MCA Editorial·July 2026
A near miss is a lesson at a discount.
The people who never scare themselves are the ones who don't notice when they should.
Talk About Them
Debrief every trip that went a bit sideways. Not to blame — to learn. What set it up? What was the first signal? What would we do differently?
Write Them Down
A short note in the logbook or your phone. You'll re-read it before your next similar trip — and that alone changes decisions.
Share Them
Every near miss you share is one someone else may not have to live through. The community learns fastest when we're honest about our close calls.
Every experienced skipper is a museum of small mistakes.
Things to Think About
- When did you last debrief a trip that felt uncomfortable?
- Do you keep any kind of running log of near misses?
- Who would you learn from most if they were honest with you?
Key Takeaways
- Near misses are free lessons — take them.
- Debrief without blame, always.
- Sharing lessons makes the whole community safer.