Jaxie, the light at Diamond Shoal is 7 miles from a hazard. Seven Friggin
Miles! And its a "18 mile" light. And you had 3 GPS's. And you can safely
navigate the area with a depth sounder alone. If you were within "20 seconds of
turning back" you were LOST!

I've been within a few minutes of turning back, but it was in thick fog without
instruments, close to serious hazards. It would NOT be 20 miles offshore, with
3 GPS's! The only way there could have been any doubt at all is if there was no
one on board who could be trusted to use a GPS or to read a chart. Given the
talent you've displayed here, that's not too far fetched.



"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
But you never looked at a chart then, or after the fact to see where
you were.

we had up to date charts. the merchant marine with decades of experience, a
professional mariner who also had decades of offshore racing experience,
didn't
wish to risk his boat by accepting as gospel that the charts were totally
accurate. I think that was prudent judgement on his part, and if I were the
boat owner instead of him I would have done the same thing. The lights were
where the obstructions were. The lights may or maybe not be accurately placed
on the charts.

it is easy to understand, jeggies. I don't know why you are having a problem
with it.