Rules on board

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BlueSkyNick

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"There's only three rules on a boat. Safety. Safety and Safety. ."

This is quoted from another thread on PBO, but I disagree with it.

I always tell new crew that we have only two main rules - Safety and Enjoyment. Too much of one is detrimental to the other.

Getting carried away with too much fun can obviously be a risk to safety of those on board, the boat, and others nearby.

However, I also believe that too much safety can impact enjoyment unnecessarily. Simple examples would be reefing too soon or clipping on in light conditions. Others are less straight forward, like drinking in moderation, or taking a chance on the weather.

The main reason most of us go sailing is for the enjoyment - we need to be safety conscious without being obsessive about it.

Other views may differ.
 
Since I said it I'll expand

When you're on your own have as much fun as you can - But come back safely to tell us about it.

When you're with someone else don't let your idea of fun make theirs unsafe.

When you're all having fun just make sure the halyard - you're all swinging on so gaily round and round the boat before you drop in with an enormous splash - is actually secured and has a Figure of eight in the end.

I Never said and never will say don't have fun. In my mind sailing is the second most fun thing you can do and - if your partner or right hand is willing then you can do both at the same time.
 
We have other rules too, like nothing down the bog that hasn't been drunk or eaten first; lifejackets must be worn if I say so at any particular time; no parts of the body to be put between the boat and anything else; etc.

The Safety-Enjoyment balance is more of an abiding principle, I spose.
 
You can define safety in a number of drawn out ways, including books full of regulations and departments to monitor them. However, it all boils down to two words - Common Sense.

Alternatively,

- better safe than sorry,
- discretion is the better part of valour
 
Thats what I feel experience, and common sense. If its practical and makes an individual feel more comfortable at sea so much the better. I get a bit peeved when I read threads that frown on and belittle anyone who uses life jacket in anything but a F8 beating to wind at 4am. Whilst I dont always wear one I have every respect for those who choose to do so.
 
Fully agree with you.

However, it is experience that allows us to be able to make the correct judgement on the balance between safety and fun. Furthermore it is knowledge of your own boat's characteristics.

Personally I normally only wear a lifejacket on four occasions:

When I am on my own
At night
if/when I need to go forward and the boat is moving around
when swmbos knuckles start to go white.
 
Personally I tend to wear lifejackets more on other peoples boats than my own.

On my own boat I can hop around with my eyes shut know instinctively where the hand holds are and how the boat behaves.On strange boats everything feels odd and a stumble on deck is more likely.You hardly know you are wearing a modern gas lifejacket may as well get some use out of them.
 
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I normally only wear a lifejacket.................. When I am on my own............At night


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Whatever "rocks your boat" I guess /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

1) Don't hit anything.

2) Keep a good look out (including astern)

3) Put the Kettle on Regularly

4) don't run out of cigarettes

5) Don't fall over board

6) 100% ABSOLUTELY NO MOBILE PHONES.

7) Don't break the toilet.

8) Their is only 1 skipper..... on my boat it is me - on your boat it is you.

9) Don't run aground (again)

10) Relax.
 
Quantifying safety

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You can define safety in a number of drawn out ways

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Actually, it's quite difficult to define safety, probably because there is no such thing as absolute safety. Most attempts to define safety end up by quantifying risk instead. It's a bit like lightning; you can count the flashes that happen, but not the ones that don't happen.
 
Re: Quantifying safety

In the discussions of saferty and the wearing of lifejackets, I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned the need to wear them in the dinghy. I probably spend more time wearing mine in my dinghy going to and from Jissel than on board.

As a confirmed coward, I do my best not to be out in conditions that warrant one in the cockpit, and with a rollaway genny, the need for foredeck work is limited. I think the only time I've insisted on them being worn was in a thunderstorm in Christchurch Bay. It's a scary business watching lightning strikes to the sea only half a mile away!
 
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