Is RKJ a whinger? Discuss
- Thread starter Twister_Ken
- Start date
Richard10002
Well-Known Member
Seems to me that he is writing it as he sees it, with no spin..... and is probably pretty grumpy at the same time.
I remember cooking spaghetti bolognaise for the lads on a GK24, when it was a bit more than choppy.
I've never felt so bad and, when I got tucked up in my little quarter bunk, I ranted to myself about never ever going sailing again.... never! (30 years ago)
If I had put that in writing, what would you have thought.
For some reason, I dont like the guy..... I cant think of a particular reason..... perhaps I get him mixed up with Chay Blyth? but i can sympathise with the way he must be feeling. At the same time, he took the challenge and will feel good about it when he completes the trip.
I remember cooking spaghetti bolognaise for the lads on a GK24, when it was a bit more than choppy.
I've never felt so bad and, when I got tucked up in my little quarter bunk, I ranted to myself about never ever going sailing again.... never! (30 years ago)
If I had put that in writing, what would you have thought.
For some reason, I dont like the guy..... I cant think of a particular reason..... perhaps I get him mixed up with Chay Blyth? but i can sympathise with the way he must be feeling. At the same time, he took the challenge and will feel good about it when he completes the trip.
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
He seems to be remarkably cheerful, considering the circumstances that he is in! Especially so considering that he has run out of whisky....
The logs of the younger 'rockstars' generally seem to whinge a lot more than RKJ - and I think that he tends to under-state things generally, rather than embellish them.
The logs of the younger 'rockstars' generally seem to whinge a lot more than RKJ - and I think that he tends to under-state things generally, rather than embellish them.
Evadne
Well-Known Member
Nah, I think he's just not used to writing these bloggy things. All RTW sailors sound like whingers on these things, remember Day Mellon's? A couple of smileys here and there and it would have read like he was more annoyed at England losing the ashes than the problems with the boat.
Racecruiser
Well-Known Member
Well that really is a pretty uncharitable question - personally I enjoy reading his well-rounded reports and doubt whether there is a single forumite who would be capable of taking such a demanding boat around the world single-handed at any age let alone 67. Or perhaps the originator would care to venture that he can?
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
I think he has an appropriate level of grump commensurate with his age and general demeanour.
It is a refreshing change from the flat-out-am-I-going-to-make-it dramatics I have read elsewhere.
I wonder if the pipe and slippers are parked near the fireplace in the saloon?
It is a refreshing change from the flat-out-am-I-going-to-make-it dramatics I have read elsewhere.
I wonder if the pipe and slippers are parked near the fireplace in the saloon?
Talbot
Well-Known Member
A bit extreme from somebody who has a history of failure to even make cherbourg in his own boat /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
"Or perhaps the originator would care to venture that he can? "
Oh no he wouldn't! To me any day's sailing that doesn't end near a pub (preferably a gastropub) or a restaurant doesn't suit my predilection. Any more than about 12 hours of waves bores me. I need stuff to look at, and not stuff like broken battens, either.
Oh no he wouldn't! To me any day's sailing that doesn't end near a pub (preferably a gastropub) or a restaurant doesn't suit my predilection. Any more than about 12 hours of waves bores me. I need stuff to look at, and not stuff like broken battens, either.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
"A bit extreme from somebody who has a history of failure to even make cherbourg in his own boat "
Yup, poor crew selection on my part!
(Below, picture of my boat in Cherbourg, so there!)
Yup, poor crew selection on my part!
(Below, picture of my boat in Cherbourg, so there!)
aknight
Well-Known Member
He's undoubtedly grumpy, I have no doubt that I would be feeling the same only more so in his position - in what little time that I had between fits of being a gibbering wreck curled up in a foetal position on the cabin sole.
As far as I can make out his philosophy is that - as with Suhaili in the Golden Globe - it's a game of attrition out there and that he might be the last one still going at the end. So if he can even make it round, he's still in the game.
What does seem to have annoyed him is the reliance on modern aids of all descriptions, which don't seem to be up to the task. Since one can reasonably expect technology developed for racing to end up in the marketplace eventually, for sale to us plodders, it's not an unreasonable point. Equally, if it's not tested to the extreme in real life conditions, how are the manufacturers meant to know where the breaking point is. R K-J is an intelligent and successful businessman as well as a sailor, and sometimes seems to play that side down for PR purposes. It's hard to imagine he doesn't know that.
Otherwise, he's had his fair share of setbacks and as far as I can see he is simply fulfilling his contract and sending back reports of his (inarguable) derring-do, to keep the sponsors happy. Given Saga's marketplace, it will obviously want to show that 'seniors' can get out there and do things with the best of them, and R K-J is exemplifying that, so Saga should be well pleased.
Anyway, everyone knows that old people are curmudgeonly! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
As far as I can make out his philosophy is that - as with Suhaili in the Golden Globe - it's a game of attrition out there and that he might be the last one still going at the end. So if he can even make it round, he's still in the game.
What does seem to have annoyed him is the reliance on modern aids of all descriptions, which don't seem to be up to the task. Since one can reasonably expect technology developed for racing to end up in the marketplace eventually, for sale to us plodders, it's not an unreasonable point. Equally, if it's not tested to the extreme in real life conditions, how are the manufacturers meant to know where the breaking point is. R K-J is an intelligent and successful businessman as well as a sailor, and sometimes seems to play that side down for PR purposes. It's hard to imagine he doesn't know that.
Otherwise, he's had his fair share of setbacks and as far as I can see he is simply fulfilling his contract and sending back reports of his (inarguable) derring-do, to keep the sponsors happy. Given Saga's marketplace, it will obviously want to show that 'seniors' can get out there and do things with the best of them, and R K-J is exemplifying that, so Saga should be well pleased.
Anyway, everyone knows that old people are curmudgeonly! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Curmudgeonly has been declared "Word of the Day".
Richard10002
Well-Known Member
and you have to be of a certain age to even know that the word exists.
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
I think he is a hero. Would you dive off your boat in the Southern Ocean to cut free a fishing net?
aknight
Well-Known Member
He could still be a curmudgeonly hero, though.
And no I am not (very) old, I just had a traditional education...
And no I am not (very) old, I just had a traditional education...
claymore
Well-Known Member
Yes to both
And I hope I'm just like him when I get to 67
And I hope I'm just like him when I get to 67
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
"And I hope I'm just like him when I get to 67"
Rumour has it you are.
Rumour has it you are.
metalmike
Well-Known Member
He sounds remarkably chilled and laid back to me,especially given that its a touch rough out there!
I might be the exception though as when I watch the grumpy old men on the box I think Im worse than them.
Mike
I might be the exception though as when I watch the grumpy old men on the box I think Im worse than them.
Mike
HenryB
Well-Known Member
He was interviewed for BBC South West on the days running up to the start of the race. During one interview he said that he had decided to give up smoking and was setting off without any smokes, now that is the mark of a brave man!
No smoking, no whiskey, no ashes, a shakey boat and the southern ocean - I can forgive him for being grumpy.
No smoking, no whiskey, no ashes, a shakey boat and the southern ocean - I can forgive him for being grumpy.
AOWYN
Well-Known Member
Re: Is RKJ a whinger? Discuss Like the guy?
I've downed a few glasses of the dark stuff with him in the past and I am sure that if you had too, then your negative feelings would go away.
He's a star.
I've downed a few glasses of the dark stuff with him in the past and I am sure that if you had too, then your negative feelings would go away.
He's a star.
