"Dan" wrote in
oups.com:

Well you can equally say in a boat you just pop into shelter.

Hmm....let's test that theory. It goes 6-8 knots when things are going
right. We're 397 nautical miles from shore. 397 divided 7 equals 56.71
hours to the nearest point of land, not safe harbor....those rocks on the
Irish coast come to mind....so let's add a few more hours to find a harbor
entrance....say 60 hours.

60 hours?! That's 2 1/2 DAYS! WE COULD DIE IN A STORM AT SEA IN 2 1/2
DAYS!

Nope....wrong thinking. When you're "out there", even only 397 miles "out
there"....YOUR STRANDED OUT THERE!! It's FOREVER to "shelter"....in 25'
waves crashing over the broken mast stub, the mast and its sails long
gone....Not fun.

Rule 1 - It is ALWAYS better to be standing on the dock, wishing you were
at sea....than to be at sea, wishing you were on the dock!