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**skipmac** · 26-03-2018, 07:36

Have intentionally not stated a position on this question to comment on some of the faulty logic and, to me, rather self righteous attitudes in some posts. At this point I guess I can come out of the closet.

I am not against singlehanded sailing and I think it can be done in a way that adds negligible risk to other boats. I have made a couple of small solo trips and managed to not kill myself or anyone else.

However, I do not agree that singlehanding adds no additional risk to other boats. I think that risk offshore is extremely small and managed well is acceptable but it is not zero. Anyone singlehanding needs to accept that. By the way, outside of the shipping lanes doesn't mean outside of cruisers travel lanes.

And, I feel safer with Boatman out their singlehanding than I do with a lot of crewed boats I've encountered.

TeddyDiver · 26-03-2018, 07:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY

Good point. Just ask the U.S. Pacific Fleet. I think this just proves what most of us have been saying. It isn't a function of how many are keeping watch. It's a function of the quality of the watch and the situational awareness; e.g. paying attention in a shipping lane near shore versus a more casual approach in the middle of the ocean.

Quite right. And keeping good watch doesn't help with stupid decisions.
Speaking about me (can't speak for anyone else. Right?) I'm a worryer. Can't stay below even if there's competent sailors on watch on coastal waters.If there's trafic I'll check it with a bearing binoculars time to time untill I know they are certainly bearing away.
On open ocean I relax, over two thousand meters to ground and no ship sight for a week..

By the way, three weeks for the next ocean sailing. Can't wait

Teddy

conachair · 26-03-2018, 08:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by skipmac

What you are saying is because someone chooses to singlehand and will then no problem because the other guy can take up the slack.

Are radar alarms & AIS alarms mid ocean where the chance of meeting anything small and not transmitting/reflecting is extremely low "abdicating the responsibility to keep watch"?

Day or night I can't think of one time where the tech didn't spot the very rare traffic before eyeballs.

Edit - just seen your later post, think we're not too far off

**boatman61** · 26-03-2018, 08:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by skipmac

And, I feel safer with Boatman out their singlehanding than I do with a lot of crewed boats I've encountered.

I can think of a Frenchman who would disagree with the above..

Funny how I can laugh about it.. yet still feel angry about that event.

peter57 · 26-03-2018, 08:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by valhalla360

These references always confuse me. Just because there is a popular book in the cruising community about the guy doesn't make him a saint or an excellent seaman.

Should we all hold the Kardashians up as paragons of virtue because they are plastered all over the place?

PS: Your pirate comparison is faulty logic. Not breaking one moral rule doesn't mean you can't break other moral rules. Example: If I don't lie, it's therefore OK to murder?

PPS: Not saying it's moral or not moral just addressing logical falsies in the argument.

There is no logic in a "send up" Geeze you could get that?

But I'll give you my opinion on Single handed sailing.
To me if you can not sail single handed your not much of a sailor to me. Even when I have crew on board I still sail as if I am single handed, sleep in the cockpit alarm set for the situation distance to land, Island, reef or closing distance of other vessels.

If I go to sleep for two to four hours I awake terrible an it takes time for the senses to come to me, if I sleep for five, ten or fifteen minutes depending on situation I awake like a spark with all senses intact go forward to high point view then aft and try to gain a 360 check course, trim sail ect open thermos and then before time for next nap do the figures on any vessel closing for alarm set.This gives me a buzz and I like night as much as day. Inside the in Queensland reef in the tight shipping lanes with prawn trawlers abundant at times.

I sail it in Morton Bay single handed for 24 hours none stop and there is not many places where you will not run aground within 3 hours on weekends with lots of anchored fishing boats. only drop anchor if there is no wind.

yalla · 26-03-2018, 10:03

is it morally wrong to start a discussion about the morality of singlehanding, generating over 300+ reponses when all that time and effort could have been used to discuss issues that may actually help people in the cruising community?
Is it immoral to think that this whole thread was simply an exercise in generating traffic for the web$ite?
is it time for another guns-on-board thread? 300+ responses to this thread, I think folks are getting bored.

**Adelie** · 26-03-2018, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by yalla

is it morally wrong to start a discussion about the morality of singlehanding, generating over 300+ reponses when all that time and effort could have been used to discuss issues that may actually help people in the cruising community?
Is it immoral to think that this whole thread was simply an exercise in generating traffic for the web$ite?
is it time for another guns-on-board thread? 300+ responses to this thread, I think folks are getting bored.

That was very metaphysical asking about the morality of starting a thread about morality. Perhaps it should be cross posted to the Joke thread. There’s definely some humor here.

**Paul Elliott** · 26-03-2018, 10:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by yalla

discuss issues that may actually help people in the cruising community?

You first. That sounds like work.!

**TrentePieds** · 26-03-2018, 10:25

Re #321:

Let not us Canucks disparage this thread. We have our own cultural propensities!

The thread has been a wonderful exposition of cultural norms, if a little one sided. An exposition of "values" to use the currently fashionable word. Immensely illuminating and valuable for all of us :-0)!

TP

buzzstar · 26-03-2018, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by yalla

(1)is it morally wrong to start a discussion about the morality of singlehanding, generating over 300+ reponses when all that time and effort could have been used to discuss issues that may actually help people in the cruising community?
(2) Is it immoral to think that this whole thread was simply an exercise in generating traffic for the web$ite?
(3)is it time for another guns-on-board thread? 300+ responses to this thread, (4)I think folks are getting bored.

Answers: (1) No. (2) No, just wrong. (3) Definitely not yet. (4) Maybe, but the number participating indicates otherwise. (?) Immoral, moral, or amoral, you cannot single hand both your boats at the same time.

Lodesman · 26-03-2018, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman61

I can think of a Frenchman who would disagree with the above..

Funny how I can laugh about it.. yet still feel angry about that event.

Out of curiosity, were you keeping a visual watch when you had your collision?

DumnMad · 26-03-2018, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuM

Rule 5

Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.

It says maintain proper lookout at all times.
It does not say by sight and hearing at all times.
This is why single handed sailing is acceptable.

boatpoker · 26-03-2018, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by DumnMad

It says maintain proper lookout at all times.
It does not say by sight and hearing at all times.
This is why single handed sailing is acceptable.

" at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing "

Your understanding of English appears somewhat different than mine.

**boatman61** · 26-03-2018, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lodesman

Out of curiosity, were you keeping a visual watch when you had your collision?

I knew he was there.. spotted him a ccoupla three miles off apparently heading for Salcombe.. I was about 5 miles SW of Start Point.. went below to prep my supper then stuck my head up again and he was maybe a mile away and looked to be passing astern so ducked back down and fired up the cooker.. checked again and was sure he would pass astern.. so carried on making tea.
Only thing I can think is he was steering by remote below and altered his heading a few degrees without looking as he hit me just at the fwd lower.. singed all the hair on my chest as I fell onto the cooker..
Thats why it was a 50/50 fault.. regardless of the motor vs sail situation..
Perfect visibility 1730 on a summers day light breeze flat sea.
Since then I trust no one till I can see their stern.
Oh.. and it was day 47 out of Marigot SXM.