toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
Any of YBW's old timers know Mike McMullen first hand?
What did you think?
What did you think?
Long shot: Mike McMullen
- Thread starter toad_oftoadhall
- Start date
oldbilbo
...
Yes. And 'lots'... but nothing I'd want to share.
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
FWIW I've got quite a lot of respect for that response.
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
I met him while we were both preparing for the 1976 OSTAR. As we started in the same race class I would have been one of the last to see him alive. Can't say I knew him well enough to form an opinion of his character.
I do recall that at the pre-race photo session, a couple of days after Lizzie's death, a journalist asked for an interview which he declined and the journo politely accepted. Not what one would expect these days.
I do recall that at the pre-race photo session, a couple of days after Lizzie's death, a journalist asked for an interview which he declined and the journo politely accepted. Not what one would expect these days.
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
You did the '76 Ostar. Awesome.
If it's not to personal, what are your initials or the name of your boat?
Kukri
Well-Known Member
I cannot claim to have known him, but I met him, and went for a spin in "Three Cheers", with HW Tilman, who liked him a lot.
I was no end impressed with the boat, and today I cast envious eyes at her sister ship "Slainte".
Anyone that Tilman approved of was/is OK so far as I am concerned.
I was no end impressed with the boat, and today I cast envious eyes at her sister ship "Slainte".
Anyone that Tilman approved of was/is OK so far as I am concerned.
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doug748
Well-Known Member
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
Amazing story.
How did Tilman (and yourself) come to be out in Three Cheers.
Minn, you do realize you have something close to an obligation to write a (possibly short) book, don't you? Tilman from a third party perspective.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
He strongly approved of her.
Small, simple rig, sensible accomodation, easy to manage, fast and seaworthy. Just what a boat should be - and of course "open from end to end, like a church"
But of course no good for what he liked to do, because unable to carry a crew of five or to work through pack ice. He said that if he was doing what Mike was doing, "Three Cheers" was the boat he would have had.
The boat that he strongly disapproved of was Dr David Lewis' 32(?) ft steel cutter "Ice Bird". He said she was too small and the rig was too fragile for what David Lewis was doing with her (circumnavigating Antarctica).
Small, simple rig, sensible accomodation, easy to manage, fast and seaworthy. Just what a boat should be - and of course "open from end to end, like a church"
But of course no good for what he liked to do, because unable to carry a crew of five or to work through pack ice. He said that if he was doing what Mike was doing, "Three Cheers" was the boat he would have had.
The boat that he strongly disapproved of was Dr David Lewis' 32(?) ft steel cutter "Ice Bird". He said she was too small and the rig was too fragile for what David Lewis was doing with her (circumnavigating Antarctica).
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
This is an amazing story...
'Major Harold William "Bill" Tilman, CBE, DSO, MC and Bar'. They don't make 'em like that any more.
Yes, but everyone knows that.
I'm not sure that, apart from some notes of Simon Richardson, any of Tilman's crews have written about the trips in any detail.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Mike invited HWT and crew, after an evening on Baroque/in the pub.
Short book follows:
HW Tilman was a fit as a fiddle, with a torso that drew admiring glances from girls on the quayside when he took his shirt off -at 76. He was highly intelligent, had an open and enquiring mind and was extremely well read - to the point that, when I put a fairly obscure quote from Spenser in the log, I woke to find he had corrected it. I did not find him at all hard to get on with. As a seaman and navigator and no doubt as a climber (I am not qualified to comment) he was first class - always looking at a problem from all angles and always erring on the side of caution. When asked, he said that the formative event of his life was the battle of the Somme.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Bob Comlay: http://www.comlay.net/tilman/
Incidentally although he and I have only met once, quite recently, we agree about Tilman.
I seem to have hijacked the thread - let's get back to Mike McMullen. I wish I had known him better.
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
Never met Mike, but I had old friends who used to be involved with the OSTARs in the 70s who knew him well, and they spoke passionately of him and Lizzie.
He definitely was 'up there' with Blondie, Tilman, and other greats.
I remember reading an article by Lizzie in Yachting World in the early 70's about a 'typical' summer cruise in Three Cheers, at average speeds that would be considered to be phenomenal by monomarans.
And one bit of trivia that I remembered - Mike was (I think) in the Marines, and Lizzie mentioned how if they got cold on night watches (no nice deckhouse or even a dodger on 3C!). they would just put on an extra balaclava as most heat loss is through your head.
And I have always subscribed to this excellent gem of advice when sailing in cold latitudes.
Was Three Cheers ever found after Mike disappeared in the '76 OSTAR?
He definitely was 'up there' with Blondie, Tilman, and other greats.
I remember reading an article by Lizzie in Yachting World in the early 70's about a 'typical' summer cruise in Three Cheers, at average speeds that would be considered to be phenomenal by monomarans.
And one bit of trivia that I remembered - Mike was (I think) in the Marines, and Lizzie mentioned how if they got cold on night watches (no nice deckhouse or even a dodger on 3C!). they would just put on an extra balaclava as most heat loss is through your head.
And I have always subscribed to this excellent gem of advice when sailing in cold latitudes.
Was Three Cheers ever found after Mike disappeared in the '76 OSTAR?
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
The boat was 'Altergo' (named after my employers who sponsored me).
Some wreckage turned up in Iceland but it wasn't reported for a long time as relations with Iceland were at a low point in those days.
No one will ever know what happened but I think it is more likely that he just drove the boat too hard in the heavy weather we had that year than that he would do a Crowhurst.
As a little aside, back in 2001 I had a visiting crewman on Snow Leopard who used to be a silversmith. He recounted how he was asked to produce a trophy in memory of Lizzie McMullen, a silver model of Three Cheers.
We 'also rans' had little to do with the celebs. I went along with the rest of the onlookers to watch Club Med berthing with a pilot and 20 odd crew on board. I met Claire Francis briefly and took an instant dislike to her cut-glass accent and self-importance. I did however attend a party on Tahiti Bill aka Golden Cockerell with Bill Howell who was a great larger-than-life character.
Lizzie McMullen trophy
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Giblets
Well-Known Member
An 11m trimaran if I recall. Impressive.
Late brother-in-law did the 1980 race on the tri Boatfile which at 31ft I thought was a tad small compared with the others taking part!
AndrewB
Well-Known Member
I was in Plymouth (my family home) at the time of the 1976 Ostar and quite likely saw the McMullens from afar. There was of course a tremendous upset locally when Lizzie died, the result, as I recall, of trying to catch an electric drill that fell overboard - a salutory tale for all DIY yachties.
I had originally thought of entering, and in fact the previous year had bought a yacht that I thought would be suitable and got as far as applying for entry details. A serious motorbike crash put paid to that idea. Just as well, as I didn't have anything like enough experience, and there were two major gales during the race. Much respect to Snowleopard if he completed. More details please, Snowleopard!
The only competitor I knew well was Clare Francis as we were together at University. Like Snowleopard, I admired her but didn't like her that much.
I had originally thought of entering, and in fact the previous year had bought a yacht that I thought would be suitable and got as far as applying for entry details. A serious motorbike crash put paid to that idea. Just as well, as I didn't have anything like enough experience, and there were two major gales during the race. Much respect to Snowleopard if he completed. More details please, Snowleopard!
The only competitor I knew well was Clare Francis as we were together at University. Like Snowleopard, I admired her but didn't like her that much.
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photodog
Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
The boat was 'Altergo' (named after my employers who sponsored me).
Some wreckage turned up in Iceland but it wasn't reported for a long time as relations with Iceland were at a low point in those days.
No one will ever know what happened but I think it is more likely that he just drove the boat too hard in the heavy weather we had that year than that he would do a Crowhurst.
As a little aside, back in 2001 I had a visiting crewman on Snow Leopard who used to be a silversmith. He recounted how he was asked to produce a trophy in memory of Lizzie McMullen, a silver model of Three Cheers.
We 'also rans' had little to do with the celebs. I went along with the rest of the onlookers to watch Club Med berthing with a pilot and 20 odd crew on board. I met Claire Francis briefly and took an instant dislike to her cut-glass accent and self-importance. I did however attend a party on Tahiti Bill aka Golden Cockerell with Bill Howell who was a great larger-than-life character.
Lizzie McMullen trophy
It would be nice to hear your story of the race.... I understand you dnf'd due to rudder failure... I would certainly like to hear what happened...
Maybe on another post when you have a spare few minutes?
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
It would be nice to hear your story of the race.... I understand you dnf'd due to rudder failure... I would certainly like to hear what happened...
Maybe on another post when you have a spare few minutes?
Story posted on separate thread.
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
When I started this thread I didn't expect such a huge wealth of first hand experiences to come forward, many not specific to the original question. Thanks all. I've read them all with interest. Genuinely appreciated.
Ta!
Thanks Minn.
Very much appreciated!
Ta!
Thanks Minn.
Very much appreciated!
