"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!

While choking on an orange the asphixiatingly tight latex collar began to
take effect as *Gavin Collinson* gapsed to *uk.rec.sailing* with a dying
breath:


I disagree. I am a relatively new qualified coastal skipper and I am
frequently surprised how quickly a sea will change from a benign
environment to one that is dangerous and forbidding.

That's what drogues and sea anchors are for

In my short experience, you cannot take the sea for granted. In a car,
you just pull into the next layby.

Our 'relative' lack of experience compared with some members of this group
means that conditions we would shy away from and 'wish we weren't there'
are just part and parsel of the sport for the die hards.

When you read about the Vendee competitors having a 'Smooth Day' in the
southern ocean when waves are only just topping 35 feet as opposed to the
60-80 footers they've had throughout the previous week, it puts our channel
squalls into a bit of perspective. Not saying there should be no respect
for the conditions, just an admission of the true scope of each of our
abilities and a realisation of the limits that this sets.

PG

--
Keelworm:
*www.love2sail.co.uk - UK Sailing Forums*

In article ,
Gavin Collinson wrote:
I disagree. I am a relatively new qualified coastal skipper

In which case I wouldn't argue too much with the sailors on this ng -
they have about a million miles of experience in all continents and
every weather condition

--
A T (Sandy) Morton
on the Bicycle Island
In the Global Village
http://www.millport.net

in message , Sandy Morton
') wrote:

In article ,
Gavin Collinson wrote:
I disagree. I am a relatively new qualified coastal skipper

In which case I wouldn't argue too much with the sailors on this ng -
they have about a million miles of experience in all continents and
every weather condition

Yes, the logs of the good ship armchair make terrifying reading.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

'there are no solutions, only precipitates'

"Gavin Collinson" wrote in message
...

"Dan" wrote in message
oups.com...
Gavin Collinson wrote:

"If you take any training, you will realise that the
sea is a very unforgiving environment. "

I think you could argue the exact opposite. It's soft and no dangerous
in itself. You can make all sorts of mistakes in a yacht or powerboat
that would be fatal in a car or motorcycle.

Short of being tucked up in bed I think the sea is about the safest
place you can be!

I disagree. I am a relatively new qualified coastal skipper and I am
frequently surprised how quickly a sea will change from a benign
environment to one that is dangerous and forbidding. In my short
experience, you cannot take the sea for granted. In a car, you just pull
into the next layby.

Gavin

Dan's a bul****ter. Ignore him

While choking on an orange the asphixiatingly tight latex collar began to
take effect as *Dan* gapsed to *uk.rec.sailing* with a dying breath:

Short of being tucked up in bed I think the sea is about the safest
place you can be!

Definitive proof you have *never* slept with mrs keelworm!

PG
--
Keelworm:
*www.love2sail.co.uk - UK Sailing Forums*

"Dan" wrote in message
oups.com...
Gavin Collinson wrote:

"If you take any training, you will realise that the
sea is a very unforgiving environment. "

I think you could argue the exact opposite. It's soft and no dangerous
in itself. You can make all sorts of mistakes in a yacht or powerboat
that would be fatal in a car or motorcycle.

Short of being tucked up in bed I think the sea is about the safest
place you can be!

I think you might find the sea a bit colder than your bed at the moment,
even if softer.
Survival time immersed?

"Duncan Heenan" wrote:
"Dan" wrote in message
roups.com...
Gavin Collinson wrote:

"If you take any training, you will realise that the
sea is a very unforgiving environment. "

I think you could argue the exact opposite. It's soft and no dangerous
in itself. You can make all sorts of mistakes in a yacht or powerboat
that would be fatal in a car or motorcycle.

Or an airplane, even though air is not very hard in and of itself.
Although water isn't that soft when you come into it from any height,
and if you don't keep on top of it, it's pretty dangerous to your
health unless you are a shark or fish.

In any case, almost all the problems come with the interface with land
from any type of vehicle or anything that moves a person around
including their own feet. Arguing relative hazardousness isn't very
productive unless it results in avoiding the hazards.


Short of being tucked up in bed I think the sea is about the safest
place you can be!

I think you might find the sea a bit colder than your bed at the moment,
even if softer.
Survival time immersed?

An occupational physician told me about the 50-50-50 rule. 50% of
people survive 50 minutes in water that is 50 degrees (F).



grandma Rosalie

This guy so far has managed to get nearly 50 replies to this question,
nearly 200 replies to a previous question. He hasn't done any sailing, he
doesn't seem to have read any sailing books.

He is choosing to post in a way that publices a marginal opinion group.

I reckon that spells Troll, or to be charitable someone with a suicidal
compulsion,

Either case he/she/it shouldn't be encouraged.


"New Conservative" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

First of all, what's a "survey" - when is it necessary and how much
does it cost?

Next: How long would it take to sail single-handedly from S/England to
the Windward Islands given average weather conditions at a reasonably
favorable time of year in a Contessa 32 or Nic 32?

Next: If one ends up in some distant safe harbor somewhere abroad;
what right (if any) does one have to simply tie-up at a convenient
mooring and go to sleep for say 24hrs? I'm thinking here about an
analogy with a deckchair dude; do you just 'park-up' and wait for
someone to charge you for your stay? And what prospect of getting a
space in such a harbor?

Finally, what's the difference between a "berth" and a "cabin"?

I realize these are stupid questions, but beg your indulgence.
--

"Suffer no one to tell you what to think."
Martin Smith, the New Conservative Party.

http://www.newconservativeparty.org

So why are you encouraging him (she, it) by continuing to post?

"Nick Temple-Fry" theP wrote in message
...
This guy so far has managed to get nearly 50 replies to this question,
nearly 200 replies to a previous question. He hasn't done any sailing, he
doesn't seem to have read any sailing books.

He is choosing to post in a way that publices a marginal opinion group.

I reckon that spells Troll, or to be charitable someone with a suicidal
compulsion,

Either case he/she/it shouldn't be encouraged.


"New Conservative" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

First of all, what's a "survey" - when is it necessary and how much
does it cost?

Next: How long would it take to sail single-handedly from S/England to
the Windward Islands given average weather conditions at a reasonably
favorable time of year in a Contessa 32 or Nic 32?

Next: If one ends up in some distant safe harbor somewhere abroad;
what right (if any) does one have to simply tie-up at a convenient
mooring and go to sleep for say 24hrs? I'm thinking here about an
analogy with a deckchair dude; do you just 'park-up' and wait for
someone to charge you for your stay? And what prospect of getting a
space in such a harbor?

Finally, what's the difference between a "berth" and a "cabin"?

I realize these are stupid questions, but beg your indulgence.
--

"Suffer no one to tell you what to think."
Martin Smith, the New Conservative Party.

http://www.newconservativeparty.org