Sailing without safety cover

Would it be inappropriate to point out that when a dinghy is sailing but not racing or training to race it could be said that the boat and crew are cruising (or daysailing which is cruising lite!).

The whole philosophy of cruising is based around self-help (or mutual aid when boats sail in groups). A basic principle would be - don't get into a situation which you can't get out of on your own.

I wouldn't dream of going out on my own without an adequate anchor and decent paddles (or preferably an oar but I can understand that not many dinghies are equipped for rowing - learn to scull and cut a notch in the stern!). An anchor to stop me drifting away, and a paddle to get home.

Both the Dinghy Cruising Association and the Wayfarer Association publish guidelines that are eminently sensible. I hope everyone appreciates that unless we are all sensible about taking risks then there is an enthusiastic legislator in Westminster or Brussels who is eager to impose unrealistic restrictions on our sport.

 

Gordon DAVIES

Originally posted by Contender 541 You fail to pick someone out of the water for whatever reason having put on 'rescue' cover then you are leaving yourself open to a whole heap of nastyness. You fail to pick someone out of the water for whatever reason having put on 'safety' cover then you are in a grey area and protected from the law to a greater degree.  You only provided safety cover, you never said you would rescue them.

Where did you read this? 

Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd Originally posted by Contender 541 You fail to pick someone out of the water for whatever reason having put on 'rescue' cover then you are leaving yourself open to a whole heap of nastyness. You fail to pick someone out of the water for whatever reason having put on 'safety' cover then you are in a grey area and protected from the law to a greater degree.  You only provided safety cover, you never said you would rescue them. Where did you read this?

There was an article on safety/rescue boats recently (I think it was in y&y, but might have been DSM) which did make a distinction between safety and rescue. I don't think it was from a legal perspective, but that a safety boat is there to ensure those sailing (but not their equipment) are safe, whereas a rescue boat will intervene in less serious incidents in which safety is not at risk.

I doubt very much that there is a legal distinction between the two (I wait to be corrected) in which case it is semantics... from which you can draw comfort or feed your paranoia depending on your character.

I personally don't think the UK will ever get to the same point of litigation as the US because A, we're too cynical and B, we've seen it happen elsewhere and have mostly guarded against it.

Originally posted by MikeBz  Well I'm confused... If a safety boat doesn't rescue you when you're in trouble it's not doing much to ensure your safety...   If a rescue boat rescues you when you're in trouble then it's ensuring your safety... Mike

stir it up a bit mike