If I think about it, I've had more mishaps per hour on chartered boats than on my own. Does a lack of familiarity -- or even a lack of personal pride of ownership -- affect decisions, precautions, speed and choice of reactions? If it was during the dogwatch, and the skipper was below, perhaps a less cautious sailor was in charge. I know that on my own boat, when I'm below at night I sleep very lightly; am I the same on someone else's boat? And if the conditions were fair and winds light, there may have been the least experienced sailor at the helm. We all know the surprise of judging the speed and distance of a large ship; at night it's much much worse. The very fact that conditions were so benign may have led to a lack of vigilance.

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