cardinal_mark
regular
Reged: 08/10/2004
Posts: 489
Loc: UK
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Last weekend we were drifting aimlessly around Chichester bay - making a mighty 2 kts IIRC! - when all of a sudden 'the black rib' approachd and asked if it was okay to come aboard. Sure I said, no problem. They were perfectly polite and simply took a few details, checked that it was my boat and that I didn't have any terrorists down below, which of course I didn't; although I'm not sure what they made of the overly friendly Airedale roused from her slumber!
Anyway, one then asked if all three children were ours. Two of them were, the other was a friend of my 9 year old daughter... 'do you have a letter from her parents to confirm that it is okay for her to be with you out here?' they asked. Er no! Well you should really, especially on a boat... but she looks happy enough so I'm sure its fine...
A couple of things struck me; why board a boat that is clearly just a white middle(ish) class family making the best of the weather (is it prove that everyone is treated equally?) and WTF is all this about letters from parents???
They must have been really bored is all I can guess! Whadayareckon?
Mark
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Chrusty1
regular
Reged: 27/02/2008
Posts: 850
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Well if "white middle-ish class families" make a habit of refering to them a "Plod".....it's a wonder that you are not boarded on a more regular basis!
Followed swiftly by a damn good rodgering with a riot stick!  
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Flipper_K6354
regular
Reged: 20/09/2001
Posts: 1783
Loc: Boat in Brightlingsea, Essex. ...
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Quote:
'do you have a letter from her parents to confirm that it is okay for her to be with you out here?' they asked. Er no! Well you should really, especially on a boat... but she looks happy enough so I'm sure its fine...
It is burocracy and 'elf and safety gone mad.
I help run a Sea Scout group and the paperwork is horrendous. We have to get permission slips for everything. I am qualified as a YM and according to Scouts rules can only take 1 keel boat up to 500meters from the shorein summer and have to stay in quiet estuaries in winter!
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Galadriel
regular
Reged: 19/01/2004
Posts: 6230
Loc: Chichester Harbour
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I think you already worked it out, no suspicious looking Araby types trying to hide behind West Pole or blend in with the dinghy racing, so some 'action' had to be recorded in the log book.
You dont say, but was SWMBO, uh, er, 'properly attired? An attractive lady in a swimming cossy might have caused you to be singled out. 
good point about the letter though. On Friday (if the rain keeps off) we will have 160 children out on the water on 50 diffferent boats, hope the schools got a letter from the parents!
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"You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you"
Roger Waters 1972
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Flipper_K6354
regular
Reged: 20/09/2001
Posts: 1783
Loc: Boat in Brightlingsea, Essex. ...
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Quote:
On Friday (if the rain keeps off) we will have 160 children out on the water on 50 diffferent boats,
Can't they go out if it is wet?
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shmoo
regular
Reged: 23/05/2005
Posts: 1178
Loc: Suffolk UK
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Quote:
asked if it was okay to come aboard.
I wonder what the reaction would have been if you had politely declined, unless they were prepared to invoke powers and make it clear exactly which ones they were invoking and on what grounds.
I actually think the question about the ownership of the kids was an invasion of privacy, and if asked in front of kids, very insensitive. Not everyone has straightforward family relationships these days and it could be hurtful or embarrassing to discuss them. Just because you are dressed up in a black play suit doesn't give you the right to pry like that.
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If I show you yours, will you show me mine?
http://www.yourboatpix.co.uk
Perhaps there is a picture of your boat there already.
Edited by shmoo (14/05/2008 12:33)
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halcyon
regular
Reged: 20/04/2002
Posts: 2884
Loc: Cornwall
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Quote:
why board a boat that is clearly just a white middle(ish) class family making the best of the weather ?
It was safer than one with people that looked like terrorists.
Brian
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Kddpowercentre designers and purveyors of fine charging systems for 30 years.
Powercentre spares and help line
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Chrusty1
regular
Reged: 27/02/2008
Posts: 850
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Your attitude beggars belief!...........They have every right, and I hope they are never made to feel that they shouldn't be asking questions.
Maybe you should be thinking less of petty sensitivities, and more about why they are there in the first place, and maybe, just maybe mind, being glad that they are there, and being a bit supportive of them.
I wonder in fact, if a lot of the "plod knockers" on these forums, just resent the idea that there is somebody that has authority over them? It does seem to be a bit of a favourite passtime on here.
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Galadriel
regular
Reged: 19/01/2004
Posts: 6230
Loc: Chichester Harbour
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Quote:
Can't they go out if it is wet?
Yes of course they can, I'll have oilies on! 
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"You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you"
Roger Waters 1972
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KevB
regular
Reged: 04/07/2001
Posts: 5557
Loc: London
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Well I'll have the covers up and the heating on. Can you do that on a yacht?
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Nirvana
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