Public apology

[Charlie Boy]

Another vote here for a superb anthology of the many separate passages and shoreside experiences that you had, Concerto.
I have no other insight than to speculate late that maybe pushing yourself so hard, not necessarily on the boat front but on the writing front, was a very big straw on the camels back.
In other words, forget about us, just enjoy the experiences for yourself.
If you really feel the urge, write a book about it and flog it to us when you’re good and ready.
Be happy

 

[Iliade]

Full marks for recognising the issues and do take it really easy on the home run. You have essentially done the circuit, but there is still some tricky sailing ahead before you dock at home.

 

[steve yates]

You’ve had a great trip Roger, relax and enjoy the rest of it, so it becomes a total success for you. Its difficult on the internet with no tone of voice or inflection to colour statements. You got something a bit wrong and got grumpy, it happens to us all, especially when knackered
It takes balls and humility to change your mind and stand up and apologise, especially when you thought you were right.
Move on and forget about it, it was a storm in a teacup, and you have some really enjoyable sailing to do. Have fun with the rest of the trip.

 

[Concerto]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. All your comments have helped me put in a better place. It is good to know how much you appreciate all of the posts I have made. Some of the comments even brought a tear to my eye.

This morning I very nearly stayed on board but I knew the WOA stand was short of staff, so I put duty before myself again. I am pleased to say being at the show has helped lift my mood, even though I still feel very tired. Talking with some stand staff as the show opened helped me get to a calm state, plus I learnt a few things as well. None of them knew what had happened to me this morning.

Later I chatted with visitors to the stand and answered some questions and encouraged other Westerly owners to particpate in the local rallies and the national cruise. Something that did help a lot was to say I had brought my boat round from Chatham to the Hamble for the show. This normally takes me 2 days, but this year it took a bit longer. Then asked how long they thought it took. When I replied 112 days, their faces were always a picture. Explaining it briefly was a good opener to ask about their boat, sailing experience and where they have sailed to this year. Not all of these were Westerly owners, I just love being able to encourage to stretch their horizons.

A relative new Fulmar owner, who knows nothing of this thread, wants to sail with me to learn more. I have invited him to sail with me on the final section of the trip and will learn either tomorrow or Monday if he can join me.

In the last hour of the show I went walkabout and chatted with several people on stands which I found useful. I then spotted a different person on a stand to the person I know. He was a lot slimmer, so I greeted him with "Andrew, you have lost a lot of weight". It turns out Andrew is his brother in law and they work together. I explained how I met Andrew and showed a few photos from my trip. He then said he had never sailed and his wife then arrived. Well they had thought about getting a sailing boat, so I have given him my phone number and will try and take them out for a sail next year, probably in May.

As you can read, I am in a better place than this morning. Thank you all once again for all your comments.

 

[Mister E]

I am so pleased you posted again. Keep it up.

 

[Clunk]

He was a lot slimmer, so I greeted him with "Andrew, you have lost a lot of weight

Christ I hope big Andy doesn't read this. Hahaha

 

[Daydream believer]

From my experience of my 2 solo trips one has to make sure that one rests as much as possible on the way. At a minimum sail a day & rest a day. If it is a long trip. ie a leg over 80 miles then rest 2 days minimum.
The home leg can be hard work. I wonder if Roger was no longer doing the south coast for the enjoyment factor. Rather than a means to an end. I came home via the east coast & just wanted to get back. However, the euphoria of having done it makes one want to keep going & carry on round again.
I asked a friend about this & he said that having completed one circuit, he felt that he really needed to do it again. However, covid upset his plans. I am certain he will do it soon though. After the first trip the second is less stressfull. But one still needs to rest between each trip.
As for apologies-- I suggest that those that objecting to Roger might consider their position. It was Roger's posts written in his style with his personality & should have been recognised as such.

 

[steve yates]

One other thing struck me, sailing should be for fun, or for the challenge, but always for oneself. If you are feeling so pressured you should take a step back and think about what you want to do for you, that day. Dont allow any idea of an audience or following influence what you do, or should be doing, ever! If you feel you must post write ups or edit video, then just dont. This is YOUR hobby, its all about yourself and doing what pleases you. The internet and the people on it are not actually real and dont matter in real life when push comes to shove. Your family and your mates are all the folk you should be caring about pleasing, and even then not really .
Stress is cumulative, the great thing about sailing is that any stress of planning and making passages, dissipates entirely once yourdocked, and then its a different fresh stress the next time, so its not that horrible creeping cumulative stress of working and living.
Trying to write and video for an audience on here will be more like work, with that creeping stress coming in.
I know you wanted to rush the trip, for your own reasons, and thats fine, but you have the associated tiredness to cope with by doing that, and dont need to add any other shit on top of that. Forget us, we dont matter, just enjoy your boat and your sailing. I really hope you have an excellent relaxed last set of stages.

 

[SaltIre]

From my experience of my 2 solo trips one has to make sure that one rests as much as possible on the way. At a minimum sail a day & rest a day. If it is a long trip. ie a leg over 80 miles then rest 2 days minimum.
The home leg can be hard work. I wonder if Roger was no longer doing the south coast for the enjoyment factor. Rather than a means to an end. I came home via the east coast & just wanted to get back. However, the euphoria of having done it makes one want to keep going & carry on round again.
I asked a friend about this & he said that having completed one circuit, he felt that he really needed to do it again. However, covid upset his plans. I am certain he will do it soon though. After the first trip the second is less stressfull. But one still needs to rest between each trip.
As for apologies-- I suggest that those that objecting to Roger might consider their position. It was Roger's posts written in his style with his personality & should have been recognised as such.

I've considered my position - thank you.

 

[Concerto]

Christ I hope big Andy doesn't read this. Hahaha

Andrew is a large lad who enjoys a beer or three. Andrew is appreciative of some recommendations of his service I have given to some local boat owners and has helped grow his business.

 

[LittleSister]

Don't knock yourself for falling into that condition. It's all too easy to do, and many of us, including me, have done it to a greater or lesser degree. Well done for eventually recognising what was happening and taking the right decision - a break to recover.

That takes longer than you may think, in my experience (of both myself and observing others), so do continue to take it easy and don't push yourself too much or too quickly.

I read some of your early posts on the trip, and have been deliberately saving up the bulk of them for binge-reading later.

I haven't seen the post/thread you felt the need to apologise for, so have no idea whether it was actually needed or not, but well done for doing so. We could do with a bit more of that on here.

Good luck for the remainder of your impressive journey, but take it on only when you're ready and at a leisurely pace.

 

[Concerto]

From my experience of my 2 solo trips one has to make sure that one rests as much as possible on the way. At a minimum sail a day & rest a day. If it is a long trip. ie a leg over 80 miles then rest 2 days minimum.
The home leg can be hard work. I wonder if Roger was no longer doing the south coast for the enjoyment factor. Rather than a means to an end. I came home via the east coast & just wanted to get back. However, the euphoria of having done it makes one want to keep going & carry on round again.
I asked a friend about this & he said that having completed one circuit, he felt that he really needed to do it again. However, covid upset his plans. I am certain he will do it soon though. After the first trip the second is less stressfull. But one still needs to rest between each trip.
As for apologies-- I suggest that those that objecting to Roger might consider their position. It was Roger's posts written in his style with his personality & should have been recognised as such.

Writing up a day's sail straight after completing it does make it better copy as it is fresher in my mind. There have been times I have stayed in port for 4 or 5 days. Part of my problem is I try to cram too much into every day even when in port, so I never get enough rest. My fault as I have not been looking after myself.

Since leaving Lowestoft, I have never visited any of the ports until I entered the Hamble. This was partly to test myself and partly because I wanted to see places. The chance to be at the boat show everyday was one I suggested before leaving the show last year as I enjoyed talking with so many interesting people. Until 3 weeks before the show I was told I was only required for the final 3 days, then more exhibitor passes were provided, so I had to speed up my trip to get to the Solent in time. It did put a little extra pressure when the wind was SE to get along the South Coast, hence why I pushed on from Newlyn to Brixham in such rough weather. The video I made quickly of this trip is now the most watched of all my videos, much to my surprise. (If you have not watched it .

Then crossing Lyme Bay and going direct to Poole was another long sail and the rain stopped me going into Poole for a look round. The final leg into the Solent was the shortest of the three, but would be considered by many as a long day's sail, but not by me. I did feel fantastic that I had arrived on the exact day I had planned after a total of 112 days. We all know how difficult that is to do, especially when the weather is not right.

I have said this before, I am a regular guy who has done a lot of things that many would like to do or dream of doing. Several of the private messages I have received have stated this in terms of the boat renovation and the trip. Some have been from people who have not commented or liked any of my posts, which is very touching. Several agree that others in the thread should also apologise. Let us all see if they are man enough to do what I have done. Better still learn from this and make the forum a nicer place to post and discuss sailing and associated problems.

 

[Concerto]

One other thing struck me, sailing should be for fun, or for the challenge, but always for oneself. If you are feeling so pressured you should take a step back and think about what you want to do for you, that day. Dont allow any idea of an audience or following influence what you do, or should be doing, ever! If you feel you must post write ups or edit video, then just dont. This is YOUR hobby, its all about yourself and doing what pleases you. The internet and the people on it are not actually real and dont matter in real life when push comes to shove. Your family and your mates are all the folk you should be caring about pleasing, and even then not really .
Stress is cumulative, the great thing about sailing is that any stress of planning and making passages, dissipates entirely once yourdocked, and then its a different fresh stress the next time, so its not that horrible creeping cumulative stress of working and living.
Trying to write and video for an audience on here will be more like work, with that creeping stress coming in.
I know you wanted to rush the trip, for your own reasons, and thats fine, but you have the associated tiredness to cope with by doing that, and dont need to add any other shit on top of that. Forget us, we dont matter, just enjoy your boat and your sailing. I really hope you have an excellent relaxed last set of stages.

When I was racing with the family in the late 1960'2 through to the late 1980's, we always ensured we sailed to the best of our ability and if we did well it was a bonus, not winning at all costs. Yes this trip was a personal challenge, but one I made slightly more difficult by leaving nearly a month later than planned due to over running improvements to Concerto.

Writing was always something I hated at school but over time I have come to enjoy. I frequently find it a stress relief, not a stress. Perhaps the comments from people enjoying my writing style (what ever that is) and looking forward to the next or even when I was too late to post and went straight to bed to find a comment asking if I was alright. All of these kept me motivated to fill my days to the limit. This was my choice, would I change it on another trip, I doubt it. Next year I was planning to take 6 to 7 weeks to visit the Channel Islands and the Isles of Scilly, only to find the WOA are planning the national cruise to the Channel Islands, so I will be amongst friends.

 

[Concerto]

I read some of your early posts on the trip, and have been deliberately saving up the bulk of them for binge-reading later.

You should enjoy reading them and by then I should have edited the videos. Tucked away I have a long post that I wrote about having Concerto at the Southmpton Boat Show last year. A cut down version was printed in the WOA magazine and I am giving this as a talk in January to the Kent Branch of the Cruising Association. So late January, when it is cold and damp, I will post it. Something to look forward to.

 

[Concerto]

Just been reading another thread and agreed with the content. Guess who also agreed? None other than the person who I put on ignore. He is no longer on ignore. So he is off the naughty step.

 

[steveeasy]

One persons achievements can seam so insignificant to another mans own goals. I wonder if the secret is to have admiration for everyones own achievements. Now that can be motoring down the Hamble. Out in the Solent. Going round the UK or crossing the Atlantic. Make any sense.
Whats really important is your own goals and sense of achievement. Ive fulfilled mine several times over, but they are trivial in comparison to others. My main flutters. My Fatherinlaw died last week. 91 and a mounted lifeguard. simple man. drove me mad for 20 odd years. I grew to have much admiration for this man. not because he had achieved so much but for his simple goal to support his family as best he could and indeed did to the full. by being a nice chap.

Steveeasy

 

[Concerto]

One last question for you all.

In my about me page I list all the links to the threads of my trip. Should I continue to include the link for the thread that the moderators became involved with? I know given a little time it will move well down the list and will never rise to the top again as it has been closed. My thought is to leave it for the moment and later remove it when this thread drops down the list.

 

[benjenbav]

One last question for you all.

In my about me page I list all the links to the threads of my trip. Should I continue to include the link for the thread that the moderators became involved with? I know given a little time it will move well down the list and will never rise to the top again as it has been closed. My thought is to leave it for the moment and later remove it when this thread drops down the list.

Day 113? Might I suggest copying the initial post and linking to that. The thread then goes on to deal with SIBS which is slightly off topic and could perhaps be unlinked.

As the above may be construed as discussing a thread of which further discussion had been requested to be ceased and desisted, I may not be posting for a while. So, whilst I hope not to have offended anyone, if I have, I apologise.

All the best.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I was interested what Concerto said
That he felt he needed to post this thread , it took me a while but in the end I found the posting regarding the Solent,
It's amazing how someone can go from being popular to being shot down here just because some are not in agreement with them.
It's a pity he felt he needed to Apologise.
As a long distance cruiser and many years before my partner joined me a solo sailor doing a trip as Concerto did must had taken quite a lot out of him,
So no wonder he feels the way he does .
I'm not sure doing it the way he did that he could had got much enjoying out of it,
it's not my way of cruising and reading some of his posting it felt more like an endurance race.
I got the feeling he was trying to keep everyone interested in his trip and doing it as much for others rather then himself,
so with that in mind it's a Shane tho who been following him and seen to got some enjoyment out of his posting didn't give the guy some leeway when he needed it most.
over many years of posting on YBW forum what I found is there always few who want to make others get to a breaking point for their own enjoyment, you just have to look back to that Dylan business.

@ Concerto well done on your trip but next time do it for yourself , take more time and explore places .

 

[Daydream believer]

@ Concerto well done on your trip but next time do it for yourself , take more time and explore places .

+1