KLC Lewis wrote:
"Larry" wrote in message
...
IN THEIR 70'S?! COME ON! How stupid is that, offshore 200 miles with NO
YOUNG, STRONG BACKS ABOARD?!!

As long as rich stupids like these are buying boats, I still say
LICENSING should be mandatory. You want to sail...fine. You take the
course, TAKE THE PHYSICAL TO SEE IF YOU REALLY BELONG OUT THERE (no
matter what YOU think), then, if you pass all the REQUIREMENTS....then,
we issue you a LICENSE, we can revoke when you are too old, to PREVENT
YOU from endangering the lives of young rescue swimmers, helo crews and
boat crews just because you are too stupid and pig headed to see you are
too old to go "out there" without enough MUSCLE and ENDURANCE for that
worst case scenario you should be REQUIRED to be prepared for.

NOONE IN THEIR 70'S NEED APPLY! They should be PASSENGERS of ABLE
SEAMEN!


Larry

Well, that's the Nanny State solution, sure. The Free Citizen solution would
be more along the lines of, "Go and do what you want. But if you get into a
world of hurt and want to be rescued, you will receive a bill for our
services."

Nah, can't have that. Too much freedom.



Agreed
And age has nothing to do with it. A well prepared sailor of any age
will be ready for any eventuality.
Good friend left the Puget Sound in May of 2005 bound for oz. He was
79 and was singlehanding in a 33 ft homebuilt steel cutter.
No big deal. This was his 5th or 6th trip. Not even a gps. Strictly
the old ways.
And having a license don't mean squat. Motorcycle rider was killed
yesterday when hit by a little old lady changing lanes. She then drove
off and left him.
Gordon