S & A - or H & S?

JJ learning to sail. Waldringfield 1959Lots of chatter last week about the new BBC Swallows and Amazons adaptation that has been under discussion for so long. In an effort to catch all consituencies the BBC spokesperson claimed that it would be an antidote to the "health and safety obsessed generation" AND "a white-knuckle action ride". Seems to me that neither of those things bear much relationship to the book. Days are spent doing very little (as holiday days should be) apart from catching a few perch and Ransome is also well aware of safety - as when John realises how stupid he has been tacking through the rocks in the dark. Trumpeting the fact that the children will not be wearing life jackets seems likely to miss the main point.(Which is that safety is not something to be taken for granted. It depends to a great extent on the individual taking responsibility, developing their skills and also being aware of risk. Good, well-maintained equipment also helps.)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/may/17/bbc-films-swallows-and-amazons