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Most 'yachties' prioritise safety
I write in reply to Stephen Morrison's letter in last week's Standard, 'Confine yachties to the paddling pools' and in particular to his words, "I go back to the belief, often expressed on ships that I've sailed on, that the sea is a place only for those earning their living there and yachties should be confined to paddling pools."
Many people will still recall such names as the Torrey Canyon, the Amoco Cadiz, the Bowe Bell and the Herald of Free Enterprise, all allegedly under the command of qualified officers earning their living on the high seas. As a yachtie, I and my family narrowly escaped being run down by a rig vessel off Yarmouth at midnight because some qualified officer had failed to turn on his vessel's navigation lights.
This is just one instant I can add to a list of errors by the professionals that I have witnessed when afloat. When, on July 20 2009, the scallop dredger 'Aquila' overturned there was only one survivor who was picked up by the yacht 'Arran Comrade'. I doubt if the survivor would have wanted that yacht to have been confined to a paddling pool.
Most owners of pleasure boats spend time and money to ensure the safety of themselves, their crew and others when on board. The vast majority of them have a very real awareness of the dangers afloat and also accept that those who earn their living at sea should be accorded respect and sea room to carry out their manoeuvres without compromise by those who are there primarily for enjoyment.
The vast majority of vessels at sea go about their business safely and with due regard for others. The disasters reported to us are caused sometimes by mechanical failure, sometimes by atrocious conditions and sometimes by idiots in charge, regardless as to whether they are yachties or members of the gold braid fraternity. I do not tar every professional seaman with the same brush as their irresponsible few and take exception to similar treatment.
While Mr. Morrison may have written that last sentence with his tongue in his cheek I leave him to ponder the implications of the following radio transcript, released by the Chief of Navel Operations, October 1995.
Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.
Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, would you divert your course.
Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course.
Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic Fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I say again, that's 15 degrees north or countermeasures will be taken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Canadians: We are a lighthouse. Your call.
Terry Despicht (Yachtie)
Sutterton
Boston
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Weather for Boston, Lincolnshire
Thursday 09 February 2012
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