Ships were wood, Men were steel.

[capnsensible]

Thought some of you might enjoy this. Nothing new but nicely worked re visit to old toys.

And not a nimby pamby plotter in sight!

THE MAINTENANCE RACE - Works in Progress

 

[capnsensible]

Perhaps there's a case for it being in pbo, but hey, live on the edge.

 

[capnsensible]

Which one are you???

 

[Wansworth]

Thought some of you might enjoy this. Nothing new but nicely worked re visit to old toys.

And not a nimby pamby plotter in sight!

THE MAINTENANCE RACE - Works in Progress

Namby…….surely?

 

[jamie N]

Gosh, that's a good read!

 

[capnsensible]

Namby…….surely?

Rephrase. Which of the three types of maintence men are you?

 

[Corribee Boy]

Thanks for posting that.

 

[PhillM]

Thank you.. I really enjoyed that read. I think I tend to prepare to avoid... but then I start with old boats that act as a somewhat blank canvas, or more correctly, a mess in need of restoration., So I might as well do it well. If I don't, I only have myself to blame.

 

[Supertramp]

A great comparison and way to tell the story. I want to be like Motessier, end up more like Knox-Johnston and perhaps sometimes delude myself like Crowhurst.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[dolabriform]

Thanks for posting that, fantastic to see the story from a different perspective

 

[Skylark]

No matter how many times the story is rehashed, it always makes for a good read.

 

[capnsensible]

An old sailing oppo of mine sent me the link. We have done lots of deliveries together on boats of varying standards of maintenence. It certainly provides 'discussion opportunities'

 

[Draystone]

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Thanks.

What sort of maintenance man am I?
I've been (and continue to be) all three; although, not at the same time. ?

 

[Frogmogman]

Thanks for posting that.

Two of my heroes were in that race. Robin K-J and Bill King (on Galway Blazer).

A world of my own was one of my favourite books as a kid (and still is). I’ve always admired Sir Robin for his seamanship, his sportsmanship and his resourcefulness. What a legend.

Bill King had the unique distinction of being a submarine commander on 3rd September 1939, and a submarine commander on the day the war ended; in such a dangerous and stressful job, this record was matched by nobody. He embarked upon the golden globe partly to try and get the demons out of his head. His books about the Navy and about sailing are well worth reading.

I’ve always loved the Frenchness of Moitessier; how appropriate that the crisis that cost him the race was an existential one.

 

[Uricanejack]

I enjoyed that.

I don’t think I match up to any of their maintenance standards

 

[Kukri]

I grew up with the Sir R K-J approach because for most of the history of messing about in boats it was the only one. The Moitessier approach has steadily gained in popularity and may now be the dominant one, but it is best for the deep pocketed, who can afford one of the various “bullet proof” yachts now marketed for long distance sailing.

My sailing mentors were my father, whose sailing career ran from 1919 to 1985, interrupted by six years’ steam and motor yachting, and HW Tilman whose sailing career ran from 1949 to 1977. They set out with a good supply of tools and materials and knew that they could repair pretty much any part of the boat. A crucial part of this approach is never pushing the boat hard.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

That was a fabulous read. Thanks for posting. Made me think about my backlog of things to fix.

 

[Frank Holden]

Two minor nit pics -- Crowhurst landed in Brasil not Argentina .

And also
'the perilous Southern Ocean – the ‘Roaring Forties’ latitudes between 40 and 50 degrees south of the equator – where storms and waves that are sometimes immense blast eternally from the west, uninterrupted all the way around the world.'
Uninterrupted ? No -- South America hangs down to about 56* South .
'Blast(s) eternally from the west'?
No. .. you get southerlies, you get easterlies, you get northerlies, you even get calms.
The killer is the north westerly gale over a heavy south westerly swell. Don't ask.
earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions

 

[zoidberg]

The killer is the north westerly gale over a heavy south westerly swell. Don't ask.

This now being August, I am reminded we can and do get broadly similar conditions, with broadly similar consequences, in a 'Celtic Sea' not so very far away.