While choking on an orange the asphixiatingly tight latex collar began to
take effect as *Gavin Collinson* gapsed to *uk.rec.sailing* with a dying
breath:


I disagree. I am a relatively new qualified coastal skipper and I am
frequently surprised how quickly a sea will change from a benign
environment to one that is dangerous and forbidding.

That's what drogues and sea anchors are for

In my short experience, you cannot take the sea for granted. In a car,
you just pull into the next layby.

Our 'relative' lack of experience compared with some members of this group
means that conditions we would shy away from and 'wish we weren't there'
are just part and parsel of the sport for the die hards.

When you read about the Vendee competitors having a 'Smooth Day' in the
southern ocean when waves are only just topping 35 feet as opposed to the
60-80 footers they've had throughout the previous week, it puts our channel
squalls into a bit of perspective. Not saying there should be no respect
for the conditions, just an admission of the true scope of each of our
abilities and a realisation of the limits that this sets.

PG

--
Keelworm:
*www.love2sail.co.uk - UK Sailing Forums*