Booze on board?

I seem to get surprisingly badly dehydrated when I drink even a moderate amount of alcohol on board, so it's no more than a tin of beer or couple of glasses of wine in the evening for me. My favourite time for sailing is dawn and early morning and getting up and going with a hangover rather spoils the fun.

Entirely aside from that Mrs Sailing Steve tends towards anxiety when I'm out on my own and if she thought I'm sailing whilst rat-arsed then she'd worry a whole lot more.
 
Fully respect everyone's decision to run how they like - but I don't think the responses on this thread are representative of the norm.

A personal view, there is no better way to enjoy a half bottle of wine than offshore with dinner, single handed & watching the sun sink beneath the horizon (in settled weather)

On longer passages, the sundowner beer or rum is a great focal point for the day and a fine time to catch up and chill with your crewmates.

Closer to shore - imagine a charter holiday where no-one drank when at anchor..or when likely to sail the next day! There would be about 4 tavernas left in the Ionian..

Commercially - things are not as permissive as they used to be, but under the UK flag you can still take a watch with the equivalent of the Scottish drink drive limit in your system. Until recently it was the same as the UK limit so a civilised amount.

:)
 
I agree with the psychology of the above. We are sailing for the enjoyment and there is no reason to burden ourselves with anxiety or guilt. Although I have said that I occasionally might have a very small beer, equivalent to about half a glass of wine, on a quiet day, I think that the general rule of no drinking while on passage is the only advice we can sensibly give, just as it is hard to condone any sailing without a lifejacket or harness. I have no experience of a passage longer than three days. I think that if I were solo I would go TT but might hanker after the odd rum if I had company.
 
Daydream believer said:
How does one have a "very small" beer. Open a can, drink half & chuck the rest away?
Somehow I think that you are pulling our leg. What you might tell the wife perhaps. But not us:rolleyes:
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As I said before, I sometimes have a 250ml bottle of weak French lager as an alternative to water. I count that as small. I am quite open about it with my wife, who less often also enjoys the odd one.
 
There is always a bottle of Highland Park 12 year old onboard.

I have an eight hour no drink rule before departure. Never drink and sail. Might have a dram if at anchor AND the weather is benign.
 
We’re enjoying the modern low/no alcohol drinks. The Proper Job <0.5% IPA is fantastic, I’ve taken to drinking that in our local in preference to the full fat version, it’s great to have on board. The Tanqueray 0% is a very acceptable substitute for the real thing, the Captain Morgan’s 0% is good with ginger beer and my wife tells me that there are some fine 0% cider** about too. Compared to the low alcohol drinks from twenty years ago it’s a revolution. All because the younger generation are demanding it I expect.

** Sheppys
 
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Cerebus said:
30 or 40 years ago I used to read about Gin Palaces that never left the marina. Fair enough. They enjoyed their boat and marina and good weather.


But as people that travel, what do you do? I prefer the journey rather than the destination. I enjoy the sailing.

I never drink or drive and never drink and sail. End of.

But that is my opinion (and a bit of law regarding “driving” obviously, and rightly so in my h. o.)

We are fortunate that sailing is comparatively ‘free’. It is great.

I enjoy the odd beer (good beer or different beers to test) but quite infrequently as a treat and if taking friends for a cruise where anchoring for a few days I will stock up with a very limited supply for a treat.

I will not drink if I know bad weather is upon the horizon (“proper preparation…”) I will not drink when I know I need to sail within the next day.

As a lightweight, even a pint is out of order for me if I am to be in charge.

I used to crew for a racing Sigma 30 or so years ago and after the race the skipper broke out the beer. It was ok because I could walk home once we docked.

What do you think or consider?

This is meant to be a genial conversation btw.

It was prompted by a discussion with a friend that is quite different from me.
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I think people have been reluctant to reveal how much liquor they have aboard…ever since Seastoke joined the forum.
For the record…I don’t have any
 
GEM43 said:
We’re enjoying the modern low/no alcohol drinks. The Proper Job <0.5% IPA is fantastic, I’ve taken to drinking that in our local in preference to the full fat version, it’s great to have on board. The Tanqueray 0% is a very acceptable substitute for the real thing, the Captain Morgan’s 0% is good with ginger beer and my wife tells me that there are some fine 0% cider** about too. Compared to the low alcohol drinks from twenty years ago it’s a revolution. All because the younger generation are demanding it I expect.

** Sheppys
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Agree ref the cider, I really like that. Also recommend Brewdog zero alcohol beers especially Hazy AF. 👍🏻
 
Bouba said:
I think people have been reluctant to reveal how much liquor they have aboard…ever since Seastoke joined the forum.
For the record…I don’t have any
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Cruising, we will have quite enough to kill the both of us on board. We can manage not to drink it either all at once or at inappropriate times. Not the slightest bit reluctant or ashamed of it.
 
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