Red Diesel: Changes Discriminatory?

[Sgeir]

I have never been very worked up about the red diesel issue, but a recent experience suggests that there may be some major social benefits in retaining the present system.

I was recently privileged to meet a fine group of older gentlemen who had chosen to leave behind the rigours of sailing from a cockpit for the comfort and shelter of a motorsailor. The skipper, I believe, was a retired academic from one of our leading educational establishments in the North of England. His international crew were obviously expert sailors with years of experience behind them. Two had been maritime professionals: one sprightly old chap had previously been the skipper of a Clyde puffer, while the other had been an RNLI cox'n. One had been undertaking missionary work abroad, and the other was, I believe, vaguely connected with the Caribbean rum trade. Their vessel was a rather fine looking affair, reminiscent of Mr Tilman's Sea Breeze, but with a magnificently appointed wheelhouse and heads.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, while motorsailing gave protection from the elements, it really couldn't cut the mustard when going to windward, hence the need for extensive use of the motor with commensurate diesel consumption.

I therefore wonder if any changes to the current arrangements could be classed as discriminatory. Depriving these mature sailors of recreational stimulation would be very unfair. Does the team have any views on this?

 

[tcm]

um, it would affect the upper and lower classes, the old and the young. No money of for fineness odf vessel usually. Indeed, given that they had a vey very fine vesel and since a displacement craft likely sip fuel at a litre a mile, it's unlikely to cause them too much worry, is it?

 

[ParaHandy]

whit's called sheltered accomodation .... oops!

 

[jimi]

Re: Red Diesel: Changes Discriminatory?

1
The pensioner's fuel is deepest red,
It powered oft our patioed shed,
And ere their limbs grew stiff and old,
It also fuelled the eberspacher cold.


Chorus:
Then raise the scarlet standard high.
Within its shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red fuel burning here.


It waved above our infant might,
When all ahead seemed dark as night;
It witnessed many a deed and vow,
We must not change its colour now.


(Chorus)

It well recalls the journeys past,
It gives the hope of port at last;
The volvo bright, the spanner plain,
Of engine's might and engined gain.


(Chorus)

5
It suits today the weak and base,
Whose minds are fixed on self and pace
To cringe before the rich man's frown,
And tax the sacred liquid down.


(Chorus)

6
With heads uncovered swear we all
To burn it onward till we fall;
Come dungeons dark or gallows grim,
This song shall be our parting hymn.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Re: Red Diesel: Changes Discriminatory?

Top song Jimi. Send it to your MP!

 

[claymore]

And that was all going along fine until you reached the penultimate paragraph.
Would you like to make more of the fact that we were going upwind from Duart Point to the Mouth of Loch Aline and that we did in fact stuff you out of sight on that particular upwind leg.
We decided to motor not because as you erroneously point out, we couldn't sail. We motored upwind because Muzzy was wanting to get the fish pie on for tea and we all felt that he should do that in the shelter of a warm cabin so we started the engine and fired up the heater. Then we decided that as the engine was running we might as well put her into gear and motor upwind.
And finally, my lofty Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Sgeirs I would point out that this was a "Chentlemans" cruise and as we all know - Chentlemen do not sail upwind - so really by persisting manfully onwards to the fleshpots of Tobers, you were in fact in contravention of the spirit of the cruise and I hope sir - by Cock and Pie, you stand duly chastised - and may I say - that demonstration of semi naked Yoga in the cockpit of Rip Van's noble craft was the finest method of clearing an anchorage I've seen for some time.

 

[moodycruiser]

On the other side of the coin, if we are going to have harmonisation, considering that i was paying more for 12.5 metres hangin on the bouy in newtown at the weekend, than the yacht on the next bouy, probably 9 metres or so, (why?)
what about car parking spaces being charged on length of vehicle?
'course, if you've got a sunseeker and a stretched limo, you're really gonna get hammered......... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[machurley22]

Point of Information, Mr Cruise Director.

It is my very clear recollection that (due to a minor misunderstanding over that day's briefing and a slight problem caused by an over-zealous radio operator) Avilion had to lie hove-to off the entrance to Loch Aline while we waited for the rest of the fleet to arrive to see whether we were going in or continuing to Tobermory.

Dave

 

[claymore]

Your Papalcy
- I don't believe that for a moment as we both know that had you been wanting to know our intended destination you would have just walked over and asked us

 

[longjohnsadler]

We may have looked on the superannuated side by the end of the cruise, but at the start none of us looked a day over 30.
And I must say I was surprised in the Tigh-ma-Truisers (er have I got that right?) when you confided to me you were the oldest member of the cruise. Anyway, yer secret's safe with me!

 

[Sgeir]

Dear M

Thank you for a serious response. I think some of the earlier responses have been quite hurtful and unbecoming of the maritime spirit. The sort of thing that one would really expect in the Lounge.

Having said that, I do think that it is important to have some sort of recreational stimulation in one's Autumnal years. Don't you agree?

Which is why I am wondering why none of the the parties in this great general election have promised to introduce the Scuttlebutt Recreational Allowance for mature citizens. Along with the Winter Fuel Allowance for Eberspachers, the SRA could be used for diesel for motorsailors and even things like keeping one's mast upright.