Booze on board?

[Daydream believer]

2 of my freinds have an elderly 41 ft Jeneau. It has a very large freezer compartment & when ever they go anywhere it is always rammed tight with beers & wines, The fridge has a few beers & very little food. Plan usually is to start drinking ASAP then get to a bar with a cafe ASAP after arrival at any port. They are usually well watered every night in port

 

[Seashoreman]

Quite honestly the morality that has developed regarding 'alcohol' in the past few years is as confusing as all the other changes we have absorbed in the rights and wrongs and what 'we' regard as acceptable. I personally have no real idea how to come into this discussion or argument regarding having a drink whilst boating. There are, like many experiences in life, many many variables. One of the few liberties we have left in life is self-responsibly. Who has the right to determine the time, amount and strength of an alcoholic drink taken in variable circumstances? A can of John Smiths from my local supermarket is 3.4%, personally I can drink one of those when I feel like it without it affecting my abilities on board. Do you honestly need to set boundaries for self responsibility?
I have spent most of my boating life sailing solo, my prime responsibility is to myself, my extended family and the emergency services in case of need.
People have Dry January yet only deny themselves a couple of pints a week in reality. Some wouldn't get through a dry week.
If this is a 'holier than thou' post then fair enough, there are plenty of these types around. Personally I believe it comes down to Self-responsibility and Respect for oneself and other boat users. Otherwise please try to respect the freedom of others to master their own paths without your judgement and morals imposed.
There you go, that's told yer.

 

[johnalison]

Quite honestly the morality that has developed regarding 'alcohol' in the past few years is as confusing as all the other changes we have absorbed in the rights and wrongs and what 'we' regard as acceptable. I personally have no real idea how to come into this discussion or argument regarding having a drink whilst boating. There are, like many experiences in life, many many variables. One of the few liberties we have left in life is self-responsibly. Who has the right to determine the time, amount and strength of an alcoholic drink taken in variable circumstances? A can of John Smiths from my local supermarket is 3.4%, personally I can drink one of those when I feel like it without it affecting my abilities on board. Do you honestly need to set boundaries for self responsibility?
I have spent most of my boating life sailing solo, my prime responsibility is to myself, my extended family and the emergency services in case of need.
People have Dry January yet only deny themselves a couple of pints a week in reality. Some wouldn't get through a dry week.
If this is a 'holier than thou' post then fair enough, there are plenty of these types around. Personally I believe it comes down to Self-responsibility and Respect for oneself and other boat users. Otherwise please try to respect the freedom of others to master their own paths without your judgement and morals imposed.
There you go, that's told yer.

I entirely agree. What we do is our own business, so long as that doesn't involve putting others at risk. It is a bit different when it comes to advising others what is OK. As I have said, I have occasionally had small amounts on passage, but if someone were to ask me what is the limit for drinking while on passage, then the only answer I can ethically give is zero.

 

[oldbloke]

All of the things that give pleasure and make life worth living are more ,or less risky. Sailing, drinking alcohol, buying meat near its sell by date, taking dog worming tablets to cure cancer, passing less than 20 miles fromPortland Bill. As all of us on this forum are pretty much circling the plughole I am not sure why there is such a risk averse flavour to the place

 

[Seashoreman]

I entirely agree. What we do is our own business, so long as that doesn't involve putting others at risk. It is a bit different when it comes to advising others what is OK. As I have said, I have occasionally had small amounts on passage, but if someone were to ask me what is the limit for drinking while on passage, then the only answer I can ethically give is zero.

Does this ethical oath follow you to the grave? Said with humour. Thank you for not being critical btw.

 

[obmij]

I wonder is there is a correlation between abstaining from booze onboard and the excessive wearing of lifejackets?

Who would bother wearing a LJ when boozing round the Greek islands? You'd end up with a spinlock tanline and would look ridiculous - not to mention the chafe!

RKJ provisioned for half a bottle of spirits a week plus beer (Suhaili was only 32ft and it's a long way round). Given that his daily exercise was to leap off the bow and swim as hard as he could until he was overtaken by his own boat, I doubt you would catch him wearing a lifejacket unless he was being paid to do so.

 

[Scubadoo]

Quite honestly the morality that has developed regarding 'alcohol' in the past few years is as confusing as all the other changes we have absorbed in the rights and wrongs and what 'we' regard as acceptable. I personally have no real idea how to come into this discussion or argument regarding having a drink whilst boating. There are, like many experiences in life, many many variables. One of the few liberties we have left in life is self-responsibly. Who has the right to determine the time, amount and strength of an alcoholic drink taken in variable circumstances? A can of John Smiths from my local supermarket is 3.4%, personally I can drink one of those when I feel like it without it affecting my abilities on board. Do you honestly need to set boundaries for self responsibility?
I have spent most of my boating life sailing solo, my prime responsibility is to myself, my extended family and the emergency services in case of need.
People have Dry January yet only deny themselves a couple of pints a week in reality. Some wouldn't get through a dry week.
If this is a 'holier than thou' post then fair enough, there are plenty of these types around. Personally I believe it comes down to Self-responsibility and Respect for oneself and other boat users. Otherwise please try to respect the freedom of others to master their own paths without your judgement and morals imposed.
There you go, that's told yer.

Fair enough, but it is the boaters that don't drink responsibly and put others at risk. Recently I saw a pleasure fishing boat with two guys onboard back from a day's fishing, his mate fell off the boat while berthing, and they unloaded a black sack full of empty beer cans...these are the sort of people you want to avoid while cruising.

 

[Bouba]

Quite honestly the morality that has developed regarding 'alcohol' in the past few years is as confusing as all the other changes we have absorbed in the rights and wrongs and what 'we' regard as acceptable. I personally have no real idea how to come into this discussion or argument regarding having a drink whilst boating. There are, like many experiences in life, many many variables. One of the few liberties we have left in life is self-responsibly. Who has the right to determine the time, amount and strength of an alcoholic drink taken in variable circumstances? A can of John Smiths from my local supermarket is 3.4%, personally I can drink one of those when I feel like it without it affecting my abilities on board. Do you honestly need to set boundaries for self responsibility?
I have spent most of my boating life sailing solo, my prime responsibility is to myself, my extended family and the emergency services in case of need.
People have Dry January yet only deny themselves a couple of pints a week in reality. Some wouldn't get through a dry week.
If this is a 'holier than thou' post then fair enough, there are plenty of these types around. Personally I believe it comes down to Self-responsibility and Respect for oneself and other boat users. Otherwise please try to respect the freedom of others to master their own paths without your judgement and morals imposed.
There you go, that's told yer.

There are rules of the road out there…..and the amount of times I encounter another boat that makes the wrong decision. Whether it’s due to failing to keep a lookout…entrusting the helm to a passenger…or because the captain has been drinking…who knows ???
But drinking often affects other people in an extremely negative way….so….we have laws and social norms to try an keep some kind of lid on mayhem

 

[johnalison]

Does this ethical oath follow you to the grave? Said with humour. Thank you for not being critical btw.

The idea that doctors take the Hippocratic oath is entirely mythical, or at least I hope so. "I swear by Apollo the Physician" and some oddities that follow does not fit well with either modern ideas of what constitutes sanctity or with many scientific advances. No oath is necessary because the training itself give the practice an ethical basis, or should do.

In fact, the ethics I was referring to are what I would hope apply to anyone, meaning that I don't think it can ever be ethical to advise someone to take a personal risk in the name of recreation. I wouldn't want you to take this too literally, as I might, for instance, suggest that it could be fun to go bungee-jumping, or sail across the Channel, but this would be on the understanding that the advisee should make their own assessment.

 

[westhinder]

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.

I can echo this. Having a well-stocked boat and being moderate does not necessarily clash. I’d rather have one good glass and enjoy it than three indifferent ones and feel the consequences.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I can echo this. Having a well-stocked boat and being moderate does not necessarily clash. I’d rather have one good glass and enjoy it than three indifferent ones and feel the consequences.

We often meet up with friends for our overnight/weekend type trips. So we do what we do at home. Sundowners, a glass with our food, though of course if circumstances look a bit chancy, we would moderate or eliminate alcohol as we saw fit. It’s a recreation. Sailing is the compulsion, that comes first.

 

[steve yates]

Ot drinking on passage is all very well if you are weekending about in the uk, cos you’ll be anchored , berthed or in the pub by evening, but would those advocating it still practise that if they were crossing the atlantic?
I’m a bad person, I drink while sailing ( if its enjoyable weather for it) and I don't wear a lifejacket or harness unless I’m scared

 

[john_morris_uk]

Ot drinking on passage is all very well if you are weekending about in the uk, cos you’ll be anchored , berthed or in the pub by evening, but would those advocating it still practise that if they were crossing the atlantic?
I’m a bad person, I drink while sailing ( if its enjoyable weather for it) and I don't wear a lifejacket or harness unless I’m scared

See my previous post. On ocean passages I have a strict rule of ONE small beer or glass of something when we have a daily all crew meeting. It’s usually at 1800 before the main meal of the day.

 

[obmij]

Ot drinking on passage is all very well if you are weekending about in the uk, cos you’ll be anchored , berthed or in the pub by evening, but would those advocating it still practise that if they were crossing the atlantic?

For sure. Drinking doesn't mean drunk.

 

[Momac]

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.

I have adequate (but perhaps not so substantial as yours) stocks on board. Mostly wine. But I don't like a hangover nor the hard stare from the chief officer.
Like you I avoid inappropriate times.

It has taken me many decades to master the art of drinking enough but not too much. I only occasionally fail to achieve the optimum solution.

 

[westhinder]

Ot drinking on passage is all very well if you are weekending about in the uk, cos you’ll be anchored , berthed or in the pub by evening, but would those advocating it still practise that if they were crossing the atlantic?

That’s what we did: a celebratory drink at the half way point. No one of the four of us on board felt the need for more. It may have helped that two of us were doctors and all four of us have our own boats. And yes, we celebrated our arrival.

 

[Cerebus]

I don’t drink to the point of a hangover.

I learned that the hard way in my youth.

Drinking just the right amount for enjoyment is what it is about for me. Long live boating and it freedom.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I don’t drink to the point of a hangover.

I learned that the hard way in my youth.

Drinking just the right amount for enjoyment is what it is about for me. Long live boating and it freedom.

I don’t think I’ve had one since we had children. They are both what we might loosely term ‘grown ups’.

 

[jdc]

There is much talk along the lines of 'during an ocean passage I wouldn't have any'. Actually, when sailing coastal and thus going to anchor for the night we usually don't have any drinks until we've definitively stopped for the night, but on an ocean passage much less happens / there's less actual danger the vast majority of the time. And I positively advocate a drink!

it works like this: there are only the two of us aboard, taking alternate watches. But 18:00 - 20:00 we're both up. Unless very rough, or expected to become so during the coming night, we always have a drink together in the cockpit - it's our only time just being together and not working. It's probably a can of beer or a pastis for me and a glass of wine for my wife, hardly enough to make us even slightly tipsy, we could probably even drive legally. It's really the ritual and demarcation of the end of the day that counts - we can chat through anything that's bothering us or just be happy sailing together. We believe the positive effect on morale and attitude outweighs the minimal impairment to our physical abilities. You may find it works differently, but feelings do count on passage.

 

[Dellquay13]

circling the plughole

I’m going to treasure that one