Atlantic crossing age 14

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Lucas13

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I am nearly 14 and thinking of crossing the Atlantic Ocean with 3 eager class mates. I planned to cross in late November and until then planned on getting a boat and gear, do a lot of sailing in the channel, get all my mates to come with me so that they can sail well on their own. two of my mates say they can sail small boats and one has never been on one. By the late summer all 4 of us will be able to sail and will have crossed the channel on numeros occaisions. Any suggestions on preparing?

Everyone please note this is a legit post - Lucas is TCM's son (sorry Lucas if you didn't want to confess to that but welcome.



<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by kimhollamby on 17/01/2003 12:22 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
Two precedents.

The key preparation is, as you say, to build up to it with shorter passages, starting with short day sails in the Solent, then out into the channel, cross-channel, then overnight and longer passages etc. Anyone, whatever their age, needs at least a year of this to build up their experience. Once you are able to cross Biscay, then the Atlantic itself is not difficult. One big problem though is it takes four weeks, and is only safe to do in the winter between November and about April (out of the hurricane season), so cannot be managed within school holidays.

As well as Seb Clover, did you hear about Jesse Martin, the 17 year old from Melbourne Australia, who sucessfully circumnavigated in 1999? Or Tania Aebi, the girl who started her circumnavigation aged 18 back in 1987, and wrote a book about it?

On the other side though there was a lad named Kevin Moses, same age as you I think, whose ambition was to cross the Gulf of Mexico single-handed, in a 23 foot yacht. He posted regularly on the Cruising World forum during early 2001. At first people were sceptical and rude. Then they started to take him seriously, some encouraging, some trying to warn him off. But he continued his plans right up to the time he was to due to leave. And then .... nothing. He's never been heard from since. Did he really go and was lost? His website is here: http://www.geocities.com/reallycoolkevin/
 
I would suspect your major problem is not so much the sailing and boat side but whether the 4 of you have personalities that would fit comfortably into a small boat for 3 weeks! I would certainly test the team under different circumstances to see if it would work.

Good luck
Jim
 
So In the last one I suggest you take your Dad along - same advice really except all the more so because obviously you have the fleet at your disposal. An equally massive challenge will be for your parents so if they feel they have some angle on your safety and wellbeing by being somewhere within striking distance it is worth considering. The problem for them is that should things go wrong - they will be branded irresponsible on a global scale - which won't amount to a single jot compared to the inner pain and grief they will feel.
If it all goes well of course - your illustrious Pater will probably be offerd lifetime Presidency of the forums - so its a double edged sword.

Again - your GCSE's still matter so I cannot see the point in messing other opportunities - such as Further or Higher Education by undertaking such a venture in year 11

Whilst it is a big project - and not one to be undertaken withoput a few well set up test sails to see how you cope with the endurance and the mental and physical demands which you will face - it is no more of a commitment than people of your age ae already involved in at National Youth Sailing team Level - that is a year round commitment - OK sleeping at home for most of the time but constantly working on fitness and technique - so there are peiople of your age doing big things.

Finally I mentioned Duke of Edinburgh Awards - you'd be missing a golden (ugh!) opportunity if you didn't sign up and use this as your expedition - it might seem a faff now but it would impress employers or educators later on.

Hope that helps

regards
Claymore
 
Suggest you read the Ellen Mcarthur book - a good read and you'll learn a lot - also another book called "Dove" - about an American lad who did this at I believe age 16. If you are interested I can get the publisher etc for monday.
Anyway, good luck - get as much sailing in as you can - even try the Thames Estuary - much more challenging than the Solent/Channel...!

dickh
I'd rather be sailing... :-) /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
 
First of all Lucas apologies for my first reply, really thought it was your dad.

Why not approach your local sailing club and see what they have to offer, will give your mates a good idea whether it's for them or not as well as teaching them and you some of the important lessons you'll need to know. Good luck.
 
go 4 it!

Hi Mate,
You should really go and do it, I am 28 now, and really wanted to sail around the world when I was 16, but could never raise enough money, I did the Ellen McArthur thing, saving school dinner money, and had a 17' plywood sloop, but parents etc everyone thought I should continue at school, etc. I stayed on at school, went to uni, but all I ever wanted to do was sail, sail, sail, and now I am , but I wish I'd had the backing and financial ability to do it then! I was fired up by a book called 'Shrimpy' by Shane Acton, and by, 'Dove' and Tania Aebi. I still have those books aboard my boat now.
I ended up leaving Uni, with, not very much, as I was keener to read YM than study! I left and pooled all savings, debts and a student loan and bought a Sadler 25, and hardly ever looked back,
Good luck, and keep me posted with your ideas, let me know if you need any help or encouragement..
 
I agree with longjohn
get yourself affiliated to a local club
you will then get to mix with people with a wealth of experience to allow you to start the longer passages with confidence.

my only reservation is your ref to getting your mates along

for this undertaking you all have to really want it. to go from dinghy to atlantic crossing in a season is a hill to climb and you will have to want to do it cos there will be times when you will, have to push yourselves tyo get out on the water.

i note in ellen macs book she did some work with a sailing school southern i think. perhaps a few courses maybe good , not your average day skipper but some offshore work to get used to extended passage making.


i would reccomend challenge. the sailing is totally different but if you book an ealry trip round the fastnet you can encounter some big seas in a boat perfectly able to take it. it will ensure your frineds know what they may encounter but i am not sure about age limits that challenge may have.

at the very least write to them and ask if you can meet some of their skippers to get some tipsas the courses are all quite pricey.

going through your first big blow is a bit of a right of passage imho. i found the fear of a storm did not match up to the reality, although i was still glad when it was over.

other than i would start getting out there as soon as you can. my only caveat would be whilst it is worthwhile thing to do, whether you decide to cross the atlantic or not, donot let your schoolwork suffer. these days extra curricula activities will make you intersting above the herd but you do need the grades.

good luck.
sailbad

I never eat on an empty stomach. i like to hear the food splash as it hits
 
I agree with longjohn
get yourself affiliated to a local club
you will then get to mix with people with a wealth of experience to allow you to start the longer passages with confidence.

my only reservation is your ref to getting your mates along

for this undertaking you all have to really want it. to go from dinghy to atlantic crossing in a season is a hill to climb and you will have to want to do it cos there will be times when you will, have to push yourselves tyo get out on the water.

i note in ellen macs book she did some work with a sailing school southern i think. perhaps a few courses maybe good , not your average day skipper but some offshore work to get used to extended passage making.


i would reccomend challenge. the sailing is totally different but if you book an ealry trip round the fastnet you can encounter some big seas in a boat perfectly able to take it. it will ensure your frineds know what they may encounter but i am not sure about age limits that challenge may have.

at the very least write to them and ask if you can meet some of their skippers to get some tipsas the courses are all quite pricey.

going through your first big blow is a bit of a right of passage imho. i found the fear of a storm did not match up to the reality, although i was still glad when it was over.

other than i would start getting out there as soon as you can. my only caveat would be whilst it is worthwhile thing to do, whether you decide to cross the atlantic or not, donot let your schoolwork suffer. these days extra curricula activities will make you intersting above the herd but you do need the grades.

good luck.
sailbad

I never eat on an empty stomach. i like to hear the food splash as it hits
 
Sounds interesting

You say you bought a boat and never looked back. Do you use what you learnt at University to finance the sailing? I'm genuinely keen to know. PM if want to remain private.

Ot of course tell me to mind my own business!

Magic
 
Never sailed over the atlantic but can make a few suggestions

(1)Go to the gym a lot? At 14 you may not have the bulk and strength of someone older. Crossing the Atlantic could also be extreamly physically demanding so building up you fitness level and stamina could only be good idea.

(2) A man/boy can not live on chocolate, pot noodles or weatabix alone. If you're anything like the 14 year old boys I know, thats all they would take, largely because they can't cook. If you're not taking the freeze dried stuff why not get mum to teach you some basic cooking and help you provision. Try any tinned curry's etc before you go because you might absolutely hate them and don't forget a tin opener.
 
My niece is aged 12 and she is training hard for her transatlantic passage next season in a Contessa 32, which she has proved she handle already. Duplicated GPS ensures instant navigation and her dad and mum in an Oyster cruiser-racer will never be more a few nautical miles away. Therefore she will outflank the records of 13 and 14-year-olds.
No; it's not true. But it shows the stupidity of 'the youngest ever single-hander' and why there is no recognition of any such record outside the general media.
 
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