While reading rec.boats.cruising, I noticed "Roger Long"
felt compelled to write:

wrote in message
oups.com...
There is no reason the endanger your kids or yourself by having them
go up on the cabin top for no reason.

Reason is in the eye of the beholder. There is no reason to endanger
your children or anyone else by taking them out on the water in a
sinkable craft with lines under tension and heavy things swinging
around.

Teaching is the prime reason for us having this boat. Not all boats
they sail are going to have all cockpit control and learning to work
safely on deck is a foundation of seamanship. We also plan to sail
with as many guests as the boat can comfortably hold and sometimes
more. To do that, I've got to move as much activity out of the
cockpit as possible.

I agree with you, Roger. I've had plenty of amusement watching folk
attempting to reef from the cockpit running downwind, or worse; after
bearing off in a gust, trying to round up across a steep following sea
to drop the pressure out of the sails for a reef. I prefer to work the
halyards and rigged reef lines (including a cunningham d/haul from the
base of the mast.

Even if equipped with a furler, some conditions demand headsails
changed or removed, these tasks cannot be performed from the cockpit.
Going forward is an integral part of sailing, it can hardly be
accurately described 'endangering your children for no reason'.

Ian