Sail8

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rhinorhino

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Sail8 was a silly idea in concept (as I said at the time) and now it seems, a worse one in execution.
Why were there no passengers waiting at Cherbourg? Had any ever signed up?
I for one think much the same can be said for the whole live8 industry .....
 
But what if 5000 French people were waiting on the beach and 5 boats turned up, could have been even more of a disaster.
 
For goodness sake

So what do you think would have happened? The owners would have overloaded their boats?

I don't think so.

There were some fairly severe arrangements in place both ends - it's the first time I've passport cleared and got processed into the UK in a military tent, for example.

Nothing to do with Sail8 was ideal, by definition given the late announcement of Live8 it was fairly short notice, it was never very clear whether French people were going to want a lift, but in the end we tried to put the best plan in place to respond to the challenge.

There would of course have been an alternative - the whole boating community could have gone on record back in June telling Geldof the whole thing was a crazy idea because it was so out of the traditional boating mould. If nothing else it would probably have provided the icing on the cake for most members of the general public that boating is elitist and non-engaging.

In the end we could have had up to 70 boats there and, passengers or not (and I agree that was the bit I was most nervous about too) it would have made a point. The Friday/Saturday morning weather pretty much messed that up but I don't regret taking part - and to be honest I wasn't sure I'd be saying that at the start when we were asked to assist by setting the registration page up.
 
Re: For goodness sake

Congratulations to Kim for making it.

It sounds as if it was a pretty uncomfortable ride, and a bit of a damp squib - no passengers - at the end of it. But he did it, along with only 3 others. Whether you think it was a good idea in the first place, or not,

well done Kim!
 
Re: For goodness sake

[ QUOTE ]
...the whole boating community could have gone on record back in June telling Geldof the whole thing was a crazy idea because it was so out of the traditional boating mould. If nothing else it would probably have provided the icing on the cake for most members of the general public that boating is elitist and non-engaging.

[/ QUOTE ]
So thats the choice now is it? Do Bob's bidding or be elitist and non-engaging. What about the 40+ boats who turned out in dodgy weather on a Friday recently to give 150 special needs kids a day out in Chichester Harbour? Perhaps we should have made a bid for more publicity; but somehow I don't think that was the point of the day.
 
Re: For goodness sake

Publicity or no what those boats were involved with in Chichester sounds fantastic; you're right that no-one would have known and perhaps in so many ways that is a good thing.

While I'm not sure where on earth increasing rafts of legislation leaves us with such things now some of my happiest days on my own boat were when taking out people who don't ordinarily get out on the water for one reason or another...including a party of kids from the Chenobyl area, even after they all discovered the manual inflate tags on the lifejackets and what they would do when pulled.

As for the other thing, where national press coverage is concerned it's not the reality you are ever dealing with but the actuality of what is likely to get reported. No-one was ever going to write "Boatowners have not responded due to their legitimate concerns regarding x, y and z" in much the same way as coverage has not really reflected the sensible decisions that many will have taken not to attempt a crossing in conditions they would have found uncomfortable."
 
Re: For goodness sake

BTW Kim you are to be congratulated on the level head you have kept about the whole thing. If I had taken my boat and crew across in difficult conditions only to find that there was nobody to bring back, I would have been spitting blood. No doubt that reaction would have been a gift to the media types.
 
Re: For goodness sake

Why couldnt they get on a ferry?
And anyway if they came in by yacht they would have been too late
 
[ QUOTE ]
Launch pipedream on TV, swears a bit & then expects the world to sit up, take notice

[/ QUOTE ]
That was my opinion of Sir Bob until Saturday morning. But sit the man in a studio, ask him serious questions, give him time for full answers and you should appriciate he has put a lot of thought into the problems of Africa.

Bob Geldof is more articulate than many front bench New Labour politicians.

The other allegation that annoys me goes "he's a celeb with loads of money therefore he has no right to preach on current affairs". This is a load of nonsense, we live in a capitalist society and some people will accumulate pots of gold, what counts is how people exercise their good fortune and celebrity.
 
now what?

all agreed.

I am actually a bit more concerned at the fawning by the likes of the BBC to all do-goody leftish types - whereas those who might really make a difference (in terms of tearing down trade barriers etc ) are seen as right wing and given short shrift.

So - the G8 leaders are supposed to "do something". No mention of er... what, exactly? Givem a pile of money?-live aid and others showed that didn't work. Tear down trade barriers overnight?- not sure if that's entirely possible with EU etc etc. Military action to remove dictators?- nope just had that in iraq to much public ridicule.

What does he wantem to actually do? His ranting about it is great, tho it's not the case that others who rant less don't care.

Sepretly, I note that there were no pix of smallish crowds in joburg.
 
Re: For goodness sake

Kim,

1. Where there ever any "pasengers" who had signed up to travel?

2. If not, what was the point? Did you know in advance that there were no passengers?

3. Your point about entry controls raises another issue. Have you considered how this stunt has high-lighted the informal way we have been able to cross to France for years? Lets hope that the powers that be were not listening!

4. In my view we could achive far more for Africa with a few belts of well placed 7.62mm and a few walls.
 
Re: For goodness sake

[ QUOTE ]
Kim,

1. Where there ever any "pasengers" who had signed up to travel?

2. If not, what was the point? Did you know in advance that there were no passengers?



[/ QUOTE ]

We had an inkling that the take-up was not exactly setting the world alight but the organisers still put two staff on station in Cherbourg to sort out whatever transpired and wanted us to go across if safe to do so. It was an easy call for me...having encouraged others to register on ybw I felt it right to go across anyway if safe to do so.

[ QUOTE ]
3. Your point about entry controls raises another issue. Have you considered how this stunt has high-lighted the informal way we have been able to cross to France for years? Lets hope that the powers that be were not listening!

[/ QUOTE ]

Judging from a conversation I had with an immigration man yesterday they are not exactly unaware of the potential, a situation that has been the case for years ever since compulsory C1331s (and even that was open to abuse). But it seems the ferry is the chosen route used and they have their hands full dealing with that; one illegal turned back four times in a week was one story I heard. Given that UK is not a signatory of Schengen Agreement I'm sure officials could and would make yacht procedures much more onerous if they thought a threat was present.

[ QUOTE ]
4. In my view we could achive far more for Africa with a few belts of well placed 7.62mm and a few walls.

[/ QUOTE ]
And Iraq wasn't a controversial solution, was it?
 
Re: We made it

Just got back from Sail 8, I was the skipper of Che shale one of the three sailing yachts, a bit of a disappointing turn out but excellent fun in the end, the sail into Portsmouth with the accompanying helicopters and press boats was great. The organisation when we arrived by the guy's at IFOS was superb, after we where checked in and issued with passes we where allocated a free berth in the south basin and then made full use of the Crew room for a few well earned beers.

Sir Bob himself had phoned us earlier and has invited us all to join him at the concert in Scotland on Wednesday even going to the extent of return transport from London on the Virgin train which I guess makes up for him not being there to meet us.

Kim, sorry I didn't get around to introducing myself but we where kept pretty busy by the Press at the time.


Perry
 
Re: We made it

I think if the 'flotilla' had been left at just that, then it could have taken off in a big way (even though the weather would probably have killed it on the day). It could have turned into a great weekend out. The problem was with the French passengers. Any Frenchman who enjoys the sea has already got a boat, the rest just wouldn't be interested.
 
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