The September 1996 issue of the Journal has an article by J. C. Hines which, as a RYA instructor and former maritime lawyer, I found very confusing.
I agree with him that there are many yachtsmen and some professionals who I would not let out in a pram dinghy, let alone in the vessels they are commanding.
It is significant that many commercial ships will have one watchkeeping officer on the bridge, no other lookout, and a helmsman on call. The ship will be on autopilot and, upon a target being seen, it will take two minutes or so before the helm is manned.