[Rhodes22-list] Bad Tack

[John Lock]

At 09:35 AM 7/28/2006 -0500, Brad Haslett wrote:
>In most accidents there are a series of small and seemingly 
>unrelated events that when combined, add up to the final ugly 
>result.  If the crew can recognize, prevent, or correct any
>one link in the chain the outcome will be avoided.  The average number of
>links in the accident chain is sixteen.

I just finished reading Mary Lou Troy's chapter in "Sailing Small" 
(very helpful :-) ) and moved on to the chapter by David Bellows and 
his Rob Roy 23.  In there, he quotes a friend explaining pretty much 
the same concept for sailors as follows:

"... it is usually not the first problem that kills you.  But if it 
isn't managed quickly, the first problem often leads to a chain 
reaction of other problems, one of which may prove fatal."

This was written within the context of becoming familiar with a new 
boat, learning its systems, trying to anticipate problems (and their 
solutions) before embarking on a lengthy cruise.  Seems like common 
sense, but as y'all have pointed out in the "Right-of-way" discussion 
- common sense... isn't !

Cheers!

John Lock

"On second thought, let's not go to Camelot.  It is a silly place."