Sailing through the night on chartered boat? is it allowed.

[LTDsailing]

We do a couple of night sails on our Advanced Cruise and Learn courses (ASA 105 / 106). One entering a harbor at night and another longer overnight passage. When we do this on boats from Sunsail / The Moorings we are required to sign a special waiver. They will almost never approve charter guests for night sailing - we are getting some special consideration as a sailing school.

[svinvictus2]

In the past I have requested in writing a change in our sailing grounds from charter companies.
It was done in advance and necessitated my sending in my credentials and experience resume.
I agree with all the others participants that in most island areas a charterer should be at anchor or in a berth before sundown. Even if you've had previous experience few things are marked and your GPS/chart plotter may not be as accurate as you'd expect.

I requested and was granted permission based on the facts that I had both a license and PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND NEEDED TO MAKE THE CROSSING FROM the Virgins to St. Martin.

It still very much worries me, now on my own boat, when charterers enter an attempt to anchor in the dark. Judging distance is difficult enough in daylight and in the dark Charterers SHOULD not be doing this.

Hope this helps.

[TeddyDiver]

Just to point out.. The OP question was about "Sailing through the night", like sailing open water as I understand it. Not anchoring nor entering a marinas in darkness

BR Teddy

[Mithril Bham]

After all is said and done some of my best sailing experiences have been at night under the stars with phosphorous glowing in the wake.

[Skipper-Ingo]

Before I had my own boat I chartered five times in France and Spain, in the Med. I never was told not to sail at night, neither did I ever hear about that.
To me it sounds strange that in the USA you are not allowed to.
To me, sailing at night is something I always enjoyed and something I consider absolutely normal.
I have sailed from the mainland of Spain to the island of Ibiza fifteen times now, - and - all cruises we started at 11 or 12 p.m., and that's night time, if I'm not mistaken. That way we always arrived at Ibiza at the day time, after 15 to 20 hours.

[brianlara 3]

Originally Posted by brianlara 3

Driving a car is one thing. Driving a boat is entitely another. Driving a boat at night, even in very familiar waters, is a whole other thing. Triple potential for mishap. But my favorite trips are done at night, just lovely, and no baking sun.....been bit by the melanona bug, Stage 4 !!

Like I said "my favourite trips are done at night".
Anyhow, nice yarn A64 Pilot.
Sir, did you by any chance fly in Vietnam during, say, 1960 -1970 ? Curious.

[brianlara 3]

Originally Posted by Skipper-Ingo

Before I had my own boat I chartered five times in France and Spain, in the Med. I never was told not to sail at night, neither did I ever hear about that.
To me it sounds strange that in the USA you are not allowed to.
To me, sailing at night is something I always enjoyed and something I consider absolutely normal.
I have sailed from the mainland of Spain to the island of Ibiza fifteen times now, - and - all cruises we started at 11 or 12 p.m., and that's night time, if I'm not mistaken. That way we always arrived at Ibiza at the day time, after 15 to 20 hours.

Maybe it will seem less strange to you if you accept that the USA is THE most litigious country on the planet. As a non-American, it seems to me that there is almost nothing you can't be sued forin the US. And that is why health care costs are out of control in America. Litigation!!
For that reason charter companies need to keep their insurance premiums as low as possible.
I think "no night movement" for charterers is a no brainer, for the multitude of reasons given above.

[jacktheflyer]

This is a matter of managing risk for a commercial operation and its insurance. Ths insurer will require the level of risk to relate to a safety management plan/system and set the premiums accordingly. in a bare boat situation where you are hiring your boat to inexperienced people this risk management must for formulated to the lowest common denominator. Travelling at night is higher risk than day. Night Visual conditions are too difficult to define for the holiday sailor and should something happen there will be no sympathy from the insurer.
Scrubby

[Polux]

Originally Posted by SV DestinyAscen

If Salona charter is the same as Salona yacht production I'll be surprised if they included any sails

I don't know how it is now and I hope it is better than the shipyard but I doubt it since i don't see on the boats to charter any new boat, as it was usual. I charted there, some years ago a brand new Salona 41, one with a lot of performance options including a 2.7m keel. The boat sailed very well, was beautiful and they were nice.

However It seems they didn't have lost the sense of humor. They have for charter a 45 tiger cat

[Scottuk]

Originally Posted by Polux

Than next time you should use another charter provider.

Maybe so but the point is that the rule as been applied in the Med.

It would have been nice to have the option to sail first to our furthest destination, weather permitting, and work our way back. That said, we were there to not only to sail but see the sites and quench our thrist. By sailing at night it would have been a it contrary to our goals. We did manage to sail around 350nm in 12 days.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by magellanyachts

After all is said and done some of my best sailing experiences have been at night under the stars with phosphorous glowing in the wake.

<pedant mode on>
No phosphorus involved.

What you see is bioluminescence, not phosphorescence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioluminescence

and phosphorescence is so named because it is produced by phosphors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorescence

and phosphorus isn't a phosphor, it is a chemoluminescent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus

</Pedant mode>

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by brianlara 3

Like I said "my favourite trips are done at night".

Anyhow, nice yarn A64 Pilot.

Sir, did you by any chance fly in Vietnam during, say, 1960 -1970 ? Curious.

No, I joined up as a pvt in 1982 and retired in 2002.

[a64pilot]

I know what causes the "glow" still in my neck of the woods we call it phosphorescence.
That good tasting, funny looking fish is a Dolphin or Dorado, not a Mahi Mahi, that that great big ole fish that looks like it could eat you is a Jew fish, not a Goliath Grouper.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I know what causes the "glow" still in my neck of the woods we call it phosphorescence.

I guess that's marginally better than calling it phosphorus

That good tasting, funny looking fish is a Dolphin or Dorado

In my neck of the woods, we prefer "dolphin fish" to avoid confusion.

[a64pilot]

A few years ago we flew down to Crystal River to eat, and I saw Mahi Mahi on the menu, I asked what it was and was told fish, so I said OK what kind of fish? About two tables away someone understood and said it's Dolphin, so of course I asked then why don't they call it Dolphin then?
Someone else said, cause the Yankees are horrified about eating Flipper