Oban lifeboat launches to yacht rescue off Maiden Island

[Mark]

No-one, but it would surely be better if they were able to sail confidently enough to avoid calling the lifeboat out just because the engine has stopped.

That level of confidence is unlikely to be attained if you just put the engine on every time conditions are a bit challenging.

Up to them, isn't it. I could get better at squash, but I'm happy being a crap squash player. Not everyone has the desire to improve at everything.

It would be better if everyone could repair their car at the roadside so they didn't have to call the AA, but they don't.

Live and let live, there are worse ways to spend time than motoring around the West Coast of Scotland. Certianly I hope to be still pottering around in boats when I'm too old to put the sails up.

As Jesus said, "Chaps, perhaps we should try to be nice to each other."

PS: Did they call out the lifeboat?

[Nick]

It would be better if everyone could repair their car at the roadside so they didn't have to call the AA, but they don't.

Live and let live, there are worse ways to spend time than motoring around the West Coast of Scotland. Certianly I hope to be still pottering around in boats when I'm too old to put the sails up.

As Jesus said, "Chaps, perhaps we should try to be nice to each other."

PS: Did they call out the lifeboat?

The AA is a paid-for insurance service. The Lifeboat is a charity, so not an exact parallel. Don't know if the yacht requested the lifeboat or if it was at the instigation of the CG.

I am in favour of encouraging people to become better, more self-reliant sailors for lots of reasons. If you aren't then fair enough, but I don't see the point in having a yacht if you are going to be almost totally reliant on the engine - a MoBo would make more sense.

[Rowana]

Perhaps they were just giving their engine a good thrash after having it repaired to make sure it was OK now. I know I probably would want to.

Going back to the original problem, perhaps it was a case of -

"Clyde coastguard, just to inform you that our engine has packed up, and we'll have to sail into Oban".

"We'll send the lifeboat to tow you in"

"We're OK sailing, thanks"

"I say again, we're sending the lifeboat, and they WILL tow you in.


Too many if's but's and maybe's for us to make a judgement on what actually the story was, but it makes for a good debate.

[Nick]

perhaps it was a case of -

"Clyde coastguard, just to inform you that our engine has packed up, and we'll have to sail into Oban".

"We'll send the lifeboat to tow you in"

"We're OK sailing, thanks"

"I say again, we're sending the lifeboat, and they WILL tow you in.

Yep. It's happened to quite a few people. Best not to tell the CG unless you seriously want help as they are most likely to reason thusly:

Hmm . . . this person has called us up to tell us about the situation so they probably don't feel confident about sailing in so - we'll send the lifeboat now as the situation might be worse later.

Having said that, I have often heard Clyde CG asking for boats in the locality who can give a tow rather than sending the lifeboat, so the above is not an inevitability.

[Arghiro]

Some reasons for not sailing;

Children on board who don't understand the situation & may get stressed if the boat heels a lot or may fall & get hurt because they aren't used to the sudden lurches of a boat under sail in gusty conditions.

Ditto elderly family members or pets.

Need to catch a tide gate of some sort where course can't be laid direct under sail.

Lazy old pensioner can't be @rsed to put sails up for an hour or so's passage cos it's quite a lot of effort for him/her. Especially if said pensioner is often single-handed like me.

Need to charge batteries (or heat water) & don't like engine ticking over on mooring/ pontoon.

I'm glad (and impressed) that you're a paragon of saiing virtue, but some of us are merely mortal & enjoy the boat both as a MoBo or a sailing yot. Or am I merely feeding a Troll?

[Nick]

.
I am not a paragon of sailing virtue by any means and have motored at times for most - though not all - of the reasons you give above. However, we do sail whenever possible and in spite of this tend to log only 60% of our miles under sail in the average year. Being any lazier would result in much less sailing.

Even when motoring we are usually motor-sailing, as it improves the motion and usually the speed, in addition to making the vessel more visible. We regularly encounter vessels motoring whose speed is a knot or less better than ours.

If you find you are motoring more than 75% of the time perhaps then it is time to buy a MoBo . . .

[Mark]

If you find you are motoring more than 75% of the time perhaps then it is time to buy a MoBo . . .

That's your choice. Mine is different. If (when?) I get to that point I'll stick with the raggie. In fact if I was only getting a sail once every hundred trips I'll stick with a raggie and be glad about it.

Live and let live?

[Mark]

it would surely be better if they were able to sail confidently enough to avoid calling the lifeboat out

Don't know if the yacht requested the lifeboat or if it was at the instigation of the CG.

Hmmmm. Are you Theresa May?

I am in favour of encouraging people to become better, more self-reliant sailors for lots of reasons.

And I'm in favour of cutting people a bit of slack.

[Nick]

And I'm in favour of cutting people a bit of slack.

Why all the agression over what is a perfectly reasonable subject for discussion Mark? Next time the yacht might be about to go aground on a lee shore - before the lifeboat can get there. Better people know how to use their sails IMO. Hard to see why you have a problem with that POV.

[Mark]

And I'm in favour of cutting people a bit of slack.

Why all the agression over what is a perfectly reasonable subject for discussion Mark?

It certainly wasn't my intention to appear agressive. It's a reasonable subject for discussion and I am discussing it reasonably. If it appears otherwise that's an error on my part. (Does it really appear agressive?)

[little boy blue]

.............Hard to see why you have a problem with that POV.

perhaps he`s suffering from a severe dose of " topitis "

[Nick]

.
No, I'm Teresa May. And I'm off sailing.

[Arghiro]

.
(snip)
If you find you are motoring more than 75% of the time perhaps then it is time to buy a MoBo . . .

But then I would be dead frustrated for 25% of the time wouldn't I?

As a side note, have you ever said "sorry" to anyone Nick?

[Nick]

As a side note, have you ever said "sorry" to anyone Nick?

Probably as often as you. Who am I supposed to owe an apology to this time and why?

[Mark]

But then I would be dead frustrated for 25% of the time wouldn't I?

Which reminds me, last week I had a curry in Port Solent with a guy who lives down he road from me. He sails locally and mentioned that he has a surf board.

I'd guess you can surf off the Manhood Peninsular maybe 2-3 times a year. He pre-empted the obvious question and just said that he loved it, and the once every 24 months when surfable weather occurs on a free weekend was enough to justify the garage space.

Yes, he'd get more use out of some roller skates, but he doesn't want roller skates, he wants a surf board.

Who are we to argue?

(If Mrs Mark wore all of her shoes 25pc of the time I'd be a happy man!!!)