Skippers responsibility/liability

[Ubergeekian]

The skipper always outranks the owner.

This was a major re-write of SOLAS and law after several incidents when time to next port rather than safety caused several disasters (apologies don't have links to hand).

Hmm. Doesn't the skipper take orders from the owner, then?

There can only ever be one skipper - it just needs to be clear from the start otherwise you are inviting a disaster.

If there is a skipper at all, that is.

 

[alant]

Hmm. Doesn't the skipper take orders from the owner, then?



If there is a skipper at all, that is.

On most occasions, certainly when on a boat, if blokes are in a group, a pecking order of some sort will very quickly organise itself (even if subconciously) - it could be on status, size of dibbers, wallets, etc. At that moment all the others will subborn themselves to the 'Alpha' person.

Skippers, even if you are sailing as a committee, will normally assert themselves when a crisis occurs (minor or major). That is when certainly commercial skippers start earning their wages. Even in a liferaft, one of the survivors will take charge ( may not necessarily be the original leader/skipper).

Only groups of females organise themselves in a circle, with all in charge!