Waterproof bluetooth headsets....
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10762
Printed Date: 17 Jul 25 at 1:36am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Waterproof bluetooth headsets....
Posted By: fleaberto
Subject: Waterproof bluetooth headsets....
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 3:15pm
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I'm often on 24/7 call for work and, when sailing, carry my work phone in a waterproof case. So far so good. Until last week, though, i'd never actually taken a call whilst out on the water.......Hiking out, going well, looking at a potential top 4, maybe 3, and the phone rings. I have to answer it so there I am, fumbling away in the middle of the lake talking to I.T Incident team taking a new job on.
Damned inconvienient to my series placing and had to go with a DNF when a second call came in just as I was about to overtake my fellow 'Lightning' competitor
 Anyway, I wondered if anyone knew of a decent waterproof bluetooth headset that will allow me to handle work calls AND continue racing? ------------- Lightning368 'All the Gear' (409), Lightning368 'Sprite' (101), Laser (big number) 'Yellow Jack', RS Vareo (432)'The Golden Rays' |
Replies:
Posted By: Thunder Road
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 3:29pm
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My PA (Deb) says that she thought sailing was for me to do, so she could get away from those calls from me???? ------------- Finn GBR16 Thunder Road. |
Posted By: tgruitt
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 3:32pm
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Leave the phone in the car and just go sailing!
------------- Needs to sail more... |
Posted By: Contender443
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 3:37pm
------------- Bonnie Lass Contender 1764 |
Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 3:49pm
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I'm sure I'd be in breach of class rules by having a phone on me when racing, however some of my work contracts insist of 24-7 contact access and depending on other people in the business's plans, that person sometimes has to be me... so breach contracts established in statute law or the RRS? Hmm, difficult decision... http://store.apple.com/uk/product/H2608ZM/A/philips-actionfit-bluetooth-stereo-sports-headset?afid=p219%7CGOUK&cid=AOS-UK-KWG-GO_UK_Product-Feed - http://store.apple.com/uk/product/H2608ZM/A/philips-actionfit-bluetooth-stereo-sports-headset?afid=p219%7CGOUK&cid=AOS-UK-KWG-GO_UK_Product-Feed ------------- |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 4:33pm
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I take it claiming that that you were in a phone reception blackhole is no use? What happens if they can't contact you becuase you're genuinely somewhere with no reception? two metres away inside from the walls of this building I'm in right now for example is zero reception across all networks... ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: RichTea
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 7:04pm
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I have been in a job where I had to be on call. I used to take the phone in a waterproof case and sail one handed. I did a long distance race one time, it would of taken me 2 hours from the furthest point on the course, de rigging and driving to the nearest store. I'd of rather quit the job than quit sailing!
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Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 7:12pm
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These things are rarely life critical Al., however 'sorry mate, I was too busy luffing Derek and explaining there was no 'mast abeam' rule anymore' could be a bit bad for business. ------------- |
Posted By: ex laser
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 7:51pm
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sorry i cannot think of anything worse than answering a call when sailing. i sail to get away from all that s**t!   ------------- |
Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 8:28pm
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Absolutely! But sometimes it can't be helped :-( ------------- |
Posted By: fleaberto
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 9:04pm
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I know, I know.... but "On Call 24/7" means precisely that for me though. My team share it...24/7 for a month at a time each and it's expected that I'm available. Simple as. It's so that I CAN go sailing that I'm looking for something to allow this to happen.....preferably without having to stop  When not OnCall anything post-5pm and post Friday/Pre-Monday can kiss my transom. ------------- Lightning368 'All the Gear' (409), Lightning368 'Sprite' (101), Laser (big number) 'Yellow Jack', RS Vareo (432)'The Golden Rays' |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 13 Mar 13 at 6:57am
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I'm guessing "on call 24/7" rules out caving, diving etc as hobbies! To satisfy both contracts and rules, I'd suggest that if you were to answer a call you should retire from the race. This would probably satisfy the rule on use of such devices whilst racing. It would also be for the safety of your fellow competitors. There's evidence that using a hands free device whilst driving is as distracting as a hand held- and anecdotally, the lorry driver that put Times journalist Mary Bowers in a coma, giving her injuries that have left her brain damaged and facing likely death in her mid thirties, was on a hands free call at the time. I really don't think you can concentrate sufficiently on racing and on the important emergency your client has. What if you're involved in a "controversial" rules incident mid call- there are calls that even if you're in the right you should be shouting, going to sound very odd to the client when scream "STARBOARD" at someone approaching the layline. Take the call, but get off the racecourse without fouling anyone else. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: Rockhopper
Date Posted: 13 Mar 13 at 7:48am
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You think you have it bad i get a great big pilot boat stop alongside me nick my wind and start shouting if they need me much better than any phone ------------- Retired now after 35 seasons in a row and time for a rest. 2004 national champ Laser5000 2007,2010,National Champ Rs Vareo |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 13 Mar 13 at 9:55am
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Whilst it's unlikely, that's half the reason I recommend that one should immediately retire from the race. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: RichTea
Date Posted: 13 Mar 13 at 10:52am
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I used to take my phone out with me when I was club racing. answering it while sailing a Laser one handed is great fun. I'd speak to the race committee. Get out sailing and if someone moans, then so be it. |
Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 13 Mar 13 at 10:58am
it's probably a necessity anyway, especially in dinghies. I've been called during sailing a small number times over the past few years... only once when racing and at the time, I didn't answer as it was a drifter wednesday night and I didn't want to look a pratt in front of everyone on the race course. ------------- |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 13 Mar 13 at 11:53am
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Our intrepid OP fleaberto was after a headset so that he could keep racing rather than score DNF though. Which seems like a bad idea. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: fleaberto
Date Posted: 13 Mar 13 at 5:05pm
No spectators/'spotters' can get to our lakeside (3-lakes, river crossing) so no-one to 'help' me.
Anyway, we're no Olympians, no-one minds (I've asked) and they'd rather see an extra boat on the water than me have to take a month out everytime i'm oncall (Again, 24/7, 7 days a week)...to be able to sail would provide a degree of weekend release, whilst comfortable that I can deal with any work stuff should it occur. I took a DNF the other week when i had no option but to go home....and, naturally, I steer away from the racecourse when a call comes in.....I just want to be able to sail.
------------- Lightning368 'All the Gear' (409), Lightning368 'Sprite' (101), Laser (big number) 'Yellow Jack', RS Vareo (432)'The Golden Rays' |
Posted By: Captain Morgan
Date Posted: 26 Mar 13 at 11:16pm
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Being in exactly the same situation (being on call 24/7), I sympathise! OK, you're not at work, but expect to be called in without any notice - bye bye life! I've worn a Bluetooth headset whilst on call at two different sailing clubs. Nobody accused me of receiving unfair "instructions", and once I explained why I was wearing a headset everyone said that they would rather have me sailing than sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring! As for a waterproof headset? I buy the cheap ones for under a tenner and they are reliable enough (think of them as disposable, once they have had a dunking).
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Posted By: patj
Date Posted: 28 Mar 13 at 6:30am
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A month is a long time to be on 24/7 call - especially if you have to remain within reach of work as well. It must mess up everyday life too for the family. Wouldn't it be better to adjust the rota and do 4 separate weeks, each spread through the year?
I'm in IT too and I'd hate to try to explain how to restore a database or similar whilst sailing, even though I'm crew!
If the business needs you on call, can you reclaim the cost of the phone and headsets from them?
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