But seriously...

Regarding rising mortality rates for some, a question about a quarter billion dollars in cash, and a good point being made...

So, yesterday I had a video of Robin Knox Johnson being just a bit pissy on the antics of Captain Snafu and the Fubar Kid which resulted in no small amount of mail as a result.

Surprising mail as it happens...

Most of it being of the "well accidents happen, stuff breaks, and they're newbies so no reason to be so hard on these guys" sort.

Obviously some folks have not been paying attention...

Then again maybe they have and are simply too dense to understand just how dangerous these idiots are both to themselves and, mostly, to those who go to sea to rescue sailors in peril.

Then there's the other thing... Sailing for Americans is pretty lax on rules, safety requirements, and licensing. A situation I heartily approve of as it requires, to a great extent, that we as sailors take responsibility for our own safety and actions. Not all countries take that viewpoint but because the US of A is who it is, they allow us to sail their waters without a lot of red tape and onerous licensing requirements. This, of course, could change.

Captain Snafu and the Fubar Kid are just the sort of poster boys that will have politicians in a variety of countries falling all over themselves to write new laws regarding how foreign sailboats are allowed in, what hoops their crews will have to jump through to be deemed acceptable, and, the icing on the cake, a whole new plethora of fees to support a whole new bureacracy. Sort of a politicians wet dream is it not?

So, maybe it's just me, but the next time I sail to the UK, France, Turkey, Argentina, Tahiti, or wherever-the-fuck I really do not want to have to get a license to drive my boat in their waters or post a million-dollar rescue bond to prove that I actually have a clue how to sail a boat, have a modicum of common sense, and that, in the event of needing rescue, I will be able to pay for the full cost of the rescue and any damages or injuries caused to those rescuing me.

Just think about that scenario for a few minutes.

Oh yeah, for those who are thinking to themselves that their ASA 104 Bareboat Certification card that came in a box of Cracker Jacks will past muster, you might also be interested in a metal tower I have for sale in Paris...

Listening to some Marty Balin covers

So it goes...