Dear Joan,

Boat Safety Recommendations

As many of the members will be aware I participate in a long running discussion through these pages on the attitude that the association presented on practising capsize. I was pleased when clause three of the boat safety recommendations was changed to include “Testing oneself and one’s boat in sheltered conditions is strongly recommended. It should be stressed that capsizing is not an acceptable proposition in a seaway.” Naturally it was disappointing when the wording returned to the original that did not recommend capsize practice. By this time I had heard of Peter Bick’s illness and decided not to raise the issue, as the subject appeared to cause him additional stress.

I was saddened to hear about the passing of Peter after his long and substantial involvement in the DCA. He had been a dedicated and principled worker for the association and I respect the efforts he made on our behalf even if I didn’t always agree with his views. Now that his suffering is over, however, I propose that the wording, that included testing oneself and one’s boat, be included in the safety recommendations once again. It did reflect both sides of the argument and as such was a sound compromise.

Dave Weinstock

The publication of the old instead of the revised version of the Boat Safety Recommendations was, of course, unintentional - an editorial mistake for which I apologise, and which is now corrected. It did not occur when Peter Bick was in charge! Editor