Ellen – Hero or Stunt Act ?

[alec]

Given the determination and physical fitness, could a non-entity in sailing with say 3 months training achieve what Ellen did? The earning potential alone would come to a very tidy sum.

Now that some days have passed since her achievement , and many views have been aired ,both in the press, and non sailing people we ourselves have spoken to , is it possible that the above could be obtained ?

From my own personal experience talking to mainly non-sailors, the feeling is that technology has now taken a step too far at the expense of skill.

Questions being asked are along the following lines :-

Ellen is told :-

1. When to get up and when to sleep.

2. What direction to set the autohelm at all times.

3. What weather conditions to expect.

4. What wave height to expect etc

5. Presumably, the radar largely takes care of hitting ships and icebergs but not growlers.

It would appear that Ellen’s main job ( apart from taking a non stop pounding , risking her life,and being alone) is to control the amount of sail up. How true is much of the above ? Does anyone know ?

I personally would not do what Ellen did for many millions of pounds but has this type of sailing turned into stunts or a decent tribute to our sailing forefathers ?

This will probably sound like sour grapes to a truly great achievement but you have to wonder how much skill ( and not guts) goes into sailing now.

 

[tcm]

I think she is far more in control of the show than you think. And the statement that "all she has to do is control how much sail to have up" is akin to saying that schumacher merely controls the steering and throttle.

I do think that a numpty could get round with some luck - but not in 71 days. Indeed, they might fall asleep for too long, and then get capsized.

 

[cruisingsam]

think you've summed it up there, most people are still looking at r-t-w as amatuer events not what is happening now. It must be something like what happened when F1 went totally professional

 

[Birdseye]

Given what seems to happen to our other sportsmen/women that have been honoured - that Rugby team for example, not to mention the footballers - I expect Ellen to run aground on the starting line next time.

 

[tcm]

damed if she does

oh heck, you're right - nothing like getting gold medals, world championships for getting whacked next time out. Tho i think she could do the transat, really.

 

[wishbone]

Well it’s my personal view she is like most single minded explorers, extreme sports persons sailing has been her life from a child….even with all the techno gizmo’s, running her boat to the extreme and on the edge that she did, takes an inbuilt second nature that needs split second decisions to avoid disaster. Until you have had to work during sleep deprivation and make decisions you cannot understand the mental strain and drive needed to carry on not a lot of people can cope with this, and I may be wrong but training in the short term would not achieve the necessary skills, it is something that builds up over time, the old saying getting my second wind is not enough you need 3rd 4th and 5th and more!
So don’t pick on Ellen she’s a little tiger…..

 

[cruisingsam]

that rugby team has never played again as a team so your comparison doesn't stand up

 

[bob_tyler]

It's amazing to me how many people seem to enjoy denigrating other people's achievments.

On another post on this forum some idiot suggested that she might be "lez". They even critised her short haircut - at least it couldn't be trapped in the winches!

I can only say that if they had been down here and seen the way she greeted the men in her backup team, and other male friends, both outside and inside the National Maritime Museum, and the way they greeted her, there was certainly no question of that.

I am getting very sick of these forum morons who can do nothing but constantly cringe and criticise. They are probably among the few on this forum who either do not or cannot sail properly themselves and are just plainly jealous of her ability.

 

[cruisingsam]

well said, couldn't agree more

 

[tcm]

Re: Ellen comments - not permitted?

um, i though it a valid discussion point. Or is evrything either "wonderful and amazing" or conversely "extremist lunacy" in the Tony Blair style, that brooks no deviation from the populist/media line? She's an ace sailor, and if she gives the impression or inspiration that "i could do that" - what the problem?

My view is that many could get round, but few could get close to her record on first attempt at such a trip.

But i don't think that just cos she's a world record holder, she's beyond comment by ordinary mortals. I mean, that Talbot and BrandanS wd def get their heads kicked in on the rugby field, but they're allowed to say that the word champs at rugby were a bit manky or otherwise, no? So why no coment regarding Ellen permitted? Not sexist here are we?

 

[bob_tyler]

Re: Ellen comments - not permitted?

I'm afraid that I can only reply "If the cap fits wear it"

I looked at your profile and wondered whether my last para had been taken personally as it says nothing..

 

[powerskipper]

Come on guys. some of you have gone single handed yourselves, OK she had back up but the sheer determination to get there when all feel like saying at times f***k it. after the weathers and lack of sleep, shows a character that few have.
give credit where credit due,
she did it.
when many could not.

 

[alec]

>I am getting very sick of these forum morons who can do nothing but constantly cringe and criticise. They are probably among the few on this forum who either do not or cannot sail properly themselves and are just plainly jealous of her ability. <

All I attempted to do was raise a few points that might be interesting to discuss on a cold miserable Sunday night.

It saddens me greatly that it often seems impossible on this forum these days to have an exchange of views on a topic without a response like yours with no content related to the questions asked.

I have raised a number of points that other posters have selected and made intelligent responses that I have found interesting. Is there any chance you could do the same ? I would be interested to know what they are.

Calling people a moron is not very nice and I suggest you switch to a forum that accepts that kind of language.

 

[webcraft]

New insult

. . . a foron

- Nick

 

[tcm]

Re: Ellen comments - not permitted?

Er, which cap? It doesn't help if you expressing yourself only by resorting to clichés such as "it never ceases to amaze me" or "if the caps fits" or other assorted clips from the local press.

The question related to others who might attempt RTW. Ellen herself saw other sailors and thought - "i can do that". Do you think it's possible for a wannebee? Or don't you think they'd get round? Or don't you think much anyway?

 

[tcm]

Stunt Act ?

um the phrase "stunt act" is a bit denigrating. But the fact is that it now takes a matter of weeks, not months. So it's moving from an long long adventure, to an endurance event and (as far as i can see from Orange II) into a quasi-sprint whereby if you don't make South Africa in a fortnight you may as well pack it in -in the same way as an attempt on a world record track event would be packed in if the start was no good.

 

[Robin]

Cobblers

I would respectfully suggest that there are some brain dead and imagination free readers of our more stupid newspapers that have strayed on these forums by mistake, because they clearly have no concept of what Ellen achieved.

I would seriously doubt that many on here could handle a beast like B & Q on the Norfolk Broads in summer let alone in the Southern Ocean at maximum speed with no sleep in seas from our worst nightmares and winds to match.

Get a life all of you.

IMHO of course.

 

[Sybarite]

I agree with you entirely. I often wonder if any of those criticising her have ever been out of the Solent (or wherever).

If they had, and had an inkling of what dealing with heavy weather was like, not for one night but for weeks on end,they would perhaps realize the extent of her accomplishments. And not try continuously to minimize everything.

Come on fellas. Fifty foot waves and running at thirty knots; climbing to the top of the mast, not once, but eight times to carry out repairs which I would hesitate to do in port.... Not knowing, when you happen to be able to grab a 15 minute sleep, if you are going to hit a growler and, all the time an infernal noise.

She is fantastic and deserves every word of praise she gets.

John

 

[alec]

Re: Cobblers

Sadly another appalling reply by a poster who has misses the point and only wishes to strut his ego without making an attempt to address the points that others seem to have no trouble with.

 

[Sybarite]

Re: Cobblers

Robin is one of the more experienced and sensible posters on this forum. I think that you should re-assess what you have written and put it into the context of one of the greatest sailing feats ever...

I think the operative statement that you make is :-

"....my own personal experience talking to mainly non-sailors...."

That about sums it up.

John