Mike Perham on Ch4 tomorrow

[csharpatsea]

as you have not seen fit to fill your profile in so we really don't know after just 17 posts (mostly critical of others) who the hell you really are do we????

I am Jonjo, we have previous.

I thought I had successfully kicked the YBW habit after the big AIS thread bust up but I just popped in after watching the TV prog. Things have not changed, same old nonsense, same old "just weld the broken keel back together" advice

 

[Woodlouse]

I think that against all odds the boy did well. They were horrifically unprepared at the start, which was entirely down to chasing the record but he succeeded and no one can now take that away from him.

The fact that he had a sat phone and a weather router does not detract from what he's done. If you can afford it then you'd actually be a little foolish to turn your back on such fantastic aids to making fast and safe passages.

As for the girlfriend, give her a break, she's a 16 year old. Even in my 20's I don't expect a girl to wait six months for me to return from a jolly.

 

[gardenshed]

Just like Knox Johnston.

???
1. In suhalia RKJ was completely on his own. RKJ's achievement is in a different league of difficulty and daring compared to MP's
2. on the open 60, RKJ was racing and put in for repairs, but continued to race and completed the course as originally planned.

I wouldn't compare Perham to RKJ or to Dee Cafari, Sam Davis, Ellen McArthur or any of the pros.

Young Mike did well but was extremely lucky. There were moments (his knockdown) where he was scard witless, and you do wonder how he would have coped with true solitude, i.e. not being able to speak to support team before climbing the mast, taking a dive to clear ropes from the rudder etc.
Were any of these moments scripted to introduce an extra element of interest?
The knockdown / fear from that, looked genuine
Some of the other incidents: questionable, but a reflection on the father and the quest to turn his son into a cash generating asset.

Does Mike have any real talent? Determination, fortitude etc, yes. Real skill like RKJ, Chichester, Rose, Goss, Josh Hall, Dee Cafari, Mike Golding etc. Unproven in my book.

Unfortunately, he has had publicity and support that Steve White (Toe in the Water) and many other talented but forgotten sailors better deserve.

 

[flaming]

I thought Mike came across very well.

As someone who's initial impression of the voyage, before he left, echoed that of Mark Turner and Rod Carr, I have to say I was quite impressed by him. He's clearly a well glued together lad.

Can't say the same of his father though.

 

[csharpatsea]

I wouldn't compare Perham to RKJ or to Dee Cafari, Sam Davis, Ellen McArthur or any of the pros.

Neither would I, my point is that the rushed and poor quality preparation of the boat is very similar to the recent K-J voyage.

Young Mike did well but was extremely lucky.

A high speed round the world voyage based on luck! Luck does not hold out that long, I think the personal abilities of the young skipper was the major factor.

Were any of these moments scripted to introduce an extra element of interest?

All the recent round the world Brit racers have been working to a PR script. With EllenMc it was tears and unrelenting cruel weather patterns. With K-J the story line was all these techno gadgets letting me down and then there was cool dudette Sam Davies dancing and clowning her way around the world.

Does Mike have any real talent? Determination, fortitude etc, yes. Real skill like RKJ, Chichester, Rose, Goss, Josh Hall, Dee Cafari, Mike Golding etc. Unproven in my book.

Well if sailing solo around the world at 17 does not earn you some "real skill" brownie points from your fellow countrymen it is time for MP to emigrate.

 

[samwise]

Have you forgotten that K-J recently went round the world in an Open 50 or 60? He suffered a ton of equipment failures, in fact his PR people turned this into THE story of the voyage.

Get his latest book for more*, it is good read if only because K-J spends a some time dwelling on how things have changed in the ocean racing scene over 35 years.

In fact my copy is in a pile of books destined for the loft, PM me your address and I will post it onto you. That would be my random act of kindness for the year or maybe the decade!

PM sent.Many thanks. Welcome back Jonjo, not much has changed ( in content anyway), but the old Forum is a bit addictive!

 

[Woodlouse]

I'm not quite getting the R J-K comparisons. In the Golden Globe race K-J was completely unassisted. Any lack of preparation there was purely due to the fact that no one knew exactly what preparation would be necessary.

In the Velux 5 Oceans there were scheduled stops during the race. It was never to be non-stop. He had trouble with his electrics, but then again, everyone does. Pete Goss during his Vendee had both his autopilots fail on him, he had to fix them by himself as outside assistance would have meant disqualification but he still had an expert on the other end of the satphone. K-J had the option of getting it done by his shore team and he took that option.

I'm amazed that people are doing Mike down for A) Stopping when he had serious problems and B) Calling home for support when he needed it and using a weather router. FFS, even if he was 35 and an ocean racing pro he would still have stopped when he did and he would still have used a fecking satphone and weather router.

 

[jhr]

Well if sailing solo around the world at 17 does not earn you some "real skill" brownie points from your fellow countrymen it is time for MP to emigrate.

Agreed; I was of the school of thought that considered MP was absolutely bonkers to embark on this trip, and was relieved when he made it home. This programme has considerably heightened my regard for him. Like others on here, I didn't warm to his father; this may just have been the way that they decided to angle the film when they edited it, or it may reflect reality - my money's on the latter.

 

[boatmike]

I am Jonjo, we have previous.

I thought I had successfully kicked the YBW habit after the big AIS thread bust up but I just popped in after watching the TV prog. Things have not changed, same old nonsense, same old "just weld the broken keel back together" advice

So you changed your name? Why? Perhaps because you previously upset too many people by calling them a "ridiculous old fart"? Now back under another name with a blank bio just to argue and wind everyone up? And for the record I didn't post anything like "just weld the broken keel back together" you made that up yourself. Go wind up someone who cares you quarrelsome rude stupid fellow.

 

[colingr]

Let only those who have done better cricitize him.

Well put.

 

[flipper]

Fair play to the kid - he did something that most of us can only ever dream about. Of couse the heavily edited TV makes it a bit more dramatic as it makes good telly.

I think he's getting knocked because he undeperformed against expectation (ie taking the panama canal etc) but still a fantastic achievment.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him in something like the Vendee one day either - he's got a lot of sailing career in front of him.

My 2p

 

[csharpatsea]

K-J... He had trouble with his electrics, but then again, everyone does. Pete Goss during his Vendee had both his autopilots fail on him, he had to fix them by himself as outside assistance would have meant disqualification but he still had an expert on the other end of the satphone. K-J had the option of getting it done by his shore team and he took that option.

You need to research the story a bit further.

The K-J race entry was done a shoe-string compared to the other pro's.

Two problems bugged KJ half way around the world a bit like MP.

In the antipodes I don't think K-J had a proper shore team. Some contractor was flown out to fix the auto-pilot, reading between the lines he faced a rat's nest of existing electrical botches and tried his best.

Then again just like MP the autopilot tripped out again within 24 hours of a restart, back in harbour with the rest of the fleet off over the horizon K-J and others, decided to get serious about the auto pilot problems and relaid some new high amp circuits.

 

[matt1]

Don't worry csharpatsea, lots of Boatmike's posts start with a sanctomonious lecture about how great he or his boat craft skills are

I have to say when I first heard of this adventure I was very sceptical, however during the film I became more and more impressed with this youngster. I agree the film didn't do the father much justice but at one level I was quite impressed with the dad. I was lucky enough to be able to take my dad's boat out around the Solent with my mates at the tender age of 15. It's only after I myself became a parent that I realised the signifcant guts and confidence that is required to for a parent to make such a decision. I just can't begin to contemplate waving someone so young off on an adventure around the world. Whilst we can all question his motives (I tend to agree it was a bit vicarious) what did come across was that they clearly had a loving relationship so this must have been pretty hard on the dad too. Mike was undoubdtedly lucky and it could have turned out very different...but the fact is that it didn't, he did get round, in doing so he became a great ambassador for the much maligned youth of today and I think he and his family deserve credit. We have all become so sterile that we are in danger of losing any sense of adventure.

(Just sticking up for the underdog here)

 

[csharpatsea]

So you changed your name? Why?

Because I vowed not to return to this wretched place after the AIS bust up, so I destroyed Jonjo by typing random characters into my password and email fields, then I hit the update button.

Jonjo is lost adrift in cyberspace.

I managed cold turkey for 6 weeks, but a cyber druggie is never really cured. Anyhow like a life long heroine addict, my only friends are fellow YBW.com druggies like you BoatMike.

 

[Moodyjim]

It's easy to forget that much of the sponsorship money would be due to the film for the TV that you have just watched and that was the fathers responsibility - hence trying to arrange the shot for the camera etc. Simplest thing in the world to criticise others achievemnts but not so easy to do it yourself methinks!

 

[boatmike]

Because I vowed not to return to this wretched place after the AIS bust up, so I destroyed Jonjo by typing random characters into my password and email fields, then I hit the update button.

Jonjo is lost adrift in cyberspace.

I managed cold turkey for 6 weeks, but a cyber druggie is never really cured. Anyhow like a life long heroine addict, my only friends are fellow YBW.com druggies like you BoatMike.

Well please don't put me in the same catagory. I have lots of real friends and am not a "cyber druggie" and unlike you I don't come on here for an argument, or to get insulted. I can get that anywhere. If you don't agree with my opinions you are free to say so. Thats what the forums real purpose is. To exchange ideas. But don't hide behind an alias to call people names that you wouldnt have the balls to call them face to face. Thats not only rude, it's cowardly. (by the way a heroine is a female hero not a drug)

 

[Moodyjim]

Now, now chaps, this is the wrong thread and forum for slagging each other off.

 

[wildboar72]

Well I think he did very well how many here have spent as long alone? and even with communications I reckon they would make it worse as having spent time away from home with work (RAF) it always seems to make it worse being reminded of home.

I wish I'd been able to do something like that at 15 but I'm going to have to wait till I get my shot later on.

As for all those knocking this that and the other, well doesn't luck play a part in any global sailing challenge as all it takes is one rogue wave and your trip could be over just look at all the professionals who have had to drop out even before they had the option to take the Panama canal? As for all the health and safety nonsense yes if he goes overboard he's had it surely he is best placed to decide whether he needs to or not not some armchair spectator who wasn't there? And what about those Vikings? I'm sure they didn't clip on or wear lifejackets all the time

Once again I admire his spirit and think he was Very lucky being able to experience such a trip. As for the dad I got the same impression as most others but maybe it was edited that way?

 

[Lakesailor]

I think Mike did excellently despite his father. That was Competitive Dad in real life.
The girl-friend seemed genuinely unaware of the enormity of it and who can blame her for getting hacked off by the ever-expanding timescale? Who can blame her either for seeing the opportunity to further her stage/modelling career by getting back together with him at the conclusion of the voyage. I wonder if they are still an item?

We can all suggest better game-plans and better mangement of the problems. But in the end he sailed around the world in a risky boat, alone, whilst other 15 year-olds were pigging out in front of their computers.

Mike, dump your (happy, clappy) dad and capitalise on your obvious character and personality.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

As some others have suggested, I too think his father is a creep, I suspect there might well be a large amount of father worship by the lad that drove him to do the trip.
This all said I say again one very lucky and brave young man. He got through a very difficult trip to massage the ego of a creep of a father.

Interesting !

The following is roughly what many people in the 'trade' think :-

'It is a sad and ironic fact that many children form powerful attachments to the worst of parents '

If the above is the case, I hope he can now mentally accept his father as he is, but forge ahead in his own right and break free.