How much do you drink on board?

[watermint]

drink how much u want till u drop ?


i was told cop boats cant go on the water at nite as the boat is black and the cops wher black but ther insorents will not cover them at nite

 

[Searush]

drink how much u want till u drop ?


i was told cop boats cant go on the water at nite as the boat is black and the cops wher black but ther insorents will not cover them at nite

But maybe it is a "snatch squad"?

 

[Grumpybear]

Although I will reluctantly state my personal view on this, or any other issue that exercises our correspondents it worries me intensely that we (the royal 'we') are always ready to express a view on the behaviour of others.

The less that government, the RYA or any other regulatory authorities have to say in the way I conduct my life the better. Whether it be control of our views on race, sexuality, 'political correctness' (whatever that means), responsibility, duty, health & safety, freedom of speech, drinking habits, taking risks, religious freedom, cholestorol, education, ambition, taxation, bonuses etc etc etc.................. I could go on for weeks, but I think you get the point?

We are all adult, and as such we should and will act in a manner appropriate to the circumstances that present themselves.

I will, undoubdtedly, have p****ed off a number of regular correspondents with this observation, but I leave you with this question.

What the FF is a 'Phantom number 9'...?

How right you are!

 

[BruceDanforth]

But then what about the situation when you're on a buoy, have a drink, then the wind shifts and makes the mooring unsafe. Illegal to move round the corner to a much safer spot, unsafe to stay where you are. Between the devil and the deep blue sea?!

Cheers
Patrick

That would make you a pissed idiot with poor foresight, irrespective of law.

 

[Tomahawk]

Is this a Labour Government?

What I don't understand, is this legislation was introduced by a Labour Government, yet it is a Tory minister who is about to make it into law???

I thought the idea is a bonfire of regulation? not adding more red tape and petty jobsworths ...

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I will drink a beer with lunch, and I will drink 1-2 beers
at night, or share a bottle of wine with my wife over dinner.
I may well have a small whiskey later on before bed.

However,

I understand that I am responsible for the boat and it's crew.
I am responsible for choosing a safe anchorage, for having the
right ground tackle and setting it properly. I am responsible
for keeping an eye on the weather and the tide. I am responsible
for displaying the correct lights and marks, for following the
colregs and generally keeping the boat safe and sound so the RNLI
don't have to get out of bed because of me.

I will not allow my crew, or get myself into a state where our ability
to do all this is impaired.

One of the great satisfactions I get from sailing is the knowledge
that I have planned and executed my passage without incident,
I've enjoyed the journey and sometimes overcome adversity in
the process - but the best bit is that the nanny state didn't
dictate how I should do it.

As to the legislation, do our lawmakers not realise that a boat is
not a car. We do not generally pilot boats at 60 knots, three
abreast, down a canal, or at 25 knots through a crowded swimming
pool. On a boat a slightly delayed reaction time isn't going to have
much effect of safety. In fact if you need to react within 0.7
seconds to something then the true mistake was made some time
earlier.(Should have put in a reef, kept a proper look-out, kept a safe
distance off, used appropriate speed etc.)

It may be that apart from reaction time, the other effects of alcohol
are more dangerous - attention to detail, multi-tasking ability, inhibition
and lower percieved risk, but I'd wager sea sickness, lack of sleep,
general fitness, experience, and crew ability would be equaly if not more
risky, and possibly more likely.

I don't know why the boating community has been singled out for
this unnecessary legislation, drunk pedestrians are the single
highest alcohol related problem we have - so why not step up
the campaign to make binge drinking or drinking to excess unfashionable
and socially unacceptable - then the statistics will take care of themselves.

The less that government, the RYA or any other regulatory authorities have to say in the way I conduct my life the better. Whether it be control of our views on race, sexuality, 'political correctness' (whatever that means), responsibility, duty, health & safety, freedom of speech, drinking habits, taking risks, religious freedom, cholestorol, education, ambition, taxation, bonuses etc etc etc.................. I could go on for weeks, but I think you get the point?

We are all adult, and as such we should and will act in a manner appropriate to the circumstances that present themselves.

Well said that man!!! I'm with Thaumaturge 100%

EDIT: I think I just contradicted myself .... and I haven't drunk anything today.

 

[prv]

What I don't understand, is this legislation was introduced by a Labour Government, yet it is a Tory minister who is about to make it into law???

I thought the idea is a bonfire of regulation? not adding more red tape and petty jobsworths ...

That's what they'd have you believe; naive person that I am I actually did believe them at first. Sadly their actions have since disproved their words.

The one consolation is that they're probably adding new regulation less rapidly than the other lot would do.

Pete

 

[RichardS]

That would make you a pissed idiot with poor foresight, irrespective of law.

Patrick makes a good point.

I assume that Ed's comment is supposed to be a joke?

Richard

 

[BruceDanforth]

Patrick makes a good point.

I assume that Ed's comment is supposed to be a joke?

Richard

If you can't spend a night on a mooring sober in changeable weather then see a doctor.

 

[onesea]

If you can't spend a night on a mooring sober in changeable weather then see a doctor.

Is this a black and white thing? There is lots of grey in the middle, I drink onboard, the amount and quantity varies with crew experience, weather, mooring, the list is endless.

I do not get it right all the time, so I guess I am a pissed idiot with a lack of foresight.

I can only guess you do not drink onboard at all or have such great foresight that you have chosen not to be in the team winning golds at the Olympics?

 

[RichardS]

If you can't spend a night on a mooring sober in changeable weather then see a doctor.

Sobriety has got nothing to do with it. Alcohol in the bloodstream is the issue referenced by Patrick and that could be the result of a small glass of wine with dinner.

Calling someone a "pissed idiot" is neither clever nor, apparently, meant to be funny.

Richard

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Greyness and Black and White

Is this a black and white thing? There is lots of grey in the middle, I drink onboard, the amount and quantity varies with crew experience, weather, mooring, the list is endless.

I do not get it right all the time, so I guess I am a pissed idiot with a lack of foresight. ......

There is no greyness about it: alcohol diminishes the ability to make judgments and reactions compared to having no alcohol. Drink is consumed for these effects as well as taste. The idiot's are the ones who think that alcohol will not have an effect on their abilities.

A skipper who drinks, and is aware of the effect of drink on the human body, makes a decision to reduce their effectiveness. It's black and white.

 

[YachtAllegro]

That would make you a pissed idiot with poor foresight, irrespective of law.

Hmm, well, in the particular situation I described, perhaps it would. But what I was trying to highlight was that unless you take the view "no drink when on-board a boat, ever" there will be occasions when you may have had a drink, expecting to use the boat as a "home", and circumstances might arise when the safest or best course is nonetheless to move the boat, which either needs some sort of legal get-out clause, or leads to an unhappy conflict of interests.

If you want a more extreme scenario than the change of weather on a buoy one, what about another yacht sinking just outside the marina where I'm securely moored - do I refuse to motor out and pick up the survivors because I had a glass of wine with dinner?

Cheers
Patrick

 

[Deleted member 36384]

If you want a more extreme scenario than the change of weather on a buoy one, what about another yacht sinking just outside the marina where I'm securely moored - do I refuse to motor out and pick up the survivors because I had a glass of wine with dinner?

Cheers
Patrick

But you wouldn't do that, I assume, you would go out and rescue the person and deal with the consequences later. If you were so bloutered that you went out and got yourself and others into further trouble, due to alcohol, you would deal with the consequences of that as well. If you chose not to help, because you would break the law, then you would have to deal with the consequences of that too. The fact is alcohol will have an effect on how you make decisions and how you react to them - the law is actually irrelevant.

 

[BruceDanforth]

Hmm, well, in the particular situation I described, perhaps it would. But what I was trying to highlight was that unless you take the view "no drink when on-board a boat, ever" there will be occasions when you may have had a drink, expecting to use the boat as a "home", and circumstances might arise when the safest or best course is nonetheless to move the boat, which either needs some sort of legal get-out clause, or leads to an unhappy conflict of interests.

If you want a more extreme scenario than the change of weather on a buoy one, what about another yacht sinking just outside the marina where I'm securely moored - do I refuse to motor out and pick up the survivors because I had a glass of wine with dinner?

Cheers
Patrick

I don't see anything at all wrong with having a drink when securely tied up in a marina. You will have to solve the 'daring pissed rescue' dilemma if and when it happens.

 

[onesea]

There is no greyness about it: alcohol diminishes the ability to make judgments and reactions compared to having no alcohol. Drink is consumed for these effects as well as taste. The idiot's are the ones who think that alcohol will not have an effect on their abilities.

A skipper who drinks, and is aware of the effect of drink on the human body, makes a decision to reduce their effectiveness. It's black and white.

But you wouldn't do that, I assume, you would go out and rescue the person and deal with the consequences later. If you were so bloutered that you went out and got yourself and others into further trouble, due to alcohol, you would deal with the consequences of that as well. If you chose not to help, because you would break the law, then you would have to deal with the consequences of that too. The fact is alcohol will have an effect on how you make decisions and how you react to them - the law is actually irrelevant.

If it is this black and white. I take it you do not drink? If you are at home drinking there is always the risk of unforeseen, a child falling braking there leg, you cannot drive as you have had a drink? I can only assume you do not drink at all.

I respect your view regarding boats and alcohol, if you feel that the risks are such you shall not, that is you decision. Please show some respect the to those that feel they can relax and enjoy a drink.

I don't see anything at all wrong with having a drink when securely tied up in a marina. You will have to solve the 'daring pissed rescue' dilemma if and when it happens.

I do not see a issue on occasionally having a drink on passage, when secure in the circumstances I can foresee.

It comes to a circular argument "Drink responsibly" , but if I was responsible I would not drink.

If its black and white you would not drink ever.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

.... I respect your view regarding boats and alcohol, if you feel that the risks are such you shall not, that is you decision. Please show some respect the to those that feel they can relax and enjoy a drink...

I dont disrespect the position you take and can't see why you would think that. I believe that my position is clear on alcohol and sailing. I have also made my own alcohol consumption on boats clear as well, earlier in the thread.

The main point that I make is that alcohol, at the unit level and above, diminishes effectiveness. Those who consume alcohol when in charge of a yacht should do so knowing this and knowing that it may impair their ability to act effectively e.g. falling off a pontoon, tripping over a warp, slips, trips and falls surrounded by water.

The reason that I think this is because many people (my opinion, not based on any statistical analysis) don't appreciate the additional risks being surrounded by water entails, or by being remote on a mooring or anchorage, or by being on a wobbly platform that has lots of trip and hit hazards. It is my opinion that many people carry on as if its business as usual, where "usual" is land based with all the usual support that we take for granted.

Being at sea or along side, moored or at anchor is a risky place where alcohol increases the probability of a risk being realised. Its black and white.

I am against legislation because I don't believe there is a need for it, nor that there is an issue that needs legislation to solve (despite my opinions mentioned above). If the legislation is signed and becomes law, it will not change my drinking habits at all, nor my attitude to the law. I drink in the full awareness that it affects how I will respond. I hope that I never have the opportunity to find out that it was irresponsible.

 

[wotayottie]

There is no greyness about it: alcohol diminishes the ability to make judgments and reactions compared to having no alcohol. Drink is consumed for these effects as well as taste. The idiot's are the ones who think that alcohol will not have an effect on their abilities.

A skipper who drinks, and is aware of the effect of drink on the human body, makes a decision to reduce their effectiveness. It's black and white.

Might not like the dogmatic way you express it, but there is no doubt you are right. Question is - how much does a particular individuals effectiveness reduce per unit drunk. As I mentioned earlier, I was quite surprised at how I was affected by just 2 pints of ordinary pub draught ale. And since self control has never been my strong point, I dont drink at all under way rather than try to keep to just one pint.

Hmm, well, in the particular situation I described, perhaps it would. But what I was trying to highlight was that unless you take the view "no drink when on-board a boat, ever" there will be occasions when you may have had a drink, expecting to use the boat as a "home", and circumstances might arise when the safest or best course is nonetheless to move the boat, which either needs some sort of legal get-out clause, or leads to an unhappy conflict of interests.

Just the same conflict that you would get if you were at home, SWMBO had an accident, and you had to drive quickly to hospital having had a few. Are you saying you would not drive? I never ever drink and drive, not even one glass, but I would break that rule in an instant if there were family reasons like the above. Sometimes in life you have to take chances.

 

[Tomahawk]

Gentlemen please

I think the point of the OP was to ask people of their experience of drinking on board... because he is writing an article in YM with the objective of providing evidence to stop the Secretary of State signing this legislation into law...

.... So far no one has said they get canned then roar through a marina or close to a beach with people swimming... Indeed everyone has demonstrated a level of responsibility which questions the need to legislate.. The discussion has also revealed the very low level of incidents related to alcohol on board..

On this occasion the enemy is the meddling jobsworth in the MCA and MAIB who is seeking to introduce restrictions to basic freedoms on a very weak argument citing an extremely low number of accidents over a long time as justification to legislate..

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I think the point of the OP was to ask people of their experience of drinking on board... because he is writing an article in YM with the objective of providing evidence to stop the Secretary of State signing this legislation into law...

.... So far no one has said they get canned then roar through a marina or close to a beach with people swimming... Indeed everyone has demonstrated a level of responsibility which questions the need to legislate.. The discussion has also revealed the very low level of incidents related to alcohol on board..

On this occasion the enemy is the meddling jobsworth in the MCA and MAIB who is seeking to introduce restrictions to basic freedoms on a very weak argument citing an extremely low number of accidents over a long time as justification to legislate..

I agree with what you say, but unfortunately this thread has also shown there are some people who want to say how others should and should not behave onboard. Whether they are right or wrong, I don't want to hear them.