Nick Burnham: We can go boating at any time, we certainly do not expect anyone to suffer it if they aren’t enjoying it
Every time we take any non-regular crew out on Smuggler’s Blues 2, I have a routine that I go through. I give them a brief rundown of some of the safety kit aboard (VHF radios, the EPIRB etc), not because I expect them to use them in an emergency, but because I think it’s reassuring for people to know that we have such things and take safety seriously. We assign them a lifejacket and help them put it on so that they understand how to do it and we can adjust it to fit them. Doing this just before we leave the berth encourages people to keep them on. I don’t insist on lifejackets being worn by adults unless we have children aboard. Then it’s compulsory for both the children and the adults as it’s unfair to insist kids wear them if the grown-ups aren’t.
Finally, I make it abundantly clear that we are boating for fun, and if they are feeling nervous or concerned or have any questions, to let us know immediately so that we can reassure them, modify our plans (find more sheltered water perhaps), or even return to base. We can go boating at any time, so we certainly do not expect anyone to suffer it if they aren’t enjoying it. In fact I’ve only had one aborted trip. An old friend from years ago, upon discovering I have a boat, was keen for a spin.
His wife was somewhat less enthusiastic, in fact I think her anxiety levels were building long before even reaching the boat and they peaked as we left the harbour. No problem, we simply returned to the berth. Making sure everyone was happy wa
