RYA Night Hours

[srm]

If I'm found guilty of any Colregs offence, would that disallow me from leaving harbour in my own yacht? The point I mean to make is that what action can can be taken to prevent a person from leaving a harbour in an ostensibly seaworthy boat, having previously been 'guilty' of an unsafe act with regards to Colregs; let's say not keeping a watch in any manner? Is there a prohibition against a 'yottie' sailing once they've been found negligent?

Penalties due to Colregs infringements only seem to be applied in the event of a serious collision involving loss of life or of larger vessels. Otherwise we seem to be relatively free to come and go as we please.
Umteen years ago there was a solo sailor who spent a summer in an unseaworthy boat bouncing around the British coast. He earned the attention of the tabloid press and the nickname "Captain Calamity" due to the number of Coastguard incidents and RNLI call outs he caused as they tried to save him from himself. However, it seems that no one had the authority/power to stop him heading off to risk his life, and those of the rescue services, again and again.

 

[Sandy]

1. Failing to keep a proper visual lookout at all times on a private/pleasure vessel could be an offence.

Why were the likes of Chichester, Knox-Johnston, everybody who has completed the Vendee Globe and me not been placed in irons and marched to a magistrates/sheriffs court?

 

[jamie N]

Am I alone in thinking that if one does a YM or DS, then that's great and reassuring for that person, but if one hasn't, then so what?
Can't hire a boat?
Insurance a bit more?
It seems that the only restriction that could be placed on someone who hasn't had a contestible incident, is to section them under a mental health act, in a similar vein to having found someone ascending Ben Nevis wearing flip-flops, in December........
It brings in the obvious question of whether we should have direction for folk, by not being able to acquire insurance unless one does a suitable course for the yacht in question, such as DS (at least) through an approved society, such as RYA or whatever?

 

[Praxinoscope]

#84
Fortunately we are free in the U.K. to own and use a boat without any or at least minimal interference from state regulation, although of course we still remain subject to any by-laws, statutory laws and marine laws that may be in force when we use our boats.
The RYA training syllabus is open to all, as is the opportunity to take any of the examinations offered, and to an extent relies upon the personal ambitions of those that follow it, in the 40 years that I have held a YM Offshore Certificate of Competence, the only tangible advantage I can honestly say I have experienced is a reduction in my insurance premiums and being permitted to fly a RYA YM pennant.
Much of the theory could have been absorbed through reading various books on sailing, navigation, meteorology, safety at sea etc. but the advantages provided by completing the various levels of the syllabus alongside others seemed to me to outweigh individual learning from books.
Although I support the concept of RYA training and eventual ’qualifications’ I would seriously hesitate to introduce any form of compulsion into our world of boating, despite the potential (possibly over estimated) of reducing some of the more idiotic things one sees performed on the water.

 

[jamie N]

I agree, and would hate for there to be regulation, but reckon that it wouldn't take much for the insurer's, either singularly or as an organised cartel, to begin mandating 'A Course', or to offer such advantageous rates that it actually made financial sense to gain the 'ticket'.
Praxinoscope, you say that you've experienced "a reduction in your premium''; I wasn't aware that this was occurring. Is it a substantial amount, or a token gesture, albeit nice to have?
It rather negates much of what I've stated and thought!

 

[srm]

I agree, and would hate for there to be regulation, but reckon that it wouldn't take much for the insurer's, either singularly or as an organised cartel, to begin mandating 'A Course', or to offer such advantageous rates that it actually made financial sense to gain the 'ticket'.

Its probably too much effort to sort out the various risk assessments. From conversations with the broker I was using when my premium was hiked by 7% during a period of negligible inflation they simply up everyone's premiums to recoup last years losses. Apparently, it had been a bad year for Caribbean claims so I had to pay more to help underwriters get back in profit despite having been sailing in European waters and the risks associated with my boat had not changed.

 

[Sandy]

Am I alone in thinking that if one does a YM or DS, then that's great and reassuring for that person, but if one hasn't, then so what?

Perhaps some people are just afraid of the dark so don't go sailing at night.

Personally, I like the UK system of optional qualifications and a training scheme based on 'common practice' as it means I can jump on a boat and as long as the skipper is not a racing skipper (in my experience they speak a totally different language and bellow at the top of their voice while getting stressed about 'water' and have no idea what an anchor does), we understand what to do when.

Best practice would be great, but some here use locking turns on their OXOs ?

 

[billskip]

Am I alone in thinking that if one does a YM or DS, then that's great and reassuring for that person, but if one hasn't, then so what?

Or if one loses their tickets in say a house fire,burglary or whatever...how does one prove their history/experience...

 

[Praxinoscope]

Or if one loses their tickets in say a house fire,burglary or whatever...how does one prove their history/experience...

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