CPD
Well-Known Member
You have seen the film, what do you think ?
So, Donald Crowhurst ..... Hero, Villain, madman ...... ?
- Thread starter CPD
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savageseadog
Well-Known Member
I've read the book, he went insane. Basically he went on a one year one way ticket to hell.
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
He was one sandwich short of a picnic to have even started the project, let alone set off. The film made me wonder how he could be allowed to make as much progress as he did. I then realised that nowadays there are stringent rules on the capabilityof both boat and crew, so he wouldnt get the boat on to the drawing board, let alone off of it.
bigwow
Well-Known Member
Very sad, it seems he was backed into a no win situation
CPD
Well-Known Member
What is important is to think about what they knew then compared to what we know know - ie very very little. GPS ? Weather routing ? Navtex ? possible ? Madness to even think possible ?
CliveSmith
Well-Known Member
A little of each. Mainly hero.
Compared to the journalist Crowhurst was a saint.
Compared to the journalist Crowhurst was a saint.
Kylora
Well-Known Member
I had previously read A Voyage for Madmen .
I thought that the film treated him very gently.
Now a days Ridgeway and Blyth would be considered mad to make the attempt in the boats that they used, and with their lack of experience, but it was acceptable back then.
Crowhurst was a dreamer who allowed himself to be pushed into a corner from which he couldn't escape.
Ash
I thought that the film treated him very gently.
Now a days Ridgeway and Blyth would be considered mad to make the attempt in the boats that they used, and with their lack of experience, but it was acceptable back then.
Crowhurst was a dreamer who allowed himself to be pushed into a corner from which he couldn't escape.
Ash
gardenshed
Well-Known Member
Not a hero but also not a villain.
A very sad story of someone who didn't have anyone to give him good advice and stop him from his self destruction.
Very sad for his family.
A very sad story of someone who didn't have anyone to give him good advice and stop him from his self destruction.
Very sad for his family.
bigwow
Well-Known Member
Nice of RKJ to give the family the prize money.
alec
Well-Known Member
Tragic.
I wonder if being British was part of the problem.
We do seem to take ourselves and life too seriously.
Must keep that upper lip firm and carry on regardless no matter what.....................
I wonder if being British was part of the problem.
We do seem to take ourselves and life too seriously.
Must keep that upper lip firm and carry on regardless no matter what.....................
CPD
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Now a days Ridgeway and Blyth would be considered mad to make the attempt in the boats that they used, and with their lack of experience, but it was acceptable back then.
[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly my point ........ I ws at a RKJ talk recently where he said himself (as he has said in print) "no-one knew what was best at the time" ie yes it ws acceptable at the time, as was everything (including Crowhurst), as quite simply, no-one knew .............
Now a days Ridgeway and Blyth would be considered mad to make the attempt in the boats that they used, and with their lack of experience, but it was acceptable back then.
[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly my point ........ I ws at a RKJ talk recently where he said himself (as he has said in print) "no-one knew what was best at the time" ie yes it ws acceptable at the time, as was everything (including Crowhurst), as quite simply, no-one knew .............
boatbuilder
Well-Known Member
The boat was a stock tri, if i remember and Nigel tetly used an identical boat.
cagey
Well-Known Member
As I have matured ( OK got older) my cynisism has diminished and from experience see RKJ, AR, JR, FC and DC as very brave heroes.
DC may have conned the world but he fell on his sword and didnt exploit the situation and circumstances that eventually overwhelmed him.
Looking at their boats and equipment it is astonishing how crude and vulnerable they look, saw Suhali couple of years age at Falmouth MM she looked small and forlorn ( how wrong could I be ).
Now see RKJ as an Hero of our time and his gift of his prize to the Crowhurst family must rate as one of the last 100 yrs most gallant and selfless acts
DC may have conned the world but he fell on his sword and didnt exploit the situation and circumstances that eventually overwhelmed him.
Looking at their boats and equipment it is astonishing how crude and vulnerable they look, saw Suhali couple of years age at Falmouth MM she looked small and forlorn ( how wrong could I be ).
Now see RKJ as an Hero of our time and his gift of his prize to the Crowhurst family must rate as one of the last 100 yrs most gallant and selfless acts
Sixpence
Well-Known Member
What people seem to forget these days is that people used to sail all over the world with nothing but a compass and sextant , nowadays we're spoilt with all the electronics and information we have , or can get hold of , that's why I have nothing but admiration for those in the Jester challenge
But the sight of that poor trimaran on a caribean beach was awe inspiring
But the sight of that poor trimaran on a caribean beach was awe inspiring
boatbuilder
Well-Known Member
Trimaran, methinks.
clyst
Well-Known Member
Utter ,utter tosser !! Deprived his wife of a husband and children of a father because of stupidity.. Who but an idiot would sign such a contract that would bankrupt him if he failed in an unknown feat .Lots of sympathy for the family but absolutely none for him.
Sixpence
Well-Known Member
You are of course correct three times
Spars
Well-Known Member
A victim.
michael_w
Well-Known Member
A tragic example of the truism:
"If you are in a hole, for God's sake, stop digging".
"If you are in a hole, for God's sake, stop digging".
Babbers
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Tragic.
I wonder if being British was part of the problem.
We do seem to take ourselves and life too seriously.
Must keep that upper lip firm and carry on regardless no matter what.....................
[/ QUOTE ]
Nail on the head - to me Moitessier is the true "winner" of the race.
Crowhurst comes across as a tragic figure backed into a corner rather than a vilain.
Having read several of RKJs books - he's got a bit of "Colonel Blimp" image in my mind. But that may just be me.
Tragic.
I wonder if being British was part of the problem.
We do seem to take ourselves and life too seriously.
Must keep that upper lip firm and carry on regardless no matter what.....................
[/ QUOTE ]
Nail on the head - to me Moitessier is the true "winner" of the race.
Crowhurst comes across as a tragic figure backed into a corner rather than a vilain.
Having read several of RKJs books - he's got a bit of "Colonel Blimp" image in my mind. But that may just be me.
