Channel4 9pm Monday 13th

[Major Catastrophe]

Best shots for me personally was their arrival and seeing the Opera House and Harbour Bridge appear.

They must have landed elsewhere into Australia as they should have turned a bit right and to the customs dock in Neutral Bay. Spent a few enjoyable hours on my brother's balcony watching the rummage teams, as he lives next door to them.

 

[DevonMark]

They arrived in Australia from New Caladonia as part of the Bundaberg Port To Port rally. That (along with much else) didn't fit into the way the producer wanted to portray cruising (seemingly as a solitary activity) so it was left on the cutting room floor. Read their blog, it is comprehensive and well worth a look and gives a completely different impression from the film:

http://adventureswithpegasus.blogspot.com/

 

[RichardS]

My family and I enjoyed the programme and have watched it twice!

Having brought up two boys, I would definitely have waited until the nappy phase was over before setting off although SWMBO appears not to have been as mentally scarred by those distant years as I apparently have been!

She was keen to know where they disposed of the aforementioned but it's probably best to gloss over that!

We (I think?) have a similar dream when I retire and the boys finish school but unfortunately the programme has put paid to any thoughts in the first mate's mind about going through the Panama Canal ("those huge ships so close and in the dark, we'll be crushed like matchwood" "Don't worry, those local line handlers have done it all before and know what they're doing" "Then why did the husband have to keep barking out orders to them?" "Er...that's just the way it was edited?")

Guess I'll have to settle for the Caribbean!

Richard

 

[fireball]

Seemed odd having a boat with the cockpit forward of the cabin .... ok downwind but a bit of a bum if you've got a sea coming over the bows - how do you get out without the cabin gettings swamped?

 

[Clarky]

LOL! It is amusing when English criticise their accents, for god sake English is a primitive and approximative language, and your perception on "posh" is only relative.

It is like saying a corgi has a "posh" bark. I am afraid it is still a dog, and an ugly one.

Besides, I enjoyed the programme and I wish they made an extended version. Too much was omitted to make 45 minutes.

Not sure what dogs have to do with any of this !
I wasnt only criticising his accent and I am not English thanks.I was criticising his view of people that he met.I found his remark dont want to meet "bloody locals" rather an odd statement,when I travel I enjoy meeting others ,particularly local people.
I though he was a typical rich,arrogant,selfish knob who was determined to do what he wanted irrespective of wither his family got in the way or not.
Polishing the boat on arrival and making his wife help,despite her protests, was bordering on evidence of a personality disorder.
Charming "bouys" though.

 

[bigwow]

Seemed odd having a boat with the cockpit forward of the cabin .... ok downwind but a bit of a bum if you've got a sea coming over the bows - how do you get out without the cabin gettings swamped?

In seas that would swamp the forward cockpit I asume you would use the inside steering position, don't know about sail changes though?

 

[fireball]

I think it's this one

 

[Robin]

Not sure what dogs have to do with any of this !
I wasnt only criticising his accent and I am not English thanks.I was criticising his view of people that he met.I found his remark dont want to meet "bloody locals" rather an odd statement,when I travel I enjoy meeting others ,particularly local people.
I though he was a typical rich,arrogant,selfish knob who was determined to do what he wanted irrespective of wither his family got in the way or not.
Polishing the boat on arrival and making his wife help,despite her protests, was bordering on evidence of a personality disorder.
Charming "bouys" though.

Since you are not English you might perhaps not have realised the tongue in cheek nature of the comments about locals.

I too watched this programme twice, the second time having read some of their on-line blog which is very informative. It seems to me that the TV production company had an entirely different agenda when making this film and edited it accordingly, I would suggest also to the point of doing some re-runs so their cameraman could be on board at strategic places (theirs) like entering Sydney Harbour. They made no mention either that the boat had been bought in New Hampshire USA, then sailed to Chesapeake for a refit, thence to the Bahamas, Azores and back to Cowes, so he was no beginner and comments like they had not experienced strong winds in the boat were obviously 'for effect'.

I think some of your comments more fitted your own attitude than his.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

I have just got to page three of the blog, you have to read it backwards and from the bottom of each page, and just found out that they nearly sank in Lanzarote and also hit a power cable with the mast....twice!

I understanding the programme series was always going to be a number of short 50 minute documentaries on separate family gap years, and I presume the documentary makers had no idea of the real scope of this trip, only providing a cameraman for a few specific stages, from UK to Oz and if you haven't got a cameraman ready there to film the real drama, it is no good trying to describe it verbally after the event on a medium made for moving pictures, so the best thing is, complete the aim of the project about a family gap year with the footage you do have.

I note that the production company did not supply the family with their own cameras until after their near disaster in Lanzarote.

 

[dylanwinter]

cameraman

it was beautifully shot

but there were times when there was another person on the boat filming

through biscay for instance

and on the islands

not quite a family alone then

I wonder if they had any regrets about allowing a TV company to become involved in their experience of a life time

D

 

[Clarky]

Since you are not English you might perhaps not have realised the tongue in cheek nature of the comments about locals.

I too watched this programme twice, the second time having read some of their on-line blog which is very informative. It seems to me that the TV production company had an entirely different agenda when making this film and edited it accordingly, I would suggest also to the point of doing some re-runs so their cameraman could be on board at strategic places (theirs) like entering Sydney Harbour. They made no mention either that the boat had been bought in New Hampshire USA, then sailed to Chesapeake for a refit, thence to the Bahamas, Azores and back to Cowes, so he was no beginner and comments like they had not experienced strong winds in the boat were obviously 'for effect'.

I think some of your comments more fitted your own attitude than his.

I think your comments reflect a similar attitude to his,what makes you think I dont know when comments are tongue in cheek or not just because I am not English.The comments on the documentary were obviously not tongue in cheek,and why did he have his family polishing his boat,as soon as he made landfall,was that for a joke as well.
I would have enjoyed a documentary about somebody having a smaller budget,smaller boat,smaller ego and who had made some genuine sacrifices to cross the oceans.It would be nice to see documentarys about real people as opposed to posers like this or Bear Grylls and the other numpties who regularly invade the screen.

 

[dylanwinter]

ah but there is

I would have enjoyed a documentary about somebody having a smaller budget,smaller boat,smaller ego and who had made some genuine sacrifices to cross the oceans.It would be nice to see documentarys about real people as opposed to posers like this or Bear Grylls and the other numpties who regularly invade the screen.

now where could such a film be found

never mind

D

 

[lumphammer]

Commentator...."they have survived the worst the bay of biscay could throw at them".


mmmm

Taken from their own blog: -

"Biscay was just fine and we saw some typical Atlantic weather with winds in the 25-30kt range and some large seas on the port quarter. Finesterre caused us a little worry with high winds and some really steep seas on the beam, but we were through that by 11am and finally motored in with clear skies and a light warm breeze."

That's the trouble when you are doing something for TV, you have to make it more dramatic so that it looks better on the screen.

 

[fireball]

Also - the camera will record things as they happen ...
A blog is written up after the event - once the excitement has subsided ...

I have been on a boat and wished I could get off there and then - despite it being rough it was a short trip and logically I knew the boat could make it with no problem ...
Looking back I'm glad I did the trip - but I would be careful in planning to try not to get into similar circumstances again - if it could be avoided ...

 

[RichardS]

what anchor did they have ?

According to the blog their cat almost sank when it dragged and crashed on a CQR so they decided to get rid of the CQR and buy a Rocna. However, before they bought the Rocna someone persuaded them that the Super MAX was better so they bought that!

http://creativemarine.com/catalog/text/anchor.html

I've never heard of or seen a Super MAX but it must be worth a thread or two!

Richard

 

[Clarky]

now where could such a film be found

never mind

D

Its pity thats the case,I often get the impression that much is lost using families such as these who dont really represent "normal people." I would put money on the fact he knew somebody in the business and hence the idea to film .Its a pity some researcher couldnt have found a more normal family trying to balance finances etc.
By the way your short films are good.

 

[Robin]

I think your comments reflect a similar attitude to his,what makes you think I dont know when comments are tongue in cheek or not just because I am not English.The comments on the documentary were obviously not tongue in cheek,and why did he have his family polishing his boat,as soon as he made landfall,was that for a joke as well.
I would have enjoyed a documentary about somebody having a smaller budget,smaller boat,smaller ego and who had made some genuine sacrifices to cross the oceans.It would be nice to see documentarys about real people as opposed to posers like this or Bear Grylls and the other numpties who regularly invade the screen.

The FILM had him polishing the boat. I seriously doubt that was the first priority on making landfall at all, other than on camera to please the TV producer. Like I said read the blog which tells a rather different tale.

Perhaps you should get out there yourself and do it in a little boat and have them make a film of your exploits on a shoestring. I'm sure the locals will welcome you wherever you go with open arms.

Those that can, do. Those that can't merely commentate. I haven't done it so I too commentate, but I certainly wish I had when I could. Unlike me and thousands of others this couple took their opportunity and they and their family will remember it forever, and money has far less to do with it than you think.

 

[dylanwinter]

the trouble with sailing on a shoestring

is that you can spend more time worrying about the cost of stuff than enjoying the sailing

and films about a bloke sitting in a boat yard trying to find the cheapest way of getting back on the water are probably pretty dull

Dylan

The FILM had him polishing the boat. I seriously doubt that was the first priority on making landfall at all, other than on camera to please the TV producer. Like I said read the blog which tells a rather different tale.

Perhaps you should get out there yourself and do it in a little boat and have them make a film of your exploits on a shoestring. I'm sure the locals will welcome you wherever you go with open arms.

Those that can, do. Those that can't merely commentate. I haven't done it so I too commentate, but I certainly wish I had when I could. Unlike me and thousands of others this couple took their opportunity and they and their family will remember it forever, and money has far less to do with it than you think.

 

[Clarky]

The FILM had him polishing the boat. I seriously doubt that was the first priority on making landfall at all, other than on camera to please the TV producer. Like I said read the blog which tells a rather different tale.

Perhaps you should get out there yourself and do it in a little boat and have them make a film of your exploits on a shoestring. I'm sure the locals will welcome you wherever you go with open arms.

Those that can, do. Those that can't merely commentate. I haven't done it so I too commentate, but I certainly wish I had when I could. Unlike me and thousands of others this couple took their opportunity and they and their family will remember it forever, and money has far less to do with it than you think.

Maybe you should watch it for a third time because I saw the wife doing the polishing and heard her complaining about it because it was immediately on arrival.
I think money has quite a lot to do with it,the Cat would be worth £200-£300 thousand presumably,pretty self limiting.Own business, so no worries about a job to go back to,I think your comments are very naive,clearly those are the primary reasons many people dont do it.
I do plenty of adventurous activity,sailing and climbing, here and abroad,but I still think the reason most people dont head off to the wide blue yonder is a financial one.The reason I dont climb or sail full time is financial ,I need a job,at least part time,clearly your hero doesnt.

 

[Croak]

Calm down Clarky.