Modern day heroes

[jeanette]

I am moved by the comments regarding Thor Heyrdahl to ask, who are the modern day heroes and heroines?

Do they match up to those of past generations and are they the same kind of people?

Lately, there has been a great deal written about the exploits of the racing sailors such as Ellen MacArthur and Pete Goss etc etc. While their achievements are admirable they don't fall into the same category as those of sailors such as Hiscock, Tilman or Sir Alec Rose.

I think that the difference is in the manner of their adventures. Once upon a time more was written about exploits which were part of people's lives and in telling their tales they offered inspiration and advice to their readers.

While Ellen can offer much inspiration by accomplishing a great deal with a large vessel despite her small size I have no inclination to emulate the kind of success that she has had.

So who are the latterday Tilman's and Hiscock's? Or are there so many of them out there now, that it is impossible for individual's to stand out?

Can you name some modern day heroes, for ordinary cruising folk, who will one day inspire the same feeling as Thor has done today?


Jeanette

 

[ccscott49]

I admire Pete Goss, he is a real hero, he turned back and rescued a fellow sailor, in lousy conditions, not just risking his chances in the race, but his life for his fellow man, that makes him a hero to me, plus the fact he is such an unassuming friendly man. I saw him talking to two old dears about his boat, in Dartmouth, somebody came up from the press and tried to woo him away, he just said I'm busy right now and continued to treat these two old ladies with the respect due to them. That incident along with others I've personally observed makes the man a hero and a gentleman ! IMHO. But I'm sure there are thousands of other people who have achieved much through adversity who should also be admired!

 

[pugwash]

Peter Blake for his bravura, his racing and adventure achievements, his unfailing courtesy and courage, but mostly for his style of leadership. In all his races around the world, in which some boats lost half their crews at the end of every leg, Blake never had a single crew-man leave, nor did he have to fire anybody. That says it all, really. In the America's Cup campaigns his mantra was to win in a way that makes the rest of us (kiwis) feel proud about how we did it -- "We have to win and look our fellow NZers in the eye." He outgunned his rivals on the water, not in the protest court. Tilman and the Hiscocks were great adventurers, but were not heroes in the accepted sense. But Goss is, and Blake even more so.

 

[ccscott49]

I agree, wholeheartedly

 

[jimi]

You're probably too old (nothing personal!) to get any more heroes, however the heroes' one had as a child/youth still remain. It may be that Ellen & Pete Goss will be the heroes & inspiration of today's children/youth.

 

[jeanette]

But what will Ellen inspire people to do? I think she will get them afloat where they can get a taste for what she has experienced. Thereafter, unless here disciples intend to challenge her they will have to seek out new role models for cruising and exploring.

What I also am curious about is the characterises the achievements of the modern day heroes. I would describe Ellen and Pete Goss as 'thrill seekers' or 'adrenaline junkies'. This is a very popular theme in society today.

It was not adrenaline that was sought by Sir Alec Rose, Bill Tilman or even Moitessier.




PS: less of the 'old' please and who is to say the lieklihood for finding heroes. There are plenty of 'old dears' out there who would think differently including the 2 mentioned in an earlier post.

Jeanette

 

[ponapay]

What about Helen Tew , indomitable spirit, courage beyond her years and determination.

Very few youngsters could match her.

ponapay

 

[extravert]

Perhaps the most important thing Ellen has done is to prove that women are just as good as men in a male dominated sport. In that respect she is exceptional.

 

[jeanette]

I totally agree.

Jeanette

 

[PhilipStapleton]

Surely part of being "heroic" is doing something for the first time - facing unkown risks you can't plan for, but can only face with your own resources. Perhaps I'm too old (!) but it's hard to see what's left to do at sea for the first time unless it's artificial - sailing a bath to Australia or something.

 

[Trevethan]

I think I am turning into an old fart at the grand old age of 33. I don't have any kids, but those I do know really don't have it in them to be "heroes" and they don't generally aspire to become heroes either. Other than through "easy" means like becoming a pop star or playing football.

It must be a sign of old age but most of the children I come accross would much rather sit at home ffrittering time away with silly computer games and sucking back MacDonalds then get out and do something.

I used to teach children in the US and they weren't self motivated. The only way to get them to strive was to offer money or other tangible rewards. The notion of doing to feel proud of yourself was totally alien..

Now where's me slippers and pipe.....

 

[Sinbad1]

Interesting thoughts. I guess heros are rather subjective. Surely tho it must relate largely to the achievement and the vehicle used.

eg, would you consider an astronaut who clambers into a space casule or shuttle and gets strapped in and blasts off into space with the backing of billions of dollars in funds and research, a hero. Nope....but Yuri Gargarin entering space for the first time....yep

Sailing heros are those who are pushing back the frontiers with limited means. Chichester (to me) was not a hero except for the fact he had cancer. He had the best boat and the best equipment. He also had a rebuild in Australia, half way around.

Knox-J and Alex Rose were heros. They had limited means, limited vehicles and determination.

Chay Blyth a hero for rowing the Atlantic with Ridgeway, yes, but not for the British Steel venture.

In the 1950's a Kiwi named Adrian Hayter sailed from the UK to NZ in a folkboat. No self steering. A hero.

Dr David Lewis, read his book 'Icebird'. A hero.

One thing these people have in common is that they left their berths with little fanfare and acheived quietly.

 

[DepSol]

I heard that a dying kiddie thru the make a wish foundation wanted to go with a famous person on their boat and she asked initially for Ellen Mcarthur who turned her down. Thats no Hero in my book.


Dom

 

[ccscott49]

Never heard that, but your right, unless of course she was at sea or starting a race or something, somehow doesn't sound like her, but different faces for different audiences!!

 

[Guest]

That sounds like the Pete Goss I have had the privilege to know for some 20 years or so. In addition to his efforts at rescuing Ralph Dinelli and the modesty of the man he "dared to dream". That makes him a hero to me.

 

[beneteau_305_553]

Thor was a great hero and his book was as good as his expedition.

The heros have to be good communicators, and exceptional personalities. Don't forget Tracy Edwards. What a role model.



Richard

 

[Mirelle]

Second that choice!

Quite outstanding. An inspiration to many of us, because she did it with her own, limited, resources, not as a sponsored professional, she was not held back by her age, at a time when many of her contemporaries are content to sit and discuss their aching joints, because she has kept and looked after the same smallish boat for over 60 years,and because she seems perfectly charming.

 

[BrianJ]

Oh come on.... where woud you find a bath in Pomie land ? .. besides we have enough baths out here .
BrianJ

 

[Jeremy_W]

You should remember that Ellen came up through the ranks of skint sailors, sailing solo around Britain in, I think, a Corribee; yougest YM; sailing a 3rd hand yacht in the Mini-Transat... before hitting the big sponsor bucks. I am certainly inspired by her adventures.

 

[pugwash]

Kid couch potatoes

Don't agree with you about kids not wanting adventure. Just look at what so many school leavers do on their gap years. As I write this I'm looking out on the Thames and I must have seen fifty rowing eights go by so far this morning, all full of kids and young people (and a few veterans) lustily pulling their hearts out for the sheer satisfaction it. Every sailing club the same, and any Tall Ship race. Old farts (like me) have to remember that computer and dvd gizmos are the new generation's Beano and Meccano, nothing more.

I sailed in the Christian Radich years ago and remarked to the captain how sad it was that there were no challenges left on the sea, everything had been done. He rounded on me in not uncertain terms. You forget, he said, that every one of these 80 kids going up to the maintruck every morning is facing exactly the same challenges as the old Cape Horners -- for these youngsters, the terrors are just the same and everyone has to conquer his/her own fears.

You don't have to do something new to be a hero. You don't have to be oldest, youngest, whatever. You just have to DO it. Plenty of kids do (and others too) but they don't get their names in the papers.