Tmacd
Well-Known Member
+1 !!!
+1 !!!
rotrax
Well-Known Member
+2!
grazbo
Well-Known Member
+1, hic
Sailing a boat just isn't so easy and takes some thought to do it - I propose that people who do sail are naturally in tune with their own limits and already stick to them. It's part of the make-up of being a skipper, eg to know whether to have a beer or not.
It's also an evolutionary thing...... those who do drink too much at the wrong time/place, don't hang about for long.
Whatever we are doing, it seems to be working, the stats are hardly significant in proportion to the environment we inhabit, ie mistakes can be punished severely.
I wonder if most accidents attributed to sail or motor boats would be caused by mid-lifers with some spare dosh and no time to learn - the same guys who fall off big motorbikes. They just need a weeks training, a certificate and they are ready to go buy a bike / boat.
Anyway, hic, I don't see that there is a problem, hic
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BruceDanforth
Well-Known Member
Well I for one wouldn't want to stop you sailing around as pissed as you like but I still question the wisdom of the 'I moor incompetently in exposed places and should be allowed to be drunk for when the conditions become foul and I need to sail in them' argument...
onesea
Well-Known Member
No you just seem to look down on those that are relaxed enough afloat to have a beer at any other time that is not "securely tied in a marina".
Has anyone here said they willingly knowingly sail around "pissed as you like" no. They have admitted that it can go wrong and things can change, they have acknowledged the possible risks that drinking afloat involves.
I would say that is responsible drinking, they probably still consider how much they drink when securely moored in a marina and at home...
robertj
Well-Known Member
robertj
Well-Known Member
BruceDanforth
Well-Known Member
I don't look down on them - I just think they are pissed idiots. There are plenty of other middle aged men with drink problems afloat in the Solent who will come and 'help' you when you get into trouble so no need to get too defensive about it.
Simondjuk
Well-Known Member
wotayottie said:
I like to think that in the above circumstances, whilst my initial reaction might be to reach for the car keys, I'd not get as far as using them. I hope I'd realise that leaping into the car while stressed, frightened, in a blind rush and slightly tipsy would mean I'm as likely to ruin someone else's day or life as I am to fulfil my own immediate needs. A neighbour or a taxi are just as likely to get you there in similar time, but with a greatly reduced risk of any further tragedy.
rotrax
Well-Known Member
This post reminds me of the old Trueism "There are none so sanctimonious as reformed reprobates".........................If first mate and I are on the hook in settled weather and dont intend to move for a while-waiting out a foul tide perhaps-a small bottle of beer or a glass of wine with lunch is most acceptable. This is usually followed by a snooze or a read untill its time to go. As a small beer or one glass of wine is all we would ever consume under these circumstances the opinions of others is of supreme indifference. I have been tested for reaction times while under the influence of alcahol, using a Speedway simulator. It required one litre of strong Czech beer to cut my reaction down by .3 of a second. Interestingly enough, my best reaction time was after half a litre! This test was, of course, only focused on something I was very familiar with doing. It may have had a different result if it was an unfamiliar task, or something that required judement. To sum up, I am in charge of my destiny, and I consider myself to be responsible in my actions.
HinewaisMan
Well-Known Member
Those who know us will have seen that SWMBO and I enjoy a tipple or two or three, but when we headed off on our big trip, we had every intention of running a dry boat.
Ha! Long passages without a drink are very long passages!
But we’re responsible with it – and that surely is the crux of the matter – we’re all getting shafted because of the small number of idiots who get blind and have accidents.
Anyway, when day sailing, no drinking.
On passage, a drink (glass of wine or a beer) with the evening meal.
On the hook or a mooring, a few drinks if we want.
Tied up alongside – anything goes.
But so far, no one has mentioned what the possible penalties might be if such legislation is bought in.
Be AFRAID, be very AFRAID.
Back at home in Victoria, Oz, they bought in a boat license a few years back. Primarily to try and control the brain dead jet ski riders who were killing people with monotonous regularity.
It’s not hard to get the license – the test is laughably simple – but it does cost, I think, about $25 a year. Never to miss an opportunity to tax the people (sorry, to “generate revenue to maintain and improve the infrastructure for boating in Victoria”), the State Government extended the license to apply to everyone who has responsibility for a boat on the water.
And they then applied the same drink driving limits to your boat license as for your car. In Vic, that’s .05 – a strong pint or large spirit and you’d probably be over the limit. If you are under 21, a zero reading is required.
This applies to when the boats moving or stationary – like at anchor or on a mooring – and, by the letter of the law, tied up safely in a pen. Someone has to be responsible and sober.
Now in Oz, the law doesn’t have to have any suspicion you might be drink driving – we have random breath tests where they close off roads and test everyone.
The same applies for boats (without the roads, pedants). At any time, the Water Police can come along and breathalyse you. This has upset a few people who’ve been pulled out of races to be tested.
If you blow over the limit, you get a hefty fine and lose your boat license – I think for 3 years.
You also lose your car driving license.
As I say, be very afraid if similar rules come in over here.
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D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
Being in charge of your destiny is an oxymoron.
Searush
Well-Known Member
Not really & anyway a better interpretation might be accepting the consequences of one's actions.
ChattingLil
Well-Known Member
but not if you are teetotal anyway - as is HWMO - so we are used to it.However,when he is not aboard,then what you said here applies to me and the rest of my crew:
But in moderation - drunkeness on my boat is very rare and if ever, it's only been one particular culprit (and he's not in position of responsibility!).
I also agree with this - any leg and regs could only be enforced if they held the skipper responsible - so no getting away with staying sober if your crew are all pissed - bit like the seatbelt law (I think).
T
timbartlett
Guest
Thought occurs to me that maybe our perceptions vary according to our own reactions to alcohol. It's pretty well known (I think) that some people are far more susceptible to its effects than others.
So someone who feels woozy after a double gin might well (and understandably) assume that someone who has had two or three doubles must be "pissed".
OTOH, there are people who are just starting to feel a mild effect after two or three doubles who can -- equally understandably -- see nothing wrong with having half a bottle of wine over dinner and a wee dram for a nightcap.
So someone who feels woozy after a double gin might well (and understandably) assume that someone who has had two or three doubles must be "pissed".
OTOH, there are people who are just starting to feel a mild effect after two or three doubles who can -- equally understandably -- see nothing wrong with having half a bottle of wine over dinner and a wee dram for a nightcap.
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
I am very happy to agree with you on this point, Tim, which kind of proves that it is down to the individuals to decide what is appropriate for them at the time.
Yes, some people will get carried away and go beyond their limit, but its not a major problem in the grand scheme of things.
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BruceDanforth
Well-Known Member
There could be something in that - when I go drinking in the centre of Newcastle till late I rarely have more than half a wine gum and never crack into the Orval.
capetown
Well-Known Member
rotrax
Well-Known Member
Thank you Searush-thats what I meant!
jordanbasset
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by YachtAllegro
I don't drink underway, but may well have a drink
when moored or anchored of an evening. I'm not convinced there is evidence of a problem that needs fixing here - it sounds like legislation for legislation's sake.
Cheers
Patrick
Agree, as a liveaboard who spends most of the summer at anchor a couple or three drinks two or three times a week is not an issue for me. Yes if it is blowing up or the forecast looks bad I would not, but most times we are in a safe anchorage and a beer or glass of wine on the back of the boat is one of our pleasures in life.
Yes you can argue any drink can slow down your response or reduce your thinking ability, but sometimes in life you just have to look at the risks ( in my view the risk is so tiny as to be irrelevant) and take your chances.
Would those who live in a house not have a drink in case their house catches fire or perhaps their neighbours, would their reactions/thinking be impaired. This would be ridiculous but no more ridiculous to me than suggesting you should never drink on a boat except when in a marina.
On the other hand perhaps it may be some are just not comfortable in being at anchor and feeling only secure when in a marina?
I don't drink underway, but may well have a drink
when moored or anchored of an evening. I'm not convinced there is evidence of a problem that needs fixing here - it sounds like legislation for legislation's sake.
Cheers
Patrick
Agree, as a liveaboard who spends most of the summer at anchor a couple or three drinks two or three times a week is not an issue for me. Yes if it is blowing up or the forecast looks bad I would not, but most times we are in a safe anchorage and a beer or glass of wine on the back of the boat is one of our pleasures in life.
Yes you can argue any drink can slow down your response or reduce your thinking ability, but sometimes in life you just have to look at the risks ( in my view the risk is so tiny as to be irrelevant) and take your chances.
Would those who live in a house not have a drink in case their house catches fire or perhaps their neighbours, would their reactions/thinking be impaired. This would be ridiculous but no more ridiculous to me than suggesting you should never drink on a boat except when in a marina.
On the other hand perhaps it may be some are just not comfortable in being at anchor and feeling only secure when in a marina?
