Doug,

I agree with you. Anything can happen and most likely will. I remember helping 3 fellows with an H-18 they were trying to rig. It was new to them. They had connected the main sheet block to the cross bar on the tiller. It would have been safe because as soon as the wind blew it would have turned the boat into the wind. I pointed out their mistake and showed them what I could. I later thought maybe I had made a mistake making it possible for them to get out if they had that little knowledge of the boat. I could have offered to go out with them and give them some basics. The point is that there are people out there who need to learn the basics before they try to sail. As you mentioned earlier, things happen that even experienced sailors can't anticipate. A line can break, a storm can come up unexpectedly, or a shackle can let go. On the other hand if you don't leave the dock, you miss the pleasure of sailing.

Howard