Right, a time and place, and at night and offshore is a place for
attachment. No one said any thing about a person in the cockpit, only going
forward in the dark. When we started this point, jax said nothing about calm
weather either. Have you slipped at the dock? Don't tell me there haven't
been times when you have grabbed a shroud or stay to catch your self, even
in calm weather, say catching another boat's wake, perhaps one you didn't
see? I was just reading an article in lattitudes and Attitudes on rogue
waves, they can come at any time.
OzOne wrote in message ...
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 00:58:38 -0500, "The Carrolls"
scribbled thusly:

If you are trying to tell me that offshore and at night foreward with no
attachment to the boat is a safe practice reguardless of sea conditions,
you
are fool hardy. I don't always use a lifejacket when sailing, but I will
never tell any one that is a safe practice(no jacket). I am a tinsmith, I
work setting decking on high steel buildings, I am certianly able to
walk
things such as a boat deck with out falling, most of the time, I have
slipped in bothbuilding steel and boat decks. Accidents and unforseen
circumstances happen. yes, I have been foreward too at night with no
attachment or jacket, BUT, I would never call it a safe practice on a
small
vessel underway. Drop into the calm and come up under that small swell
dropping the boat, on your head. Hit something unseen in the water,
either
with the boat or your head, and you have a problem. We have no business
telling a new person to our sport that it is a practice they should be
comefortable with, let them find out for themselves.

Yep, offshore forward in calm conditions at night is perfectly safe
provided you don't have sleepy heads in the cockpit.

Honestly the chances are much better that you'll be hit by a London
bus in NYC crossing the road under a full moon.

I'd never say it's 100% safe, nothing is.
I've had two harnesses fail in heavy weather when I've dropped off and
am very very lucky to be alive. I don't put the faith in them that
many do and use the same caution with and without.

We wear lifejackets in the Etchells when racing in moderate breeze and
my bow uses a harness when it gets real big. I wouldn't ever dismiss
the extra safety of a harness but there is a time and place for
everything.


Oz1...of the 3 twins.

I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.