your responsibilities as a sailor

Yep, as far as I'm concerned, a notice of race should be exactly that: A message to tell people where and when to be somewhere. All the other crap that tends to come with it is a total waste of space, and appears to be deliberately there to put newcomers off. And timing out of races - agree there, too. If you have to put a time limit on, say that 20 mins (or whatever) after the 1st boat, the order of finishing will be taken by going back down the fleet and taking positions, or some such. There are many ways of making the sport more user friendly, rather than a nightmare of rules and paperwork. The RYA doesn't help, with all the disclaimers it says you need to put into paperwork.

Buoyancy aids I'm not as sure about, though the old "you must wear it if the Y flag is flying" always seemed like a good compromise. And some classes really do appear to be safer without - or are they?

actually they mostly didn't wear buoyancy aids in the sixties. 

I have never had trouble coping with any kind of capsize whilst wearing a buoyancy aid, swimming, getting out from under a sail, whatever.  Modern buoyancy aids are very compact and considerably less bulky than they used to be.  I aslo find it's pretty useful when getting someone into a boat - handy shoilder straps to grab onto.

I recently came close to fainting in the water.  In that instance the buoyancy aid saved me.  I wouldn't go afloat without it.

Originally posted by winging it actually they mostly didn't wear buoyancy aids in the sixties.  I have never had trouble coping with any kind of capsize whilst wearing a buoyancy aid, swimming, getting out from under a sail, whatever.  Modern buoyancy aids are very compact and considerably less bulky than they used to be.  I aslo find it's pretty useful when getting someone into a boat - handy shoilder straps to grab onto. I recently came close to fainting in the water.  In that instance the buoyancy aid saved me.  I wouldn't go afloat without it.

Personally, I'm with Graeme, over 18s should be given a choice, not set by RRS / House Rules.

My own choice would be that I think the hinderence when 'harness sailing' (trap or board) outweighs the risk of a KO. Whereas for a hiker, then it makes little difference to me to wear it or not.

But that's my view, based on my own safety considerations, and I wouldn't presume to tell others to follow that model.

Edited by pondmonkey - 19 May 13 at 10:27pm

Would you want your kids to wear a buoyancy aid?  How would you explain to them why they have to wear one and you don't? 

Like parents who take kids on a bike ride with the kids in helmets and themselves not.  Presumably their skulls are thicker and the kids will manage fine when mum or dad gets knocked out.

In terms of 'doers' yes, in some sense it is an older generation thing, but I also think many younger people with kids, families, other demands, no longer feel they have the time to come along and help out and don't realise that everyone thinks like that, leaving the old guard to carry on struggling with the work load.

Weekend or free time is so precious people want to spend it sailing not doing odd jobs.  This applies as much to Committee members as it does to the average member.


Edited by winging it - 20 May 13 at 9:27am