Cruisin'

I bought one of those waterproof cases for my mobile. They (case and phone) just sit in the halyard bag in case of emergencies, but frankly round here, you can't go far anyway- even in the solent:, worst case, you might end up on the IOW, but not much further. There are plenty of yachts around anyway- most w/ends you will hear calls on the radio expressing concern about some dinghy or other. Mostly it's unfounded, but at least people are watching! I think if you worry too much you'll never do anything. When I started sailing none of the yachts had VHF, and nobody called us irresponsible. We often started dinghy races without a rescue boat in attendance (if the crew was watching from the bar, it was "manned") and I have never seen any problems in nearly 40 years of sailing.

Stop worrying, go out and have fun, while it's still allowed

Perhaps another response would be top say that dinghy cruising is what sailors do when they're confident enough to go out without a constant watch from a rescue boat!

I've cruised in nearly all my dinghies, in a Laser only up to about 5 miles distant but in a Finn I've done 45 miles in a day and slept in it at night.  I've also slept on a cat by putting a tent over the boom.  The trouble is that often now as soon as you sail out past a club sailing area you get rescue boats rushing up and asking you what you're up to and accusing you of being irresponsible, even if it is only a 5 mile sail up the coast in the Laser.  We're so scared by the H&S brigade these days that we've lost all idea of self sufficiency and seamanship.

Discuss!

Nice one TT

I've fancied it before but never had a suitable boat (closet I've come is a Hornet!). Assuming we are talking about reasonably long distances I reckon dinghy cruising is a bit like hiking and camping but yacht cruising is like carravanning.

 Knew there where some cruisers around . We occasionaly do some dinghy cruising at the club along to Bexhill or maybe take a look at the Eastbourne air show from the water. The E.Sussex coast is hardly the bay of Naples but it is relaxing and gives us a chance to sail without shouting at each other. Once a year the club goes down to Cobnor and sails around for a week, a fantastic week of camping beer food and cruising.  Saw a regular forumite (who normaly wouldn't be seen dead in anything other than a skiff) cruising there last year in a cruising dinghy. (beware, If you closet cruisers don't come out I will "out you" if I see you)

That forumite shall remain nameless for the moment