Is Ellen cheating

[ChrisE]

Nutz again

KJ was the first and pushed the limits of the technology that was available to him, our Ellen is doing the same with an updated set of toys. In my view it is a fatuous endeavour to try to rank them.

 

[starboard]

To be honest as life goes on technology must move on too. One cannot blame these people in using such in an attempt to push the boundaries in a search for new adventure.........I just dont think that these feats anywhere meet those of the intrepid sailors of the early days, these were new boundaries that were then pushed to the limit.

Paul.

 

[jerryat]

Yes, I agree. At the risk of being shot down, there is a lot of help there that wasn't available to the likes of RKJ and others. And no, I wouldn't fancy/be able to do it either, but then I prefer stopping and enjoying the places i cruise to.

 

[searover]

I find it amusing just how many , would be sailors out there critisize the few who do the sailing but dont seem to do anthing to better whats beeing talked about. amazing isnt it . happy new year and if helen reads this youve got my full respect if i was halve the sailor you are id be very gratefull....chers all..

 

[PeterStone]

I agree with you. I like the idea of a solo race where solo means just that - no outside assistance. I believe weather routing is fair enough if all you want to achieve is a record but every additional layer of assistance that is bought makes the contest increasingly exclusive. It is very akin to F1 - and look how boring that has become.

 

[webcraft]

Re: Nutz again

KJ was the first and pushed the limits of the technology that was available to him,

Rubbish . . . Suhaili was at the cutting edge of obsolescence when Knox-Johnson took her round the world - it was all he could afford.

Crowhurst on Teignmouth Electron was at the cutting edge - and it all fell apart, so he cheated and lost.

Ellen is at the cutting edge and in full view - and when it goes wrong she bleeds and we watch in glorious close-up. NO cheating possible.

Anyone who badmouths her has probably never done anything worth speaking about themselves in sailing terms, IMHO, and probably never will.

- Nick

 

[starboard]

n.b. Her name is Ellen!!

 

[starboard]

Re: Nutz again

Sorry you take that attitude Nick...Dont think anyone has bad mouthed her and good luck to her and all her team, as that is what it is ...a team. The likes of Knox Johnson etc. were the real pioneers, if it was not for them maybe Ellen would not be doing what she is doing today...just ask her when she gets back, I think you will find she agrees with that.

Paul.

 

[philmarks]

Not a criticism at all, merely an alternative in the interests of diversity. As I said I like technoclogy...and I do get about the oceans a bit too.

 

[jimi]

I have absolutely no intention of slaggin' off Ellen. I was merely indicating that perhaps a solo voyage around the world without the technical & moral support that communications bring would indeed be a much greater challenge?

 

[Stingo]

Yes I agree and once again, thank you for your technical and moral support when I lost my forestay mid-Atlantic

 

[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[ChrisE]

Nutz again

Not greater but different.

 

[tcm]

Re: shoreside support to stingo.

yeah. In desperation, stingo rang me one night from Brazil. I said he was a git to ring me in the dead of night, and i still don't really believe he was in Brazil - no samba music in the background. Shortly after this, he flew home, so i'm fairly proud that i was instrumental in making him feel able to carry on as far as the airport.

 

[tcm]

Re: yes yes

well, apart from the last sentence. Feels a bit new labourish - dissent not allowed and unpatriotic! Nobody was badmouthing her - but it's valid to discuss the relative challenges of other achievements or attempts innnit? Or at least, it should be allowed? Admittedly, the "cheat" word wrongly used in the headline but explained in the original post. imho.

 

[tcm]

Re: vendee

well, dispensing with the c word, i wd reckon that communication from the shore team as per vendee is very very motivating, talk to the kids, then a journalist, how are you doing, we're right behind you etc etc. Golding says his phone is ringing off the hook.

 

[jimi]

C word

Yes the cword was used by the non boaties in the pub when they learnt of the extent of the onshore support & guidance. Its is interest that Ellen refers to "we" rather than "I" in her news reports.

I perhaps look it on a bit more akin to mountaineering than Formula1, when the attemps on mountains become purer with less aid, seiges, pre inspection use of oxygen etc etc culminating in the utimate on sight pure solo ascent with no aid,ropes etc...,

 

[tcm]

Re: ellen and \"we\"

um, yes, i seem to recall that she reported that "we" got some sleep frexample. Buit I think she does this cos it's a bit rude to say I, me, myself, all the time. Perhaps it's a new grammatical form - the diminutive plural.

 

[jimi]

We or wee

or even the dimininutive diminutive?

 

[Romeo]

Re: ellen and \"we\"

Is that not what the queen does? that Ellen is so full of drive and ambition she is obviously going for the top job. I would put her on the current short list, but that's not saying much is it.