"Ian George" wrote in message
...

Really? That's a bit of a slippery argument, sport. Unless there've been
some legislative changes I'm unaware of, those rules apply to power boats
over 6hp. AFAIK a 100 year old blind man is perfectly at liberty t take
his 70 foot sailboat out unfettered by any form of legislation. (this must
still be the case, because I'm sure there are a few of them sailing out of
my harbour).

The rules have changed here in Queensland in the last year or so. I
understand that any vessel with a 6 hp or greater motor, even if an
auxiliary on a sailboat, requires a licenced skipper. I suppose that means
anyone can take out an engineless sailboat, no matter how large. Not many 70
footers without engines though.

The regulations include a compulsory course and on the water testing, by
registered testing authorities, so your blind man wouldn't make it. However,
he could still take out a dinghy.

I'm glad I got my licence years ago before all this nonsense but they'll
probably bring in retesting/renewal if they can make it pay!

Peter HK

Peter HK wrote:
"Ian George" wrote in message
...

Really? That's a bit of a slippery argument, sport. Unless there've
been some legislative changes I'm unaware of, those rules apply to
power boats over 6hp. AFAIK a 100 year old blind man is perfectly at
liberty t take his 70 foot sailboat out unfettered by any form of
legislation. (this must still be the case, because I'm sure there
are a few of them sailing out of my harbour).

The rules have changed here in Queensland in the last year or so. I
understand that any vessel with a 6 hp or greater motor, even if an
auxiliary on a sailboat, requires a licenced skipper. I suppose that
means anyone can take out an engineless sailboat, no matter how
large. Not many 70 footers without engines though.

I live in Queensland. I haven't read the regulations for years, but isn't
there something about the boat needing to be capable of planing?


The regulations include a compulsory course and on the water testing,
by registered testing authorities, so your blind man wouldn't make
it. However, he could still take out a dinghy.

I'm glad I got my licence years ago before all this nonsense but
they'll probably bring in retesting/renewal if they can make it pay!

As did I, mainly so I could drag kids around behind the Fizz-boat and do
some fishing.

I was until now unaware that I needed one to operate my 10m sailboat. Are
you sure of this?

Ian

"Ian George" wrote in message ...
.

I live in Queensland. I haven't read the regulations for years, but isn't
there something about the boat needing to be capable of planing?

Used to be the case but no longer


I was until now unaware that I needed one to operate my 10m sailboat. Are
you sure of this?

Ian

See http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/qt/msq.nsf/index/licensing

Our local yacht club highlighted this about 2 years ago so that everyone could go through the older simpler system before the change.

Peter HK

While reading aus.sport.sailing, I noticed "Peter HK"
felt compelled to write:

"Ian George" wrote in message ...

I live in Queensland. I haven't read the regulations for years, but isn't
there something about the boat needing to be capable of planing?

Used to be the case but no longer


I was until now unaware that I needed one to operate my 10m sailboat. Are
you sure of this?

Ian

See http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/qt/msq.nsf/index/licensing

Our local yacht club highlighted this about 2 years ago so that everyone could go through the older simpler system before the change.

I have had a licence for years so either didn't hear or didn't notice
this change. In fact, before licensing was mandatory I got a
boatmaster under the voluntary system in NZ about 30years ago (upon
discovering that dinghy prowess around the bouys hadn't taught me
anything about docking, anchoring, bouyage or navigation or any one of
a hundred other trivial issues

I feel constrained to point out, however, that this new 'lifetme
licence' doesn't appear capable of stopping me at 100 yo and
technically blind from terrorising you in my 70 footer (assuming of
course that I make it to 100, lose my eyesight and my boat magically
doubles in size at some stage

But thanks for the info.

Cheers,
Ian