Modern methods and old tradition

[bigmart]

Re: But what does it do ?

Another point that seems to be ignored in all the arguments is< that which our kids often suffer from, "Peer Pressure".

25 or so years ago when I started sailing we use to sail from Christchurch to Cherbourg/Alderney in a 22 footer with a n ancient Seafarer echo sounder, a Waker Log & the high tech device of the day a RDF. An old car battery powered the nav lights, no VHF, no Liferaft, no epirb, no anything but our wits & a love of sailing.

If I went out with that kind of gear today, a mention of the voyage, would have all manner pillorying me for going to sea poorly equipped & risking the attention of the Lifeboat & Coastguard uneccessarily.

To a large degree the comment "You can't win" springs to mind.

Of course, in a 22 footer, if we carried all the gear, we wouldn't have fitted on the boat.

Martin

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[rich]

Re: Years ago ....

breton plotter?

<hr width=100% size=1>rich ) <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.jersey-harbours.com>http://www.jersey-harbours.com</A>

 

[AlanPound]

Re: But what does it do ?

... wot? No sextant? Bet you didn't have a pendulum between you... How did u know which way was up?

(negligent, I'd say)

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[Gunfleet]

Re: Strange dream continued...

what is a quid? quid pro quo= this for that. It's a Regency joke we still use. Just in case anyone really wanted to know

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[Guest]

Breton ..... different tool

The Breton Plotter has been around a little longer than I !!!

No - mine was purely compass correction without a ruled edge to draw courses. It was born of the idea when I used to have Cadets on watch with me and they had difficulty remembering how to mark the course board. (In those days we had a chalk board with True Course, Magnetic Course, Compass Course, Var'n, Dev'n that was always filled in when changing course etc. in case we fell over and another had to take the conn etc.


The version after I drew and made mine was in the mags ... PBO etc. a few years ago.

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
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[Guest]

Terrible !!!

Hang him from the Yard !!!!

Must admit I'm not much more than that now often !!!

OK so I have a few fancy tools at my disposal - but honestly rarely look at them..... except when trying to creep back onto berth chasing tide !!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[bigmart]

Re: Terrible !!!

Ah but the real question is. Do you think we are any safer for all the modern gadgets?

Too bloody right we are!

Martin

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[Evadne]

Re: But what does it do ?

One thing hasn't changed, and that is that once you've cast off, you're on your own. Modern communications mean that the land is only a vhf/phone call away, but its not compulsory. In fact nothing is. If you prefer to take a compass, log, chart and two Mk 1 eyeballs as your sole navigation aids, the only way folk can criticise you is if you tell them. So don't, and enjoy the sailing. Like earlier posts said it's a broad church, live and let live (or sail), etc. etc.

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[Guest]

Re: Terrible !!!

Depends I think ....... having seen some nice manouevres with anchors on bows sweeping through stays in tight spaces in Cowes marina, boats banging into marina berths, boats going out with little or no experience in all sorts of weather,

Generally I would agree that considering the number of boats around now that safety is probably better...... but that still doesn't change the fact that there are idiots out there without any skills modern or traditional !!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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