Who remembers "Seamanship"?

[SeaSkills]

From some of the threads on this forum recently (and from some discussions outside of this forum) I can't help wondering what has happened to the idea of good seamanship. Is it unfashionable nowadays to talk about having respect for the sea, about driving with care, and about avoiding danger? There seems to be a body of opinion that RIBs are actually much safer than they really are, and that no matter what happens you'll be OK if you're in a RIB.

Of course this only applies to a few, but it does seem to be more prevalent than it was just a few years ago. I don't really know why this is. I read that - paradoxically - the increased attention to Health and Safety has meant that people (especially young people) are not as skilled as they used to be in identifying danger for themselves, and also the rescue services are so much more efficient that there is an assumption that there is always someone there to bail you out if you get into trouble.

[Mollers]

I think I was trying to make a similar point in a rather less subtle way when suggesting that ramming one's boat into the sea and ripping the screen off is avoidable. Others disagree.

[JSP]

You'll find that allot of the divide between Sail boat owners and power boat owners is due to the same thing. Although it's not fair to tar everyone with the same brush just because of a pre conceived idea or seeing a few bad eggs. But sadly many people who sail do.
I contacted a the owners of a boat club who have a slipway about 2 miles away from my front door. I was asked what boat I would be launching and when I mentioned RIB I was told that this was a sail only club and they didn't suffer fools in rubber rings!

My brother has told me that when he's been out sailing he has been put in some dangerous positions by people who don't know the very basics of giving way to sail.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by JSP

You'll find that allot of the divide between Sail boat owners and power boat owners is due to the same thing. Although it's not fair to tar everyone with the same brush just because of a pre conceived idea or seeing a few bad eggs. But sadly many people who sail do.
I contacted a the owners of a boat club who have a slipway about 2 miles away from my front door. I was asked what boat I would be launching and when I mentioned RIB I was told that this was a sail only club and they didn't suffer fools in rubber rings!

My brother has told me that when he's been out sailing he has been put in some dangerous positions by people who don't know the very basics of giving way to sail.

Giving way to sail is one thing but putting a washing line on your boat does not give you god given rights, I see alot of bad seamanship from all types and size of craft

[JSP]

Oh I agree, some of the things I've seen and heard about is amazing. But if your trying to keep in a very narrow channel in a 38ft sailing yacht and some one force you to tack hard then it really does get very hairy. So it's not god given rights but common sense.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by JSP

Oh I agree, some of the things I've seen and heard about is amazing. But if your trying to keep in a very narrow channel in a 38ft sailing yacht and some one force you to tack hard then it really does get very hairy. So it's not god given rights but common sense.

although some people might argue that good seamanship would either be to preempt the stupid mobo or use the engine to navigate very narrow channels in busy waters where other craft are likely to make navigation complicated.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by JSP

Oh I agree, some of the things I've seen and heard about is amazing. But if your trying to keep in a very narrow channel in a 38ft sailing yacht and some one force you to tack hard then it really does get very hairy. So it's not god given rights but common sense.

Yep but motoring with the sail up and claiming to be a sailing boat is taking the too

[JSP]

A sailing boat under power is not sailing so would give way to sail as well. And no you wouldn't sail a narrow channel in busy waters. But you would if it wasn't busy and then a jet ski/power boat comes out of no where.

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by bedajim

Yep but motoring with the sail up and claiming to be a sailing boat is taking the too

And pound to a penny there was no triangle in the rigging either

[willk]

Originally Posted by Mollers

I think I was trying to make a similar point in a rather less subtle way when suggesting that ramming one's boat into the sea and ripping the screen off is avoidable. Others disagree.

Reading those posts in sequence would suggest that perhaps the lack of subtlety was what they/we disagreed with. It's like an new Etec owner asking the forum how to winterise his engine. "RTFM" immediately springs to mind but the answers tend to be gentler, and the lesson is easier to learn.....