savageseadog
Well-Known Member
Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
Was in the Saturday Guardian but is now on the Guardian web site Here
Was in the Saturday Guardian but is now on the Guardian web site Here
Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst's son)
- Thread starter savageseadog
- Start date
FAITIRA
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
A sad story of a man in a corner, who ultimatly, did the most honourable thing he could, RIP.
A sad story of a man in a corner, who ultimatly, did the most honourable thing he could, RIP.
Sequoiah1
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
Where every sailor not at sea should be on Monday night. I read the book as a kid and found it fascinating. Never looked on him as a fraud just someone under a huge amount of pressure in a very commercial world.
Where every sailor not at sea should be on Monday night. I read the book as a kid and found it fascinating. Never looked on him as a fraud just someone under a huge amount of pressure in a very commercial world.
aknight
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
[ QUOTE ]
Where every sailor not at sea should be on Monday night. I read the book as a kid and found it fascinating. Never looked on him as a fraud just someone under a huge amount of pressure in a very commercial world.
[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed, it's an excellent film and well worth catching. I was interested by your perception of Donald Crowhurst, however. A bunch of us were discussing this not long ago. The majority view was that there was no getting around the fact that he took the decision to fake a circumnavigation. Psychologists can try to deduce his likely state of mind all they like - and a number have - but it will forever remain uncertain whether he lost his sanity due to the commercial pressures on him before taking that fateful decision, or afterwards as the enormity of what he was doing sunk in. None of which in any way detracts from the terrible pain that his family - and, in his own way, he himself - suffered.
The film's closing eulogy by Donald Crowhurst's best friend, by the way, is extraordinarily moving. There wasn't a dry eye in the cinema when the lights came up.
[ QUOTE ]
Where every sailor not at sea should be on Monday night. I read the book as a kid and found it fascinating. Never looked on him as a fraud just someone under a huge amount of pressure in a very commercial world.
[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed, it's an excellent film and well worth catching. I was interested by your perception of Donald Crowhurst, however. A bunch of us were discussing this not long ago. The majority view was that there was no getting around the fact that he took the decision to fake a circumnavigation. Psychologists can try to deduce his likely state of mind all they like - and a number have - but it will forever remain uncertain whether he lost his sanity due to the commercial pressures on him before taking that fateful decision, or afterwards as the enormity of what he was doing sunk in. None of which in any way detracts from the terrible pain that his family - and, in his own way, he himself - suffered.
The film's closing eulogy by Donald Crowhurst's best friend, by the way, is extraordinarily moving. There wasn't a dry eye in the cinema when the lights came up.
Clarky
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
A sad tale,must have been very difficult for all concerned,its a pity he didnt just come back and laugh about his voyage.
A sad tale,must have been very difficult for all concerned,its a pity he didnt just come back and laugh about his voyage.
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
Funny thing is that in this day and age if he'd come back in disgrace, with all his notoriaty, he would have made a fortune selling his story!
Funny thing is that in this day and age if he'd come back in disgrace, with all his notoriaty, he would have made a fortune selling his story!
sighmoon
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
What an inspirational man Robin Knox Johnson is though.
What an inspirational man Robin Knox Johnson is though.
happyboater69
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
Very interesting article
Very interesting article
SailorFrank
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
the man was a cheat - Nigel Tetley pushed too hard because he thought Crowhurst was going to beat him and that is why he sunk and then hung himself later in life he was the true victim of Crowhurst lies. Crowhurst was a failure and a liar all his life and I hate the fact he is glamourised which takes away from the true British heroes of singlehanded sailing Chichester, RKJ, Chay, MacArthur, Golding et al
the man was a cheat - Nigel Tetley pushed too hard because he thought Crowhurst was going to beat him and that is why he sunk and then hung himself later in life he was the true victim of Crowhurst lies. Crowhurst was a failure and a liar all his life and I hate the fact he is glamourised which takes away from the true British heroes of singlehanded sailing Chichester, RKJ, Chay, MacArthur, Golding et al
webcraft
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
That needed to be said.
- W
That needed to be said.
- W
jhr
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
I agree, I'm afraid. Eve Tetley (Nigel T's widow) lived in the mudberth next to my father's in Badnam Creek for a while, on the trimaran that Tetley built before he killed himself. (This was in the days when RK-J was directly involved with Mercury Yacht Harbour, btw, and it wouldn't suprise me at all if he had let her keep her boat there at mate's rates - or, indeed, for nothing: he is definitely that kind of guy). The Old Man recently got back in touch with her and I get the impression that life has not been a bed of roses for her over the years. May not all have been due to her husband killing himself but it can't have helped.
I agree, I'm afraid. Eve Tetley (Nigel T's widow) lived in the mudberth next to my father's in Badnam Creek for a while, on the trimaran that Tetley built before he killed himself. (This was in the days when RK-J was directly involved with Mercury Yacht Harbour, btw, and it wouldn't suprise me at all if he had let her keep her boat there at mate's rates - or, indeed, for nothing: he is definitely that kind of guy). The Old Man recently got back in touch with her and I get the impression that life has not been a bed of roses for her over the years. May not all have been due to her husband killing himself but it can't have helped.
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
A lot of very judgemental people around here.
A lot of very judgemental people around here.
webcraft
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
[ QUOTE ]
A lot of very judgemental people around here.
[/ QUOTE ] Oh come on . . . we've all read all the books and had plenty of years to think about it. I would say the users of this forum are by and large more than entitled to have an opinion on this.
[ QUOTE ]
A lot of very judgemental people around here.
[/ QUOTE ] Oh come on . . . we've all read all the books and had plenty of years to think about it. I would say the users of this forum are by and large more than entitled to have an opinion on this.
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
What? Allowed to have an opinion? Now there's a novel idea that should be nipped in the bud.
What? Allowed to have an opinion? Now there's a novel idea that should be nipped in the bud.
mono
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
[ QUOTE ]
Crowhurst was a failure and a liar all his life
[/ QUOTE ]
That seems a bit harsh. Yes - he lied and yes - he failed to complete his circumnavigation but let's not forget that he did sail solo to the South Atlantic in what would be regarded today as a small, unsuitable boat. That in itself was a considerable achievement and could hardly be described as a failure. Even back then his tri was condemned by one boatbuilder who called it 'A right old heap of plywood' if I remember correctly.
Let's not forget too that bigger heros than Crowhurst - e.g. Chay Blyth - also gave up the race before reaching the Southern Ocean.
The Tetley affair was a very sad but unintended consequence. Arguably Tetley wouldn't have sunk if Crowhurst hadn't lied - we can't be sure - but let's have some compassion too for Crowhurst and the obvious mental anguish that he endured. He and his family also paid a very big price for his deceit.
[ QUOTE ]
Crowhurst was a failure and a liar all his life
[/ QUOTE ]
That seems a bit harsh. Yes - he lied and yes - he failed to complete his circumnavigation but let's not forget that he did sail solo to the South Atlantic in what would be regarded today as a small, unsuitable boat. That in itself was a considerable achievement and could hardly be described as a failure. Even back then his tri was condemned by one boatbuilder who called it 'A right old heap of plywood' if I remember correctly.
Let's not forget too that bigger heros than Crowhurst - e.g. Chay Blyth - also gave up the race before reaching the Southern Ocean.
The Tetley affair was a very sad but unintended consequence. Arguably Tetley wouldn't have sunk if Crowhurst hadn't lied - we can't be sure - but let's have some compassion too for Crowhurst and the obvious mental anguish that he endured. He and his family also paid a very big price for his deceit.
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
[ QUOTE ]
Chay Blyth - also gave up the race before reaching the Southern Ocean.
[/ QUOTE ]Blyth's boat was sinking. Probably a good reason to give up. So not a good comparison IMHO.
[ QUOTE ]
...but let's have some compassion too for Crowhurst and the obvious mental anguish that he endured...
[/ QUOTE ]You may as well free all prisoners. Poor sods! Imagine the mental anguish endured for being locked away for dishonesty?
[ QUOTE ]
Chay Blyth - also gave up the race before reaching the Southern Ocean.
[/ QUOTE ]Blyth's boat was sinking. Probably a good reason to give up. So not a good comparison IMHO.
[ QUOTE ]
...but let's have some compassion too for Crowhurst and the obvious mental anguish that he endured...
[/ QUOTE ]You may as well free all prisoners. Poor sods! Imagine the mental anguish endured for being locked away for dishonesty?
mono
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
It's been some time since I read the various accounts but I don't recall Blyth's boat sinking - no doubt someone here will know the whole story. My memory is that he was pitchpoled off South Africa and retired because he realised the boat wasn't up to it. Whilst there, he put right the damage and sailed back home with his wife as crew.
The point though is that Chay Blyth was one of several who retired before entering the roaring forties - others included Bill King, John Ridgeway and Loick Fugeron and Alex Carozzo.
If my comparison with Blyth wasn't good, then I'm afraid your comparison with prisoners is far, far worse. What has the self inflicted discomfort suffered by a bunch of murderers, thieves and rapists got to do with the mental torture suffered by someone who was clearly mentally ill?
It's been some time since I read the various accounts but I don't recall Blyth's boat sinking - no doubt someone here will know the whole story. My memory is that he was pitchpoled off South Africa and retired because he realised the boat wasn't up to it. Whilst there, he put right the damage and sailed back home with his wife as crew.
The point though is that Chay Blyth was one of several who retired before entering the roaring forties - others included Bill King, John Ridgeway and Loick Fugeron and Alex Carozzo.
If my comparison with Blyth wasn't good, then I'm afraid your comparison with prisoners is far, far worse. What has the self inflicted discomfort suffered by a bunch of murderers, thieves and rapists got to do with the mental torture suffered by someone who was clearly mentally ill?
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
Forget the reason for their dishonesty, my point being that both are dishonest.
Forget the reason for their dishonesty, my point being that both are dishonest.
mono
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
Crowhurst was dishonest - no argument - but in no way is his case comparable with a bunch of low life, anti-social recidivists who don't give a damn about the distress they cause to innocent victims as they carry out their rotten crimes.
Crowhurst was dishonest - no argument - but in no way is his case comparable with a bunch of low life, anti-social recidivists who don't give a damn about the distress they cause to innocent victims as they carry out their rotten crimes.
SailorFrank
Well-Known Member
Re: Simon Crowhurst Interview (Donald Crowhurst\'s son)
thankyou
thankyou
