"The_navigator©" wrote in message
...


Donal wrote:

"The_navigator©" wrote in message
...


Here in NZ we have to get vessels inspected every 2 years for their
seaworthiness and without a CAT1 clearance the vessel is not allowed to
leave (if owned by a NZ resident). The inspection takes up to ~2 hours
and the inspector also questions the skipper on his seamanship (it helps
if you already have qualifications like Ocean yachtmaster or even
Coastal skipper) for it is also the application his knowledge that makes
the vessel seaworthy (or not).


Are you boasting about this??

No. Just stating facts FYI.


You have little men in peaked caps who have the authority to stop you
from
setting to sea because they dissapprove of your vessel?? What kind of
fascist dictatorship do you live in?


I think it's quite fair. The southern ocean is a big hostile place
Donal. Suicide is illegal too -does that make the UK a fascist
dictatorship?



In many cases vessel arrive here from
overseas which are patently unseaworthy and these days they are allowed
to leave -after a strong talking to by the inspector as to why their
vessels are unsuitable


... and what qualifications do these "inspectors" have? I bet that they
are
recruited from the educational system's failures.
I bet that they are paid a low salary, and they have a great pension
scheme.


The ones I've met are all ex professional mariner with ocean yachtmaster
examiner certs or equivalent. Most have circumnavigated under sail -or
at least crossed the pacific. All are (or were) boating education
instructors.


and what will likely happen to them in bad
conditions. For that reason, it would seem that many US and EU vessels
arrive but never leave.


...and I bet that an even greater number never even arrive! Why would
someone sail around the world to visit a country that paid idiots to
tell
the visitors that their craft were not seaworthy? Fer cryin' out loud,
if
you sail to NZ, then your boat *must* be seaworthy.


No it may not be think about it... From the very definition of the word
and that most people have never experienced a storm at sea.

When the real sailor thinks about his vessel he thinks about how she
will cope if hit by storm force winds in the open sea if he wishes to
call his vessel seaworthy. If the vessel is not seaworthy then it is
just a toy for amusement on nice fair wind days. The question is, to you
have a toy or a seaworthy vessel? How many people here even have a storm
jib?


Mind your own bloody business.

The real question is "Do you need some small minded civil servant to
tell
you if your vessel is seaworthy?".

I do NOT.

So you think it is?

Actually, I don't. I wouldn't choose to take her across the Atlantic.
However I would feel happy about taking her across Biscay. Go figure?

I often find it difficult to imagine the sailing conditions in different
parts of the world, so I have modified my opinions after reading the
responses in this thread. I still have a problem with civil servants
deciding whether my boat is fit, or not. However, I accept that providing
a rescue service over such a wide area is difficult - and expensive.


Regards


Donal
--