Is Singlehanding >24 Hrs. Morally Wrong?

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by conachair

You might want to look up the definition of implicit.

And the world is not such a black and white place, as already been discussed in some ways a solo boat with good electronics can be keeping a better offshore watch than a crewed boat keeping to rule 5.

Anyway, luckily the real word doesn't care about internet rants when there is no problem to fix

Well aware of the definition but you jumping to an assumption doesn't mean it was implicit.

[boatman61]

Ahh.. Shades of the old Fyfees banana boats that used to carry passengers to and from the Caribe last century..
Jeez.. Thats a terrible expression.. makes me feel distinctly Methuliasan..

[StuM]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Ahh.. Shades of the old Fyfees banana boats that used to carry passengers to and from the Caribe last century..
Jeez.. Thats a terrible expression.. makes me feel distinctly Methuliasan..

How about "last millennium"

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

DH,

When reading the above it occurs to me that you may never have spent any time at sea aboard a cargo ship. So, here is a thought -- there are cargo ships that are set up to carry up to 12 passengers. This might be something to add to your bucket list. It is a very relaxed atmosphere with a friendly crew, access to the entire ship, and an opportunity to observe all aspects of the ship's operations. A quick google found this page: https://wikitravel.org/en/Freighter_travel

I actually have spent a little time on the bridge of a cargo ship, but would like to do more. Note that I said "well run" -- I'm aware, of course, that watchstanding standards vary greatly.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I have got to wonder how many of the posters on here actually sail at night.. I remember in a past thread along similar lines someone claiming that they could see a boats lights 12 miles away..
While this may be true of large ships the smaller freighters are often not visible till just a couple of miles away headed toward you as they tend to darken ship.. once past they are bright at the stern.
A sailboat however is even harder to spot and often will not be spotted till 1 mile or often much less away.. depending on conditions at the time.. their lights are only rated for 2 miles under optimal conditions so if your scanning the horizon your looking right past them.. same with buoys.. so many cannot see them till the last moment because they are looking to far.
Learn how your optics work and you will see so much more out there..

A very good reason not to rely entirely on the Mark I's.

I find visual watchkeeping easier at night than in the day time, but it's all relative. Your eyes still have various limitations, besides the human factor limitations we've been discussing.

Radar & AIS. And an effective radar reflector.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Having studied under Cockroft at both King Ted's/SJCass in the mid 60's and again at the City of London Polytech in the early 70's I think your approach is very sensible. ( That's the obligatory name drop out of the way...)

Ah!

Still have your copy?

[theway]

By definition it would be morally wrong given the 24/7 watch rule/law/convention...

Personally, The main reason I go to sea single handed is because it’s about the only way left on earth to get away from morality. To get a sense of what it was like before people got together and decided what’s right and wrong...

But here’s Moitessier saying it with a little more elegance...

“Sailing alone soothes me because the sea is fair, not cruel. It judges only your ability. It does not care who or what you are. It does not ask your age, color, sex, address, sexual orientation, education or IQ, but only your competence. It requires only that you can sail. If you can, you survive. If you can't, better stay ashore. That's fair, more fair than most of us experience on land...and refreshing.”

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

A very good reason not to rely entirely on the Mark I's.

I find visual watchkeeping easier at night than in the day time, but it's all relative. Your eyes still have various limitations, besides the human factor limitations we've been discussing.

Radar & AIS. And an effective radar reflector.

Never owned a boat with radar or AIS.. and I have owned 14 to date.. as for visual watchkeeping at night being easier I can only wonder how much you miss.
Many here moan about pot markers fouling their props etc.. anyone whos sailed inside 3nm of the Portuguese coast will tell you that from the Spanish border down to Lisbon theres one helluva lot yet I have never managed to snag one yet in the 20yrs up and down this coast..
So who keeps the better watch.. the crewed moaners chatting in the cockpit.. or dinghy..
Or the singlehander whos yet to snag one..
But then again.. it could just be down to good luck and the blue eyes..

[K_V_B]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Without wanting to derailed Ann's good thread (15 pages mainly still on topic), I gotta ask if it bad and/or wrong to be immoral.

Anything good in life is either immoral, illegal or fattening.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Look in the mirror as it takes two for a collision..

Very true. However, if there is no lookout on a boat, crewed or solo, they are unilaterally forcing other boats to be 100% responsible for avoidance.

[Mr B]

Originally Posted by K_V_B

Anything good in life is either immoral, illegal or fattening.

If it isnt already. You can bet they are working on it,

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

The basic dilemma is not if one is single handed or not but what's adequate watch. Nobody in any vessel (except on a war ship) has someone with binoculars wathing around constantly, never..
But what is adaquate? Every five minutes, every fifteen minutes? That of course depends of the circumstances, trafic and weather. You moraly superior beings answer that please

Teddy

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.

[K_V_B]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Very true. However, if there is no lookout on a boat, crewed or solo, they are unilaterally forcing other boats to be 100% responsible for avoidance.

What you are basically saying is that a solo sailor, because he is flaunting the COLREGS, burdens other vessels because they can no longer flaunt the COLREGS themselves as a consequence?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

1# Who is sleeping thorough the night?
2# If you keep watch you are not in danger.
3# Why, for heavens sake, some are so condemning what others do as it's no concern to them (2#)
4# Earth, third stone from the sun

BR Teddy

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

I'm not saying I'm for or against solo sailing but I am not in agreement with the attitude that it's my responsibility (and my fault if I don't) to look out for someone else that chooses not to whether crewed or singlehanding.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by K_V_B

What you are basically saying is that a solo sailor, because he is flaunting the COLREGS, burdens other vessels because they can no longer flaunt the COLREGS themselves as a consequence?

No I did not say that. I said that I don't agree that another person can flaunt the Colregs and justify it as completely acceptable because I don't.