every advert for crew on Anarchy will include some reference to who supplies the beer.

 

[Praxinoscope]

It is very much a case of what is considered under the influence, I have a rigid rule of never driving if I have had more than 1 pint of beer ( max strength 4.5%) and adopt the same limit when sailing.
Moored up for the night then a glass of wine or one beer with dinner and a shot of rum before turning in, but that’s it.

 

[wully1]

I did once, never again….

I might crack a beer as I come into anchor but not heading into a marina/harbour.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We like a drink as much as most sailors, but not unless attached to an immovable object.

 

[lustyd]

What is your view? Do you ever sail under the influence?

Yes. All the time. The legal definition of being in charge of a vehicle is broad and covers being at anchor and at the marina.

I don't get pissed and take the boat out, but legally yes I am guilty of being drunk in charge. A quick look around the marina suggests I'm far from being in the minority. A quick look of the prison population suggests the authorities don't really care. The number of accidents involving alcohol is vanishingly small so I don't think it's all that important. There are always some who get themselves into trouble though, that's the nature of freedom.

 

[Bouba]

Yes. All the time. The legal definition of being in charge of a vehicle is broad and covers being at anchor and at the marina.

I don't get pissed and take the boat out, but legally yes I am guilty of being drunk in charge. A quick look around the marina suggests I'm far from being in the minority. A quick look of the prison population suggests the authorities don't really care. The number of accidents involving alcohol is vanishingly small so I don't think it's all that important. There are always some who get themselves into trouble though, that's the nature of freedom.

I recall from my days of driving a motor home that if you are parked up drinking (or even possibly having open bottles in the liquor cabinet) that law is vague...and it’s all upto the local copper who feels like knocking on your door

 

[jamie N]

I recall from my days of driving a motor home that if you are parked up drinking (or even possibly having open bottles in the liquor cabinet) that law is vague...and it’s all upto the local copper who feels like knocking on your door

I believe that a great deal depends on whether one can pass the test. The 'attitude' test......!

 

[laika]

The legal definition of being in charge of a vehicle is broad and covers being at anchor and at the marina.

Which "legal definition" are you referring to? Are you attempting to apply the road traffic act to boating or making a very long stretch with the merchant shipping act? Given that my (non-commercial) boat securely tied up in a marina is no more "endangering other vessels, structures or individuals" than when I'm not aboard it, I can't think of any nationwide legislation standing between me and the bottle of rum in the fridge.

 

[johnalison]

I agree that one shouldn’t sail while under the influence, though this is chiefly a matter of personal safety rather than risk to third parties as in cars. However, reaction time is not generally tested when sailing and I have no problem with the odd 250ml bottle of beer on a hot summer’s day when pootling along on a quiet day. Friends of ours used to serve Pimms at noon every day, wherever they were. In fact, they took three dozen bottles with them for the summer cruise in their 46’ boat.

 

[obmij]

Working on a commercial vessel the limit in UK waters is the same as the UK drink drive limit. If you're north of 6ft, carrying a bit of timber and have eaten properly I reckon this is around 2 pints.

Most companies these days have a zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy whilst on the vessel itself but I don't think there is much interest in punishing people beyond what the law requires. There would be less mariners for sure.

Sailing though - long distance and sundowners (even if no sun is visible) are an anchor point for the day. In moderation obviously. A rum or a beer will suffice.

Holiday and leisure. All bets are off really. There is no law forbidding alcohol consumption at any level whilst boating recreationally. Obviously drinking 2 bottles of wine and crashing into a ferry would have considerable consequences, but in terms of whether one would be over 'a limit' no such thing exists.

 

[Bouba]

So the general consensus is (and I have suspected for a long time) that raggies are all on the sauce