Reported missing in the Bay of Biscay

[LadyInBed]

Paddy Macklin on Yacht Tessa
http://www.netnewspublisher.com/british-sailor-missing-in-bay-of-biscay/
Hope he is found and ok.
I would not have thought that it's the time of year to make that crossing!

 

[LittleSister]

Safe and well according to this BBC report -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8437275.stm

 

[Athene V30]

To me a pre arranged phone in schedule is more of a worry for the family ashore than for the individual afloat. So many things could go wrong to stop the call being made and as in this case causing concern when in fact there was nothing to worry about.

Good luck to him.

 

[mikehibb]

Glad that he is safe after all.

However I am concerned about his general well being, especially regarding his food supply.

Former painter and decorator Mr Macklin is aiming to break Robin Knox-Johnston's record and sail solo around the world in the smallest boat.

He is paying for the £40,000 expedition himself and has enough food to last 600 days.

Now how many Frey Bentos pies is that??

Perhaps he has the worlds most stable 27 footer, maybe he is using them as ballast.

 

[Blue5]

Yes, very impressive, not sure my boat would hold 600 Fray Bentos Pies............Good news to hear he is OK, I wish him good luck for the rest of his journey, its great to hear stories of people taking on challenges like this.......




.

 

[Poignard]

.. challenges like this........

Crossing the Bay of Biscay in December/January, single-handed in a small boat.

Challenging certainly, but as Sergeant Wilson (Dad's Army), might say "Do you think that's wise?"

 

[moondancer]

I wouldn't even cross the Thames at this time of year - but then I am a chicken.

I cant understand why he is setting off now. Surely he will hit the southern ocean just in time for their winter, then return to the northern hemisphere in time for our winter.

Wouldn't he have been better setting off around August - September???

 

[Blue5]

Crossing the Bay of Biscay in December/January, single-handed in a small boat.

Challenging certainly, but as Sergeant Wilson (Dad's Army), might say "Do you think that's wise?"

Corinthian spirit man.........wise?..hmmm........its probably not wise sailing singlehanded according to elf + safety, but good on him I say, he has obviously done his research as he has a budget for the project and a good food supply


Of course he could just have had a barney with the missus and left earlier than planned!!!!..................

 

[jimmynoboat]

Impressive venture and one which I will follow whenever there's news but it's a different world now than it was in '69. SAR can be mounted from more places and further out to sea and the coastguard can't afford to wait for him to pick up the phone if he's overdue with a call. They have to act. I think he needs to find a way of using that phone in the wet!

Good luck to him. Great to see someone just getting on with the job rather than making some almighty song-and-dance about it.

 

[Poignard]

Corinthian spirit man.........wise?..hmmm........its probably not wise sailing singlehanded according to elf + safety, but good on him I say, he has obviously done his research as he has a budget for the project and a good food supply

My point is not that he is unwise to sail single-handed in a small boat. But to do so in mid-winter in the Bay of Biscay suggests he hasn't done his homework.

Incidents of this type damage the reputation of single-handers. What worries me is that those who have to fund the rescue costs will come to regard them not as brave heroic figures but as ill-prepared fools. Next will come unwanted restrictions on the many yachtsmen such as me who enjoy sailing single-handed and who don't want officialdom given an excuse to stop them.

 

[bendyone]

Now how many Frey Bentos pies is that??

600