Original film from "Once is Enough" by Miles Smeeton

[jheynder]

I've just been reading Once is Enough by Miles Smeeton, a famous account of a Cape Horn attempt in 1956 by three in a 46 foot wood ketch. There is one or two surprises.

Once Is Enough (Sailor's Classics): Amazon.co.uk: Miles Smeeton, Smeeton Miles: Books

There are main references in the book to John Guzzwell shooting film in a cine camera during the trip, including from a dinghy towed behind Tzu Hang, their ketch. If you are curious, fair examples of that film are shown here:

ITN Reporting 67: Cape Horn: Sailing Round the Horn

It's a great book-- a classic.

 

[VicMallows]

Fantastic film. Thanks for spotting and posting.

 

[Seajet]

Wonderful to see that film, thanks !

A bit of trivia, please excuse me if you've seen this before.

In Nevil Shute's last book, 'Trustee From The Toolroom' he portrays a British couple escaping grim post-war Britain, with their wealth in the form of jewels hidden in the keel of their boat; it was illegal to move money out of the UK at the time.

It turns out Nevil Shute knew the Smeetons, and the story is based on them; they smuggled their wealth out, but not in jewels; the rather lovely Tzu Hang was their jewel representing the bulk of their money, they planned to sell her on reaching Australia.

This and a lot more is mentioned at the Nevil Shute Foundation, www.nevilshute.org

- N.S. also felt little attraction to post-war UK, he emigrated to Australia too, but by airliner.

Miles Smeeton was obviously no push-over, in the war when Japanese aircraft strafed his tank, instead of taking cover he stood up in the turret and replied with a machine gun...

 

[Joker]

I love the bit where he 'tallows the sheets'. Canvas sails as well. Must have been horrendous.

 

[DanTribe]

Well done for discovering that film, I had no idea it existed.
Remarkably good quality considering the age and conditions it was shot in.

 

[Seajet]

I wonder if Falmouth or any Maritime Museum has a copy of that film - do they archive such things ?

I bet they don't have it, but someone with an eye to British seafaring history should, not just ITN...

 

[Poignard]

Val Howells also made a film of his first solo trans-Atlantic voyage, which was shown on television during the 1960s. A few years ago I made an attempt at tracking it down but without success.

Maybe there is someone on here skilled in media research who could find it.

 

[Grumpybear]

Wonderful to see that film, thanks !

A bit of trivia, please excuse me if you've seen this before.

In Nevil Shute's last book, 'Trustee From The Toolroom' he portrays a British couple escaping grim post-war Britain, with their wealth in the form of jewels hidden in the keel of their boat; it was illegal to move money out of the UK at the time.

It turns out Nevil Shute knew the Smeetons, and the story is based on them; they smuggled their wealth out, but not in jewels; the rather lovely Tzu Hang was their jewel representing the bulk of their money, they planned to sell her on reaching Australia.

This and a lot more is mentioned at the Nevil Shute Foundation, www.nevilshute.org

- N.S. also felt little attraction to post-war UK, he emigrated to Australia too, but by airliner.

Miles Smeeton was obviously no push-over, in the war when Japanese aircraft strafed his tank, instead of taking cover he stood up in the turret and replied with a machine gun...

Actually, the Smeetons had just enough cash after buying and refitting Tzu Hang to buy two diamond rings which they smuggled out in her. Also, I believe John Guzzwell's father smuggled some illicit diamonds out of South Africa to the Channel Islands in a sailing trawler before the war. history does not appear to relate what became of them.....

 

[Seajet]

I did read of what became Tzu Hang herself, but it's too sad to relate here...I forget now, what happened to the Smeetons after all this ?

 

[Lady Campanula]

The remarkable story of the lives of Beryl and Miles Smeeton - not solely the yachtie bits - is told by Miles Clark in 'High Endeavours'.

In an age of 'inspirational speakers' and 'go for it', this was living life on a heroic scale.

Recommended​

 

[Seajet]

Lady Campanula,

thanks very much; Amazon here I come !

 

[quimby]

I did read of what became Tzu Hang herself, but it's too sad to relate here...I forget now, what happened to the Smeetons after all this ?

--------------------------

Sadly Tzu Hang used for smuggling "hash2. Caught then destroyed by a Bulldozer, I believe. An unfitting end.

 

[Seajet]

Yes, I couldn't bring myself to say that...

Just ordered a secondhand copy of 'High Endeavours'; NB new hardback £119.00 !

 

[alant]

I've just been reading Once is Enough by Miles Smeeton, a famous account of a Cape Horn attempt in 1956 by three in a 46 foot wood ketch. There is one or two surprises.

Once Is Enough (Sailor's Classics): Amazon.co.uk: Miles Smeeton, Smeeton Miles: Books

There are main references in the book to John Guzzwell shooting film in a cine camera during the trip, including from a dinghy towed behind Tzu Hang, their ketch. If you are curious, fair examples of that film are shown here:

ITN Reporting 67: Cape Horn: Sailing Round the Horn

It's a great book-- a classic.

Long time since I read this.

Didn't they get pitchpoled just entering Drakes Passage, managed to get to Valpariso for repairs which took a year, only to be again pitchpoled in the same area?

 

[chinita]

Thanks for posting that film. Brilliant.

 

[Norman_E]

I did read of what became Tzu Hang herself, but it's too sad to relate here...I forget now, what happened to the Smeetons after all this ?

The Smeetons lived in Canada, at Cochrane, Alberta and founded the Cochrane Ecological Institute. Their daughter Clio still lives there with her partner Ken, and they now run the Institute.

I bought both the books mentioned in this thread after meeting Ken & Clio when they were sailing in Turkey aboard Pescadou, their Dutch built steel motorsailer.

 

[Seajet]

Norman E,

thanks; had a look at the Institute website you linked to, seems very fitting.

 

[DownWest]

[
Just ordered a secondhand copy of 'High Endeavours'; NB new hardback £119.00 ! [/QUOTE]

I bought a mint hardback copy of LJK Setright's 'The power to fly' at a charity shop for €2. Only because I admired his writing in Car mag. Worth a touch more now... Great book too.

Read about the Smeeton's Cape Horne attempts a while back, stirring stuff. Interesting to hear about the aftermath.
Huge admirer of Neville Shute Norway too. Trustee From the Tool Room was one of his best. But the first I heard that he based the niece's parents on the Smeetons. Thanks
DW

 

[Lady Campanula]

Just ordered a secondhand copy of 'High Endeavours'; NB new hardback £119.00 !

How much!!??



Just looked at my own H/B copy - dust jacket price £17.99. That suggests my sailing bookshelf is worth more than my pension fund....!

 

[jheynder]

I wonder if Falmouth or any Maritime Museum has a copy of that film - do they archive such things ?

I bet they don't have it, but someone with an eye to British seafaring history should, not just ITN...

I would go one step further. If I could, I'd type up a script synopsis for a full-length documentary and submit it to the BBC for funding. I've seen "Deep Water":

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460766/

And I was surprised by how the darkest elements of the race were so emphasized over the acheievements. The psychological aspects seemed over emphasized, as if the trip was more of a metaphor.

With original footage, and possibly interviews with John Guzzwell and Clio Smeeton, I think a documentary about the Smeetons, Tzu Hang, and a passing review of Trekka adventures would be a better film. It would have plenty of hardship (dealing with the pitch pole and near-death experiences), but the end result would be much more positive about perseverence and resilience, which I don't think is a bad message to make and share right now.

So, how would I go about this? My brother lives in Portland, Oregon and could easily visit Vancouver, and I'll be back there myself in February 2012. I wonder if Dylan Winter has any advice about such a harebrained scheme...

(Paging Mr. Winter, white courtesy telephone please.)