Cross The Atlantic Update

[Kristal]

I can't believe skippers who treat their crew like this (especially those members who co-own the boat).

But a great programme. I've sent the wife to bed (too dangerous to watch this sort of programme), ordered Steve to dish out the Gin, and am shouting at all the characters about what they should be doing.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://http://d205161.u24.uk.assimilatedservers.net/cryspics/>Crystal II in Pictures</A>

 

[jerryat]

WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT!! IT'S ONLY FORCE 9, GET UP THERE AND TRIM THE SPINNAKER!!

please?!

cheers

Jerry

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[Cassey]

Is this some sinister TV plan to stop people going sailing? Mind you, how are poeple like that allowed to own a boat?
There is nothing worse than a skipper who hasn't got a clue so resorts to shouting to show how fantastic he is. Nevertheless his 'LadyFriend' seemed to think he was up to the job.

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[Brucey]

Agree, he didn't come across as the sort of Skipper I would sail with, also it was a small boat for the number of crew plus camera person.

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[jac]

I agree - great program but didn't think much of either of them tbh. He struck me as being a little short tempered with his crew and I wondered about the honesty of keeping the boat as a partnership when her aspirations so clearly didn't match up to his.

Using her to keep a boat he couldn't afford on his own??

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[Brucey]

Channel4.com/life have a web chat with both of them on now, quite funny really

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[graham]

Have to disagree with the popular view that he is a modern day Capt.Blye.

His crew seemed to have respect for him at the end of it.

Such A strong leader may not be eveyones cup of tea but I would prefer to sail with him than someone too timid to take command.

As to the relationship of the 2 owners ,he seemed to be completely honest about not looking for romance.

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[jimi]

I though he was Ok.. and she was very funny! What kind of boat was it?

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[Stemar]

I think it was a Beneteau First 32.5 (not sure about the numbers)

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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[jimi]

Missed the start which obviously flavoured peeps perceptions of Bob, from what I saw he did'nt seem too bad!

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[Brucey]

Yes, reading the online chat Channel 4 had until 9.30 and watching the program it seemed that women did the cooking and heads cleaning, young male did sail changes (even if he was asleep!) and skipper shouted. Part of me thinks that rotation would be better and part of me has admiration for people who have the guts to go and try trips like this even if I disagree how they ran the boat.

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[amadeus]

I was distracted by the spinnaker halyard...

which was visible clipped to the pulpit with a frayed end in desperate need of whipping for most of the trip. Also I did wonder if Glo had an alcohol problem or whether it was all clever editing to look like it. Good programme though it did put my husband off crossing oceans a bit which was a shame. Pity it wasn't a nice roomy 45 footer!

<hr width=100% size=1>It's more fun than housework!

 

[BrendanS]

Yes,only saw the latter part too, but he didn't seem that bad. Maybe my early experiences with military while a youth on many outdoor activities make me tolerant to being ordered about, but he seemed rather tame

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Kristal]

I switched on about three minutes in, to see skipper Bob wandering about the pontoon directing what looked like the rearrangement of warps. He looked most relaxed. Then watched him clamber around what appeared to be the pulpit, sans harness or lifejacket, minutes after telling Glo to stay below because it was too dangerous to be on deck.

This is probably mostly an effect of the editing, and he did wear his harness later on, but surely, with an inexperienced crew, there's no excuse for putting himself in danger whatsoever. And I refute the Captain Bligh analogy, too - Bligh was a great navigator. Bob, judging by the way the whole crew were scanning through 360 degrees looking for the race start line, isn't.

I almost warmed to him in the end, but I wouldn't sail with him, and would keel-haul myself (!) before adopting similar leadership strategies.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://http://d205161.u24.uk.assimilatedservers.net/cryspics/>Crystal II in Pictures</A>

 

[janie]

In Bob\'s defence

I've sailed against Bob for years. He's taught loads of people to sail, and they all enjoy sailing with him. I think the editing didn't show quite how much he was suffering from 2 hours sleep in 48 hours, and being the only non-seasick person on the Biscay crossing.
Tony had never planned to take more non-family holiday than the delivery to the Canaries, so that came out a little unfairly, I think.
However, the editing did all add up to a very watchable programme.

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[Kristal]

Re: In Bob\'s defence

I did mention in a slightly later post that I suspect the editing made a very watchable programme, and working myself in media, I'm fully aware of how merciless a director can be. I do suspect that, to non-yottie viewers, both Glo and Bob would have appeared both rather sad in their own way, and that's a shame, but it's a well-known TV trick.

Having said that, I don't think I could manage sailing in the same environment. I almost gave up sailing when, as a teenager, I had a screaming instructor, who much of the time was just wrong, pure and simple, and everybody thought he was a pillock. It instilled me with a loathing of a) instructors and b) officious skippers.

What worries me is that programmes like this, which perhaps play up the shouting and commanding, only fuel the belief that all skippers are like this, because that's what it's all about. I hope none of my potential crew saw the programme, as it would give them a very different impression to the one that they would otherwise have sailing on Crystal. It was very, very different to our sailing life.

Or perhaps it's a Solent thing that we Easter's don't understand...

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://http://d205161.u24.uk.assimilatedservers.net/cryspics/>Crystal II in Pictures</A>

 

[Spyro]

Re: re- camera crew

According to webchat on channel4.com last night the camera man and his gear had the front cabin and the rest had to hotbunk in the rear.

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[snowleopard]

did i watch the same programme?

i missed the first couple of minutes but i didn't see scenes of cap'n bligh screaming at the crew. ok there were some problems when crew weren't doing the right thing with spinaker lines but with the forces involved you have to get it right or endanger the crew.

i was a bit disappointed when the voiceover started talking about a storm towards the end then gave the game away by saying 30 knots of wind. i suppose they had to create a bit of drama from somewhere! overall it seemed a pretty undramatic passage and the main point of interest was the non-romance they tried to play up.

might be interesting to hear what the skipper had to say when he saw the program!

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[irishmark]

Re: did i watch the same programme?

hmm missed it...sounds like it would have been intresting to watch...any ideas if it will be reaired???

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