BOAT RULES & SAFETY RULES & COURTESIES

We do have some "do's & don'ts"! Most of them are obvious; the others are sufficiently important to me to cause me to include them. You should be fully prepared to observe them. 

No drugs.

No firearms, unless specifically agreed beforehand in writing. Firearms would be kept by me and my decision will govern their possible use. Firearms will be declared to the authorities.

Non-smokers only. This does not mean that it is OK to smoke ashore but not on the boat. It means that one must be a non-smoker, both ashore and aboard, while a member of crew of Mantra.

No visitors who are not already known to owner are to be invited aboard without my prior approval.  No visitors overnight without prior approval.

Nothing down toilet that you haven't personally eaten or drunk. Toilet paper goes in a bin, not down the toilet.

In rolly seas, male crew should sit on the toilet when urinating.

Nothing on inside seats other than covered bodies; no gear stored on cabin beds.

Respect that the boat is also my (and any long-term crew's) personal home.

When one is on watch at night, one is in the saloon except for leaning out to see better or for very short periods to get food or use the head. Visual look out every 10 minutes when in areas where there could be other shipping. No music which could mask boat noises. Protect night vision by using the red lights and by only using the white lights when really needed for log entries & chart work.

Tell someone if going out onto foredeck or to the cockpit.

When wind is strong or sea jerky, we use harnesses when going outside.

Everyone is considerate for wear & tear of the boat; ie: step down lightly; winch slowly, get up from being seated without pushing down on the hinged table, pump toilet and bilges slowly, put things away if they are going to get wet, etc.

Conserve fresh water at all times.

Conserve battery electricity when charger is not running.

All gear & bags to be stowed away; not on the floor, nor higgledy pickledy in sight.

When on very long passages we launder in sea water or used shower water. Limited fresh water rinse.  In port we can use the washing machine.

Eat main meals together.

No food, nor biscuits, peanuts, chocolate, fruit, etc is to be consumed in sleeping cabins.

Any shoes worn ashore not to be worn on board. If barefoot ashore, wash feet on boarding. There can be a deck shower available for use on the transom.

Keep sleeping cabin clean. Thorough spring clean sleeping cabin and launder before leaving.

Put things back in their place. Everything has a place and should be in its place. Feel free to suggest changing the usual place for something, but please bear in mind that other people will then have to unlearn what that usual place is and newly learn the new place, so it will have to be a significant improvement. If unsure where something goes please ask, rather than guessing.

At sea: any clothes, sloppy clothes or no clothes; but, in port or ashore: conservative dress and, when appropriate, shoes or sandals.

If while on watch you wonder whether we should reef or take in sail or whether we should deploy the paravanes, we do it.

If on watch and getting anxious, don't hesitate to get me.

Please respect the Boat Rules to the letter. Please do not bend them, nor "interpret their spirit". If in any doubt, ask; anytime; day or night. 

NB: Most of the above is common sense seamanship or crewmanship or safety sense or how I consider a house guest should behave when on a boat which is someone else's permanent home. The reason that it has been spelt out in unusually explicit detail is to help ensure no repeats of some unlucky experiences with some (luckily few) crew. The intention of such nit-picking detail (which is not my normal style) is that it should help contribute to maintaining the ambiance that keeps Mantra an effective and happy yacht. Mantra is, and will continue to be, an effective and happy medium for relaxed cruising. Such greater than normal care is even more important when passages are longer. 

MAINTENANCE & IMPROVEMENTS

Everyone cares for having MANTRA in top condition and everyone shares in the work involved. This boat work involves: at sea an average of ten hours a week per person on routine maintenance / improvements / wish list jobs; in port or at anchor average of fifteen hours a week, more when in port for repairs, alterations, spring cleaning or antifouling. Average is over the duration of each leg. This boat work of maintenance / cleaning / improvements & other work is in addition to keeping clean the cabin one is using and sharing the load of cleaning the heads and public areas and is in addition to one's load of watchkeeping, cooking & washing up and in addition to participating in any emergency repair work and looking to sail handling & course keeping needed while under way.

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