February 16, 2006 05:03
I know this is going to sound ironic from someone who runs a marine electronics BBS, but part of the joy of sailing for me is escaping from technology.. and most of all freedom.
I'll quite often switch off everthing when I'm sailing; instruments, GPS, log, mobile phone, VHF.. and just enjoy the the wind and the water.
Sailing is one of the last bastions on unregulation in the UK. Anyone can sail. There are no required qualifications, no required insurance, no required assessment of your vessel and no required equipment.. effectively, you can go to sea in a bath-tub if you're so inclined.
With every area of our lives being recorded, policed, and digitised, sailing is one of our few escapes... and I'd passionately oppose any attempts to change that.
I'll quite often switch off everthing when I'm sailing; instruments, GPS, log, mobile phone, VHF.. and just enjoy the the wind and the water.
Sailing is one of the last bastions on unregulation in the UK. Anyone can sail. There are no required qualifications, no required insurance, no required assessment of your vessel and no required equipment.. effectively, you can go to sea in a bath-tub if you're so inclined.
With every area of our lives being recorded, policed, and digitised, sailing is one of our few escapes... and I'd passionately oppose any attempts to change that.