Do you allow bare feet when sailing ? Poll

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]
Rather de-feets the object of the poll. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, come on - toe the line /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[shmoo]

[ QUOTE ]

I can't actually think of an operation on board that would be made safer when wearing shoes.


[/ QUOTE ]

My feet are frightened of the anchor, and indeed the chain. We have no windlass and I have to climb inside the deck mounted anchor locker to get the thing out. Even in great weather I put on a pair of old Musto Ocean trousers and shoes or boots for that operation.

 

[ccscott49]

I wont allow it, because I've spent time repairing peoples toes and feet, because they stood on a ring boat or stubbed there toes on other things, torn lumps out there feet with hatch cathes, ad infinitum! So deck shoes please when working decks. Sunbathing on deck, OK, no hassles, lazing about OK, but too many things to damage bare feet on my boat.

 

[Danny Jo]

[ QUOTE ]
too many things to damage bare feet on my boat

[/ QUOTE ] This is an indictment of modern boat gear design.

Keegan reports that, at the onset of the Battle of Trafalgar (Oct. 21, 1805), the decks of the wooden fighting ships were sluiced with water against fire, and sand sprinkled on top, partly to give a better grip to bare feet of the gun crews, partly 'for the blood'. (The Price of Admiralty: The Evolution of Naval Warfare. John Keegan. Illustrated. 292 pages. Viking.)

 

[shmoo]

Although I have cut my feet on odd occasions they have never bled enough to need sand to mop up the mess.

 

[Scillypete]

As I usually have to paddle to get in the tender before getting out to the boat I invariably always go barefoot from May onwards, wellies in winter, and in umpteen years of sailing barefoot and anchoring etc I have been lucky enough or cautious enough not to do any damage to me pinkies.

A major plus for keeping footwear to a minimum means that they don't bring aboard all the sand and other bits of dirt and cr*p.

I prefer to save the footwear for wandering around all those dirty shoresides and marinas.

 

[Oliveoyl]

Rule on our boat is shoes at all times when sailing
Rule for me is same, tho' I know many barefoot skippers who've never come to grief.
Maybe I'm just clumsy - natural gift for stubbing toes on bed post at home...

 

[Sybarite]

Discouraged (rather than no) when sailing - yes when moored.

John

 

[Sybarite]

Wants to keep instep with the majority, you heel...

John

 

[jimbaerselman]

Med sailing> No bare feet or flip flops when on watch and potentially active, or when entering or leaving harbour. When moored to the shore (alongside or with passarelle) during leisure time, take shoes off after boarding (supplied mocassins optional). If your judgement is impaired when returning ashore, be careful to select the right shoes when you leave . . . not just any old left ones.

 

[Oldhand]

Why?

 

[Shearwater]

Never, ever bare feet. Modern sandals, deck shoes etc give positive traction and protection. No bare feet and no, never, ever, no hanging over the bow (especially the kids...adults maybe so long as they realise the risk if they slip in ).

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Habitual barefoot boater, that's me. To the despair of SWMBO as I tend to forget to put shoes on when leaving the boat. In the marina is seen as tolerable but my trekking through London barefoot vexes her somewhat

 

[fireball]

Do you insist on full survival suits to be worn at all times too?

Do kids like sailing with you? I strongly feel that part of being a kid is to explore your boundaries, taking calculated risks, being told by adults that what they are doing is silly/dangerous and learning from it.

Standing on the bow is one of those things that can be really special - and in the right conditions I'm more than happy for a kid to do so - they enjoy it and get a kick out of something that is "dangerous" .... and want to come back for more sailing....

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
Habitual barefoot boater, that's me. To the despair of SWMBO as I tend to forget to put shoes on when leaving the boat. In the marina is seen as tolerable but my trekking through London barefoot vexes her somewhat

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm with you - I only ban flip flops and socks, neither of which give any grip.

 

[Brierley]

We allow bare feet but warn people about the hazards.

Personally I prefer bare feet to flip flops - if I need shoes on, I tend to wear Crocs which have good grip and won't fall off unlike flip flops. They're great for getting in and out of the dinghy on a beach too. Most trainers don't give good grip and most guests are non-boaty types so are unlikely to have deck shoes. Also I think deck shoes are ugly and uncomfortable, plus the leather ones get smelly / rot / are always damp in the UK.

 

[ccscott49]

Crocs are banned on my boat as well! Only coz theys ugly!!

 

[Danny Jo]

The freedom lobby is winning, and almost has a two thirds majority (currently 65:35) - hooray!

 

[BruceDanforth]

I've seen the hardened sailors out in bars in the carribean grinding out their fag-ends with their bare feet. I think it depends how long you are on board for.

 

[aitchw]

Chalk another up for bare feet. I do wear my dinghy sailing shoes occasionally if it is cold. Don't get chance to sail in winter other than in my dinghy so never had to accommodate that.