The yacht's Black Box

[Nick]

There is no such thing as fortuitous luck at sea. The reason why some boaters survive storms or have fewer accidents than others is that they earn their luck by diligent and constant acts of seamanship.

Aboard every boat there's an invisible black box. Every time a skipper takes the trouble to consult the chart, inspect the filters, go forward on a rainy night to check the running lights, or take any other proper seamanlike precaution, he or she earns a point that goes into the black box. In times of stress, in heavy weather or other threatening circumstances where human skill and effort can accomplish no more, the points are cashed in as protection... Those skippers with no points in the box are the ones later described as unlucky.

The skipper has no control over the withdrawal of points, and once points have been removed, then the skipper must immediately start to replenish their savings, for the sea offers no credit.

........................................................................................................................................................John Vigor

[claymore]

Fer jay's sake Nick...ye've been away too long. Now get yourself back and re-acquaint yourself with honest toil you esoteric little sausage.

[Nick]

Would an auld academic like yersel' ken about honest toil?

[Timbo]

It's probably akin to aviation. Every sailor starts out with two boxes, one full of luck and the other, empty, into which goes experience. The trick is to fill the second box before the first is empty.

Either box can be any colour you choose.

[DaveS]

Well, it's OK in principle, but...

I can't help thinking that the immutable laws of Messrs Murphy and Sodd take precedence...