Planning a transatlantic crossing?

Palarran said:
That's your problem? Are you always combative with your posting? It makes me have a vision of a guy on a 40 year old piece of **** sailboat sitting near derelict in Simpson Bay lagoon using free wifi to bitch about everything others are doing while doing nothing but drinking cheap rum and cokes.
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Not always combative, no. But sometimes - yes, a bit, and it's warranted here. Imho "distant shores" offers questionable advice and over-dramatises their achievements. Do they sell their videos on a commercial basis? That would seem to suggest that they have huge experience... yet even a casual viewing shows otherwise, as I indicated. Going to a fruit shop with a shopping bag and tasting some new-to-you fruit isn't a great illustration of transat provisioning either.

Your vision of me isn't really correct, but not to worry. I'm guessing you have a beard, maybe?
 
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No, I shave every day.

It's funny that none of you have seen the Shard's shows. They play every day on cable here in the States. I've seen maybe 20 of the episodes. The shows are not a "how to" of cruising but more of a travelogue involving sailing. I'm glad there is something to watch which involves sailing and great destinations.

I guess if the Shards somehow don't live up to your standards of a proper mariner then not many do. Personally I'm totally impressed they can spend many (10?) years cruising the oceans and actually making money doing it. I've really never seen someone else be as successful at that as they are.
 
Palarran said:
No, I shave every day.

It's funny that none of you have seen the Shard's shows. They play every day on cable here in the States. I've seen maybe 20 of the episodes. The shows are not a "how to" of cruising but more of a travelogue involving sailing. I'm glad there is something to watch which involves sailing and great destinations.

I guess if the Shards somehow don't live up to your standards of a proper mariner then not many do. Personally I'm totally impressed they can spend many (10?) years cruising the oceans and actually making money doing it. I've really never seen someone else be as successful at that as they are.
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No, many mariners live up to and beyond my expectations - but given that DS broadcast "what it's like" transat video i was expecting a lot more. I thought the vid was rather amateur, not 20 in a series, sheesh.

I suppose it's likely that most mariners from the US won't impress many in the UK, especially given recent racing events, but on a more general level the UK has far more challenging sailing than most places in the world, maritime nation, rulers of the ocean waves, all that :-)
 
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I've seen Mahina advertise their services. Your right that they to make a good living with sailing as a job. I didn't see any videos that were more than 2 minutes so can't really compare that to a made for television show. Your also right about others making a living either teaching or writing about sailing while cruising. I still haven't seen any other show like Distant Shores and can't understand your vehemence towards them.

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Since you edited your last post my response doesn't address your again negative attitude towards the Shards. Well, I'll leave it at that.

Agree with you that UK sailors have in general impressed me with their level of competence. Compared to the typical States sailor, your probably better. But we do know how to party on the boat better.
 
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Well both TCM and the Shards were in the same place for a while last year, maybe they met in a bar and discussed issues and that could explain the views?

We met them in the same place, and I must admit I do think the TV shows are a bit square, very US/Canadian orientated and more of a travel show than a sailing thing. But, I will also say it's hard work talking to somebody who is never off duty and may use what you've said in a TV show; I can understand TCMs view...

Have you ever been to one of TCMs boat/pontoon parties?
 
Yes, I think I have been to one of my parties, but can't totally recall it :-)

If the idea of the Shards is making a TV show, it's hum, okay, but I wouldn't have put it as TV quality - a lot of xmas carol music and then some voiceover saying "it's christmas" is dumbed-down, a lot.

If the idea of the videos is a "how-to" then it seems we're agreed, it ain't that, and many others hereabouts would be a safer, better-prepared boat.

I suppose the most important thing these days is that it's cheap TV, nice sunny holiday/travel/dream stuff. Fine.
 
Palarran said:
That's your problem? Are you always combative with your posting? It makes me have a vision of a guy on a 40 year old piece of **** sailboat sitting near derelict in Simpson Bay lagoon using free wifi to bitch about everything others are doing while doing nothing but drinking cheap rum and cokes.
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Sounds brilliant, I now have an ambition.
 
I watched the vid last night and, viewed as a travel show not an instructional "how to", enjoyed it.
Ive watched quite a few of them over the years - its just a shame they arent being broadcast on UK TV (Travel Channel) at present.
 
I am glad that many people on this forum have enjoyed our program (with some obvious exceptions :-). It isn't intended as a "how-to" program but as a travelogue with sailing as a base. I did not suggest this was a "how-to" but more of what it was like to be at sea and living the cruising life. Distant Shores has shown on TV in 24 languages around the world through the Travel Channel and others and needed to be made in such a way that non-sailors could understand. If we discussed sailing technical features all the time we would not be able to play it on regular TV stations.

Paul
 
distant shores said:
I am glad that many people on this forum have enjoyed our program (with some obvious exceptions :-). It isn't intended as a "how-to" program but as a travelogue with sailing as a base. I did not suggest this was a "how-to" but more of what it was like to be at sea and living the cruising life. Distant Shores has shown on TV in 24 languages around the world through the Travel Channel and others and needed to be made in such a way that non-sailors could understand. If we discussed sailing technical features all the time we would not be able to play it on regular TV stations.

Paul
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okay... I recognise that it's not a "technical how-to"... but nonetheless it's shame that unsafe stuff is simply wafted over - running out of fuel is not a heyho minor thing for example.
 
We ran low on fuel as we had many days of unusual calms ... we did not actually run out of fuel completely but used most of what we had brought so we couldn't motor any more. We left fuel for the generator and for motoring into port in Antigua. That may not have come across correctly in the script.
 
distant shores said:
I am glad that many people on this forum have enjoyed our program (with some obvious exceptions :-). It isn't intended as a "how-to" program but as a travelogue with sailing as a base. I did not suggest this was a "how-to" but more of what it was like to be at sea and living the cruising life. Distant Shores has shown on TV in 24 languages around the world through the Travel Channel and others and needed to be made in such a way that non-sailors could understand. If we discussed sailing technical features all the time we would not be able to play it on regular TV stations.

Paul
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Well I really enjoy Distant Shores and have done since the start with Two Step. Always appreciate it when someone offers their hard work for free. Have to agree with Paul that if the episodes were too sailing heavy then the target audience would unfortunately shrink dramatically. Thanks for posting the link.

Rob
 
First I have seen of these videos and thoroughly enjoyed it - I will as a minimum be downloading the Scotland series once I've sorted a Vimeo account and made sure I have down load space?

We'll done Distant Shores - can't wait to try the Custard fruits - I shall probably wash them down with a cheap Rum and coke or two ;)
 
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Support for Paul and Sheryl.
Whilst I can't comment on the sailing vids, I can on their French Canals series which I reckon is absolutely first class and provides an excellent detailed introduction (if that's possible) to the whole subject. I think their production values are very high and the music isn't too bad either.
In my book they're doing a great job.
 
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