Tread softly

Follow these rules and a raft-up can be chummy if everyone’s privacy is respected, clumpy feet on decks discouraged and closing-time pinging of shrouds and spinnaker poles avoided. It’s common sense, but novice crew may need help. Unless somebody tells them, they’ll march blithely across cockpits, which, as we all know, is akin to a landsman strolling into his neighbour’s bedroom and taking pot luck on what may be coming to pass under the covers.