...and if the crew bumps it, it could mean instant capsize.
As a duly designated member of the Crew Union, I can say that the crew never "bumps" the tiller extension. Some skippers have a tendency to smack and poke their crew with the tiller, however. This is generally presumed to be accidental. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
