Ellen

[Danny_Labrador]

Amazing what Ellen's doing with that trimaran. What a hero!
Dont all pile in on me now but is it possible to get 19.5Kn out of 18.7 Kn wind speed ? I have seen the differential even higher than that !
If so what am i doing wrong ?

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[DJE]

You should be doing much better than Ellen. I hear those new hypothetical boats reach astonishing speeds.

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[Danny_Labrador]

Warp factors no less !

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[aran01]

Hmm,
I prob will get flamed for this post but here goes...
While I have great admiration for Ellen and her quest I think the whole campaign smacks of a bit to much commercialisation for me.
Let me expand.
First off we all know that there is a major sponsor behind her effort. While I have no objections to that I do find it a bit condescending the way the whole adventure is presented to us, the DIY buying public.
One only has to browse to http://www.teamellen.com/ellen.asp?artid=1219

Another annoyance is how the race is being presented as a mission to break Francis Joyon record. Well perhaps it is worth reminding people of some of the differences in the campaigns before records are broken.

Joyon raced in an old trimaran not purposely built for a round the world record or even single crewed racing.

MacArthur built her boat just for the task with seemingly no money spared.

Joyon could not even afford new sails and sailed in sails from 1997.

Joyon did his own weather routing as he could not afford external forecasters.

MacArthur has the services of one of the best forecasters,
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.commandersweather.com/>http://www.commandersweather.com/</A>


In short , again while I greatly admire the woman I do feel that the spirit of adventure that such a race brings has been diluted by money and big sponsorship. If she does manage to break the record , hats off , but she will not really be able to compare it to Joyon’s effort.
Let the debate begin!


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[Otto]

I think you take it too seriously; it's just a bit of pointless fun and if she can get companies to throw lots of dosh her way then good for her!


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[cameronke]

I agree with Otto here

Must admit that having people pay for you to whizz round the world in an amazing boat is quite an achievement in itself

Go for it Ellen!

respect
Cameron

<hr width=100% size=1>Work to live, live to sail

 

[Danny_Labrador]

Its not very deep where she is at the moment is it ! 0.6M I would have thought that the Atalntic was deeper ?

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Danny_Labrador on 01/12/2004 16:58 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[clyst]

Yep -sorry chaps but I'm with Aran01 on this one. What shes doing isn't to be littled but I agree with what Aran01 has said . Bet she got more enjoyment and satisfaction out of her trip around Britian in her corribee cos during that trip she was her "own boss" in charge of it all, doubt she could take many decisions on her own on this trip -- at the end of the day poor Ellen is only the driver!! Risking life and limb to make the Fat cats Fatter (on pun intended).
Anyway rant over --So go for it Ellen and Best of Luck !!

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[Sea Devil]

Ellen is a profesional sailor who happens to like the job and the challange it gives her. David B is a professional footballer, Madonna is a professional actress, Spielberg is a professional producer / director Steven King is a professional writer - michael angelo...

All I suspect would do what they do for no money but happen to have a god given gift of being better at most at what they do for a living. Man or woman would anyone here like to be driving that huge boat - at speeds we cannot imagine on almost no sleep - aching limbs after every sail change - fatigue and some degree of fear - God help her round the south pole - what a gutsy person.

Making money out of what you do best or what pleases you is no sin - If it were the world would be a very poor place with no artists writers actors or footballers...

<hr width=100% size=1>If you have time please visit my web site -
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing</A>

 

[clyst]

If Ellen makes makes money from what shes doing then she deserves every penny she gets because as you quite rightly says she earns it and what a brave woman she is!!! What I'm saying in my post is that it's the sponsors getting the richness whilst Ellen is taking all the risks. God Bless her.

Terry

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[Parsonsheath]

With Clyst and Aran01 on this.

No one is decrying Ellen, what these laddies are saying is that , even in a world of professionals, you should compare like with like.

Anyway, I must be luddite, cos I am still more impressed with the effort of the amateur, I still think of them as being folk to copy or aspire to, by the time they become pro you can't help feeling that they are so far distanced from the real world that to many of us (luddites!) the link is lost.

I am happy to agree that she is a driven sportsman, gifted, totally dedicated, but she is in a Grand Prix league, and most of us just do it for sheer pleasure.

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[EdEssery]

I'm also with Clyst and Aran01. It's just too commercial. There is no Corinthian spirit there.

Just think about how sailing could be developed and grown as one of our most successful national sports if the money spent on this adventure was spent on broadening the base of sailing in this country...

Ed

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[Brian_B]

I'm not sure you can blame Ellen for the design of the website. It's probably what's demanded by the sponsors so they get maximum exposure and hence value for money.

What I'm fed up with is the endless tales of woe, the trials and tribulations, how hard everything is. To Quote;
"Forced myself to sleep a bit last night. My body was aching a lot overnight, the effort of getting the gennaker up from the cockpit the day before yesterday really hurt, and I'm paying for it now..."

We know it's hard work but that's performance sailing. Maybe it's too difficult for a girl?

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[tcm]

yes, she does do that midlands whining thing, even after only the first day. Pity, cos it could make for great TV, but with the permanent whining and near-crying , it doesn't.

Nonetheless, i am fully supportive

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[ChrisE]

Makes for good laff on 'Dead Ringers' though. Still love her, go Ellen go.

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[cameronke]

Sorry Brian

But this is what I want to hear. I want to read about the trials and tribulations, the highs and lows. What a dull read it would be if it were to go "another lovely suny day today with a nice breeze sailing along etc etc"

Adventure stories (such as this) are for us lesser mortals to read from the comfort and safety of our desks and fantasize about getting out there and doing it. Frankly I would not like to do it but i love to read about her progress on a daily basis and often comfortably in front of a cosy fire with a nice glass of wine think about B&Q blasting south.

Ellen does it so we dont have to ;-)

Regards
Cameron

<hr width=100% size=1>Work to live, live to sail

 

[Brian_B]

No Cameron, Ellen doesn't do it so we don't have to. She does it because she wants to, and for the money and for the fame and for the public adulation.

And I certainly don't want to race round the world. Can't think of many things more pointless.

However, you do have a point. From voyages I've made, people are more interested stories of difficulties and problems that have to be faced and overcome.

I just have to award Ellen the Moaning Prize.

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[Robin]

Don\'t knock Ellen!

Some of you guys are weird, why knock our succesful sports personalities, do we have that many we can afford to belittle their successes? If it is all about money and fame and is oh so easy with millions of pounds of sponsorship, how come none of you wimps have done it?

I met Ellen briefly once and she is lovely, don't judge a book by it's cover. A donf Ellen!

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[jimi]

Re: Don\'t knock Ellen!

Agree. She was a superstar in France before anybody knew of her in the UK. The UK public spend all their time heroworshipping undeservable undesirables in virtual reality crap rather than people like Ellen. Go on girl!!

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[ships_parrot]

Re: Don\'t knock Ellen!

I'm with you on this..
Personally feel the millions spent on Ellens boat are better spent than those millions spent on all those boats you see that go nowhere and just sit in marinas...
But we live in the UK don't we - we don't celebrate sucess, who knows what that might lead to. We'd rather worship 'celebrity' and watch idiots on TV who've achieved their 'celebrity' by being REALLY bad at something.

(Another) Robin

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