RichardS
N/A
Sailors on this forum often refer to town x being a long dinghy ride from anchorage y - but I often wonder whether my instinct about how far is too far is the same as anyone else's?
The furthest the family and I have dinghied in our small 9 ft inflatable with a 5HP outboard is about 2 miles so perhaps a 15-20 minute ride. That was across to a restaurant so we knew we would be coming back in the dark. Because we were crossing across open sea between two islands, rather than hugging the coast, I was conscious that if the engine failed it could be a long row either way and the thing doesn't row very well. This is the Med so no tide and the sea was warmish and calm although there is always the risk that 3 or 4 hours later when returning the conditions might not be quite so good.
We always take a couple of torches with us but I am not ashamed to admit that it does feel very very exposed at night with a mile to land in either direction.
Am I being a wimp here - is everyone else scooting around for miles offshore with gay abandon? Or am I being a bit reckless with even a 2 mile dinghy ride and should perhaps think again?
Not a troll - just interested!
Richard
The furthest the family and I have dinghied in our small 9 ft inflatable with a 5HP outboard is about 2 miles so perhaps a 15-20 minute ride. That was across to a restaurant so we knew we would be coming back in the dark. Because we were crossing across open sea between two islands, rather than hugging the coast, I was conscious that if the engine failed it could be a long row either way and the thing doesn't row very well. This is the Med so no tide and the sea was warmish and calm although there is always the risk that 3 or 4 hours later when returning the conditions might not be quite so good.
We always take a couple of torches with us but I am not ashamed to admit that it does feel very very exposed at night with a mile to land in either direction.
Am I being a wimp here - is everyone else scooting around for miles offshore with gay abandon? Or am I being a bit reckless with even a 2 mile dinghy ride and should perhaps think again?
Not a troll - just interested!
Richard