Dinghy to shore drowning

[Seajet]

"It's difficult enough already, when asking an attractive lady " would you like to come for a sail ? " she'll be thinking of Duran Duran videos and sunbathing in a bikini while sipping G & T's, so once one starts offering waterproofs and harnesses, lifejackets, their eyes tend to glaze over..."



Might be an idea to wait till you leave the marina / port.

Thanks, that must be where I was going wrong; I was dishing out the waterproofs and harnesses in the pub / restaurant...did get some funny looks.

 

[Ben Dockrell 22]

Once i start sailing and if i noted a lady liked me its probably got more chance of working. Same interests just works best i think.

 

[onesea]

Thanks, that must be where I was going wrong; I was dishing out the waterproofs and harnesses in the pub / restaurant...did get some funny looks.

I got mine hostage onboard first in Hamble, then went and picked a buoy up of Calshot to do safety brief. She did not run away at Cowes that night or Portsmouth the next day... In fact 3 years later she has not jumped ship, yet....

But agree with eyes glassing over....

 

[Lakesailor]

she'll be thinking of Duran Duran videos and sunbathing in a bikini while sipping G & T's, so once one starts offering waterproofs and harnesses, lifejackets, their eyes tend to glaze over...

Without realising it I think you may have struck the nub of the many failed marriages we read about on these forums.

Men are from Portsmouth, Women are from Cannes.

 

[onesea]

Without realising it I think you may have struck the nub of the many failed marriages we read about on these forums.

Men are from Portsmouth, Women are from Cannes.

I know what your thinking but do not mention that idea to SWMBO she is form Southampton

 

[todka]

We picked up a French Book at Cherbourg from the Eric Taberly Press aimed at 8 to 16 year olds. It stressed safety at sea. Including life jackets and life lines. How sad was that?

 

[lw395]

A number of posts covered using an led or light, looking in "The Handbook Of Survival At Sea" they recommend "A Strobe Light".

There is some research which contradicts that.
If the water is choppy, a constant light is more likely to be seen and much easier to judge distances to.
A strobe is only firing for a very small fraction of time. It's also only at the crest of a wave for a small fraction of time. So most flashes are missed.
One of the mags did a test I think, although it might have been a diving mag. It was just after I'd fitted my dan buoy with a strobe....
Different if looking from a helicopter of course.
For trips in the dinghy, I've normally got a waterproof torch in my pocket.

Having had lifejackets stolen, I often do not wear one for short trips in the inflatable in good conditions. I do not think I am at much greater risk than the grockles on the pier, as they don't have a blown up rubber boat with them. Perhaps the LJ evangelists could go and hassle them instead?

 

[lw395]

I bought a waterproof stobe light for our LJ's from a dive shop after I read that they can be spotted from 12 mls in a helicopter in good visibility.

Did you buy the helicopter too? ;-)

 

[rbcoomer]

There is some research which contradicts that.
If the water is choppy, a constant light is more likely to be seen and much easier to judge distances to...

I'd second that statement. I've noticed myself how difficult it can be to judge distances of cyclists with flashing front lights in the rear-view mirrors. I live on a very busy road that some bureaucratic numbskull decided was suitable for a cycle lane (despite 100's of gateways and side roads!). Many cyclists are unfortunately clueless with regards to road safety and hammer along undertaking the traffic, head down and oblivious to all around - including traffic turning left and especially after a long day a work when it's raining! (We had one up the road from me a couple of years back who rode headlong into a parked courier's van! ) Static front lamps are relatively easy to gauge the distance of - even when glancing in a mirror, but flashing one's can be almost impossible. Rear lamps are different somehow - perhaps because of colour or that they tend to be in front and you have longer to evaluate distance? I would think that in the dark and poor visibility that a static lamp would be much better to spot than an intermittent flash that might not be line-of-sight when it flashes - depending of course on frequency of flashing.