Course you youngsters with all your onboard digitalis won't grasp the concept, so this may just apply to the old geezers who know what DR means.
Spatial disorientation; flyers and divers know it but the average boater will not understand it until it bites them.
I've experienced it twice. First time, I missed the very narrow opening to a basin (Hidden Basin) and ran into Cockburn Bay right next door. Even going in I knew something was way wrong but kept going. Lucky, because both have obstructions right smack in the middle of the narrowest part of the entrance. Even inside, took time to sink in what I'd done. Other time was on Lake Powell. Easy to get spun out of whack there.
Another time, I escorted a new boat owner from Everett WA to Vancouver. He had next to no experience and no clue how to get home. I was ahead and part way up Saratoga Passage when he radioed he had to go below for a minute and that he would catch up. I watched as a few minutes later he fired up and tore off; away from me. I knew what had happened. He was almost out of sight when he slowed and called. Where are you? Behind ya. Huh? No you're not, I didn't pass you.
When he was below, the boat had done a 180, that quick, and he had no idea. He later told me he was really confused by the surroundings. I guess.
I learned really early on, when running at night I had a tendency to stray to starboard. Mostly in black inlets where there was no delineation; land to sea, no visible landmarks
Spatial disorientation; flyers and divers know it but the average boater will not understand it until it bites them.
I've experienced it twice. First time, I missed the very narrow opening to a basin (Hidden Basin) and ran into Cockburn Bay right next door. Even going in I knew something was way wrong but kept going. Lucky, because both have obstructions right smack in the middle of the narrowest part of the entrance. Even inside, took time to sink in what I'd done. Other time was on Lake Powell. Easy to get spun out of whack there.
Another time, I escorted a new boat owner from Everett WA to Vancouver. He had next to no experience and no clue how to get home. I was ahead and part way up Saratoga Passage when he radioed he had to go below for a minute and that he would catch up. I watched as a few minutes later he fired up and tore off; away from me. I knew what had happened. He was almost out of sight when he slowed and called. Where are you? Behind ya. Huh? No you're not, I didn't pass you.
When he was below, the boat had done a 180, that quick, and he had no idea. He later told me he was really confused by the surroundings. I guess.
I learned really early on, when running at night I had a tendency to stray to starboard. Mostly in black inlets where there was no delineation; land to sea, no visible landmarks