People should not debase the expression of the English language and should reframe from by using vernacular expressions in public forums.

People should not name call.

People should not profess hate for others.

Such behaviours just show bad breeding and a lack of adherence to commonly accepted social standards.

If you have a problem with yachties endangering themselves...well just get over it.

I have a problem with us spending billons on an education system that allows people, who are supposedly leaders, to behave outrageously, show complete ignorance of English usage and display unfounded prejudice. I don't spout obscenities, foster hate or ridicule...I just sccept things for what they are and get over it.

Yep I have reasonably high ethical standards and I also own a yacht.

Keith - I can see your sentiments, but I found the article hilarious. And if there's one thing I can't stand, it's discouraging humour - especially when it's politically incorrect.
Even more so when it pokes fun at people who own yachts.

So Keith, I say... tough. If it bothers you, go play with your yacht instead.

I am a yachtie and so is my wife. I reject outright the assumptions in this inarticulate piece of class envy about the boating fraternity. Many yachties earn under $200 000 a year and are very much "ordinary Joes". The idea that they deserve to drown is disgusting and personally offensive.

Further, I have struck whales many times in recent years while sailing. This was not a problem when whaling was permitted in earlier decades, and frankly its continuation would have saved us considerable expense.

That is SO unfair. He gets to swear, and us posters are totally restricted. Let me swear. I wanna I wanna I wanna!

I laughed too. Fairly even distribution of chuckling over the article and the comments.

Skeletor neglected to note that apparently yachties lack a sense of humour. Maybe all that washing down the decks with testosterone takes it out of them.

Well Mr Papathanassiou, this really tightens my jaw. I absolutely agree with the outrage expressed by Keith. To quote my learned friend, you “should reframe from by using vernacular expressions in public forums.” Whilst I am not certain what this means, Keith is an expert in the debasement of the English language, so I am quite sure I agree with him, so just get over it. And I am quite sure that Keith’s use of the vernacular “yep” was sarcastic, so get over it.

I too have reasonably high standards, and not only do I own a yacht, I own several racehorses as well. I also play flugelhorn in a natty jazz combo, The Jazzmops. Get over it. Did I say that already?

Dear Mr A.J. Monkeynuts 111

Indeed you spotted my sarcasm. But you missed my witticism of which I was more proud.

My unoriginal use of the term vernacular is a throw off at the author's field of expertise, which apparently is the use of spoken English by Black American people, especially their use of the vernacular.

Sigh...I hate being seen as a know all.

I confess to once being one of those out of season media hacks doing SHYR duties and like all Aussie holiday season stories it is a ponderous wank. Suddenly you are talking jibs, genoas and jibberish as though your public is interested enough or ever have a ccess to a racing yacht. It is all envy of rich dudes and high tech reliance. It would be interesting to do an audience measure once the fleet leaves Sydney Heads. It might save taxpayers a packet if the ABC could stop wasting big bucks in helicopters giving us the riviting news of who is 1...21 nautical miles ahead of who in hitting Bass Strait.

Hey all you who object to the language: you were warned, just like the yatchies are warned about the seas, and you proceeded into these waters regardless.

Tough.

What I also object to are these round the world 'sex between one consenting adult' types who need to be rescued.

Perhaps every yatchie should be forced to pay a deposit to the authorities to cover the possible cost of rescue before they set off in their ships of fools.

And lets face it - maxi yatchs - built for speed out of the thinest, lightest and least durable material available just for speed and not survivablity: but just strong enough with little or no reserve. Like taking formula one racing cars on the Paris to Dakkar race. No one would allow it in motorsport, so why should it be allowed on the water?

Surely yacthies can simply send their Chopper out to rescue, instead of the taxpyer doing so.

I wonder what said yachties say when their vessel is sinking, demasted and so on.

Perhaps "good grief", or "Gosh".

SHeeesh , Yatch’ies?

If ever next time you see a bull bar on the front of a Motor cruiser, it is not there to fend of Yacht; it is there to protect the ships master from the Yacht'ies arrogance that just oozes off ; Fairdinkum.
Almost like some others in our community.

Next we will have a motor cruiser riot.

"good grief" indeed, David M! Those poor yachties, earning less than $200k. Why, they must be lining up for social security to help them support their racing habit. Given that I live in a town where the average wage is $36,000 pa, I confess to having little sympathy (yes I put that comma in the figure to make sure you didnt misread it). And its a reasonably prosperous town. Whilst I found some of the words used unnecessary, I wholly agree with the sentiment. If you want to go out and "test" youself against the elements, dont expect me to help you out of a tight spot (via my tax dollars). There are just so many more worthy causes!

Hmm, if less than $200k = average joe, then I must be completely poverty stricken.

Maybe Angelina will adopt me.

Trust me Keith - you will never be truly mistaken as a know it all - and I concur with the 200K remark - where did the poster pull that figure from? So on $199,999 per - you're just an average Joe?.

As for the article I laughed - or at least smiled - I thought it funny and a bit sobering coz there is much made about the race - too much at that

A few comments, from 10 years performing marine rescue.

I have found some of the more arrogant people I have come across are the w@nkers with the big "look at me my engine" powerboats. Along with the jet skiiers, they are the hoons of the ocean on their aquatic versions of a souped up Torana. All they need is the loud doof doof music. Oh and the odd "I have a Farr 38 that's worth more than your house you pleb, get out of my road because I am under sail" people. I have also met people the complete opposite. Generalisations are dangerous.

MOST MARINE RESCUE WORK PERFORMED IS BY VOLUNTEERS WHO PAY FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING THEY NEED INCLUDING BUYING BOATS, EQUIPMENT AND FUEL! We (in NSW last year) put over 20 million dollars (estimated on a nominal $20 per hour)worth of work in to pulling people out of trouble for no charge. We get 10% funding from Government and it costs us 3 mill pa to run.

I was on a rescue boat when the huge southerly hit happened. We were warned there was a change coming, but it wasn't until it hit us that the complete severity was known. From calm ocean and no wind to 50+knots and 5m seas in 15 minutes flat. Mate, where people sail there ain't no time to get back in to safety in 15 minutes flat with the sea against you. Most people who come to grief are usually trying to get back.

Yes I see the irony,had a chuckle, but really, no one wants or purposefully does stay on in treacherous seas unless they really have no choice. Can you imagine going back to the boss saying because you were a testosterone filled idiot that you broke his $5 mill boat? Do you think you'd do that on purpose and then loose your job?
I don't think so either.

Ahoy there, Keith the Yachtie!

I admit that your attempt at humour was a little too subtle for the likes of me, or I would suggest, anyone. I now see that berating Mr Papathanassiou for using vernacular expressions in a public forum was indeed a very clever, if not mind-bogglingly abstract, reference to his work in the field of Ebonics (which I have on good authority is a DIALECT, not slang). It must have been your ingenious tactic of misspelling “refrain” and following it up with a nonsensical double-barreled preposition that distracted me from your comic genius and caused me to presume you were slightly “special”. Kudos sir!

I would ask you not to sell yourself short though. I’m sure not everybody sees you as a know-all.

To the rest of you… I suspect David M was having a lend. Keith the Yachtie could learn a thing or two.

As a sailor, of/on wind driven ships, I find that I must agree with the sentiments expressed in the article.