The late Mike Perham

Twister_Ken

Twister_Ken

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I see Mike Perham is still kicking his heels in Cape Town, making his restart date later and later.

http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20090116100155pboyacht.html

Meanwhile the Austral winter gets closer, and the weather gets tougher. Is he really making a serious attempt or is he hoping that "lateness of the season" will eventually give him a good excise to abandon?
 
I seem to remember that when he arrived in Cape town they said the rudder bearing would be a 2 day job, then he'd be on his way.

Lots of mention of the mast, which I don't recall being mentioned before the stop. Sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

So how long is it going to take him to get to Cape Horn? In an open 50, not racing?
60 days? 70?

That's almost into May...
 
Yep as the days grow longer here I've been wondering about that. I can't see how he can possibly make it round Cape Horn this year, even if he left next week and didn't stop again it would be too late.

So (assuming he continues on) I'm assuming they plan either to stop somewhere for the winter (Aus, maybe Perth around April?) and come back to this in the southern spring, or else maybe through the Panama canal.
 
Just don't get it... if the lad wants to be a top ocean racer why didn't they spend the money on a Mini campaign? Surely he'd learn far more doing a series of single-handed races against matched boats leading to a Mini Transat. It must be cheaper than round the world in an Open 50. Wouldn't that be a better way in to the sport than chasing a "youngest" record? Not critical of the lad, just seems a bit of a bizarre project and boat choice if he is not racing, and don't see where it leads him in the future.
 
Geez, guys! Give the pessimism a break!
I spoke to Mike and his dad this afternoon- they're having a torrid time getting their rudder repaired, along with sundry other damage inflicted after a crude attempt to turn his boat into a petroglyph failed...
Next stop Hobart- and yes, I think there'll be a layup there again.
Having had a look at the boat, I'd rather be doing some sailing on an Open 50 than a Mini any day!
I think the skepticism must be helluva hard for a teenager- remember that his peers are riding skateboards and catching buses, rather than chasing around the world on a fast cruise. Just another thing to put it into perspective: the average RN Lieutenant was only two years older than him about 100 years ago!
 
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Just don't get it... if the lad wants to be a top ocean racer why didn't they spend the money on a Mini campaign? Surely he'd learn far more doing a series of single-handed races against matched boats leading to a Mini Transat. It must be cheaper than round the world in an Open 50. Wouldn't that be a better way in to the sport than chasing a "youngest" record? Not critical of the lad, just seems a bit of a bizarre project and boat choice if he is not racing, and don't see where it leads him in the future.

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You write as though the only value to this trip is as a means to an end - a career in sailing or as a 'learning' experience. In fact it's well worth doing for it's own sake. Reading his blog it's clear he's having the time of his life & making the best of the prime of his life.

If when push comes to shove he feels it's too late in the season and the conditions are unmanageable Mike can head North and go through the Panama Canal. He's in a better position to make that call than anyone on this thread.

Don't forget that a lame 65 year old Francis Chichester was in these waters as late as March 22nd. Mike won't be that far behind him and has youth and modern kit on his side.

Also I think the title of the thread is rather unfortunate. People said very similar things about Chichester. He felt the strain of what he described as 'sniping from doom forecasters' and made the point that "All these negative wishings and willings use up valuable strength in resisting them". I think we've all felt that - when an weak crewmember opens his trap everyone wastes brain power fighting the seeds of doubt he's planted.

To anyone still undecided about Mike, I'd suggest a good long read of his blog:
http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/

Just to be clear I'm not having a pop at anyone in this thread - I think most have the points have been pretty reasonable in contrast to some other comment.
 
Adamastor,

I see exactly where you're coming from, but things have been going wrong with this campaign from the start. There comes a point where you say "It's a wrap for now, lets get the boat sorted properly, and start over when the seasons are on our side." Maybe the sponsors wouldn't like that, but the sponsors aren't the ones at risk.

Laying up in Hobart - well , why not, but this started out as - I quote - "becoming the youngest person to sail single-handed and unassisted around the world." So far there's been plenty of assistance.

As for nipping through the Canal, that defeats another part of his original objective "The journey must be entirely unassisted and completed under sail by wind and muscle power alone."
 
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things have been going wrong with this campaign from the start.

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Although nothing unusual compared to other similar attempts in the past. (Was it about 1/3 of the vendee boats that finished?)

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There comes a point where you say "It's a wrap for now, lets get the boat sorted properly, and start over when the seasons are on our side."

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Yes, and Mike is in a far better position to know when that point has been reached than his arm chair critics.

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Laying up in Hobart - well , why not, but this started out as - I quote - "becoming the youngest person to sail single-handed and unassisted around the world." So far there's been plenty of assistance. As for nipping through the Canal, that defeats another part of his original objective "The journey must be entirely unassisted and completed under sail by wind and muscle power alone."

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So what? Have you never done a sailing trip where your original objective changed due to circumstances or conditions?
 
Are we sure that all the old f=rts crtisizing aren't just suffering from huge pangs of jealousy?

Good luck to the boy, I say!
 
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Are we sure that all the old f=rts crtisizing aren't just suffering from huge pangs of jealousy? Good luck to the boy, I say!

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Old f=rts quite possibly, but if like me, quite probably parents with a different mindset to Perham Snr.
 
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Old f=rts quite possibly, but if like me, quite probably parents with a different mindset to Perham Snr.

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The parallels with critics of previous RTW adventures are really interesting. Sir Francis Chichester's armchair critics also didn't restrict their attacks to him but chose to hound his family as well. In CF's case, wife rather than father. In his own words: I do not believe that there is any other woman in the world who could have stood up against this steady sniping as Sheila did [once Sir F was away] Shelia would be left with even worse attacks to repel. 'How could you bear to let him go'


Meanwhile Mike's updated his blog again - you can sense his enthusiasm and zest for action - what a contrast contrast with the bitter whining from his detractors.

http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/

A quote from a Bio I found on the web:
Michael is a rare creature; an English teenage hero, positive, determined and embarrassingly modest. He has already become an inspiration to many, and to young people in particular.

He's certainly an inspiration to me. I plonked myself on the sofa after work yesterday, when I read his Blog I thought "s*d-it", got of my arse and went out for a run. He certainly set me a better example than my other role models. (Oliver Reed and George Best)
 
Sorry toad what was that link again? By the way I think his sponsor pays per website linking to him, not by the number of links.

Hmm, safaris, water skying etc, well I'm glad he's enjoying his holiday but I see his website is still asking for donations towards his trip...
 
I don't think anyone doubts his enthusiasm .... and seeing as he doesn't look like he's pulling out I believe we all hope that he'll get round safely ...

I think what is lacking is any perceived application of wisdom ... with the number of stops he's had to make on the way to cape town would he not be better off canning it - getting some real practice whilst down south, bring the boat back safely to the northern hemisphere and have a go at getting the non-stop record next season ...

to me (and many others) it looks more and more like a "record at all costs" trip - which whilst will be great if he achieves it, it is a risk that he's been advised against by those with far more experience than himself.

Personally I'd be rather concerned about a boat that has to have "so many repairs" over such a "short distance", true only a 1/3rd of the vendee competitors will complete, but they were racing, whilst Mike should be able to take it easier - although I guess he'll want to put his foot down when he can!
 
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I'm glad he's enjoying his holiday but I see his website is still asking for donations towards his trip...

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As a member of the landed gentry myself, (are you familiar with Toad Hall?) I also disapprove of the lower classes funding their sailing with sponsorship and public donations. Of course sailing should be restricted to those of us who are wealthy enough to fund our trips without outside assistance. I'm sure some smart alec might point out that at 16 he won't have had time to build up a fortune to fund his own sailing, but you and I know that's just one more reason why only those of us born with vast inherited wealth should be out sailing.

Chin, chin.
 
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to me (and many others) it looks more and more like a "record at all costs" trip

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On the one hand he gets slagged off for skiving off the sailing for a long break in Cape Town. At the same time he's accused of taking the record too seriously. Which suggests that he's got the balance exactly right.

I assume you're reading his blog - does he seem to be obsessed with the record? No. He hardly mentions it. He's just a young bloke having the time of his life on a fast boat.

Frankly, if it was a 'record at all costs' trip what's wrong with that, if he thinks the risk is worth it who are we to tell him otherwise?

The things people are saying about him now are the same things they said before the Atlantic trip. They are the same things that ware said about every lone RTW pioneer including Chichester and Knox-Johnson.
 
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to me (and many others) it looks more and more like a "record at all costs" trip

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On the one hand he gets slagged off for skiving off the sailing for a long break in Cape Town. At the same time he's accused of taking the record too seriously. Which suggests that he's got the balance exactly right.

I assume you're reading his blog - does he seem to be obsessed with the record? No. He hardly mentions it. He's just a young bloke having the time of his life on a fast boat.

Frankly, if it was a 'record at all costs' trip what's wrong with that, if he thinks the risk is worth it who are we to tell him otherwise?

The things people are saying about him now are the same things they said before the Atlantic trip. They are the same things that ware said about every lone RTW pioneer including Chichester and Knox-Johnson.

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His blog is actually very good, he comes across as quite likeable in it and the enthusiasm is there for all to see.

However, this doesn't stop me feeling really uneasy at the thought of him heading into the southern oceans, late in the season, on that boat.

It's worth remembering that of all the vendee sailors that retired only one required outside assistance from anyone except another vendee competitor, and he was really quite badly injured.
This does show the huge benefit of safety in numbers and a fleet of 30 looking out for one another.

Mike is going into the same waters that decimated that fleet of professional sailors and highly scrutinised boats utterly alone and late in the season.

It makes me uneasy, very uneasy.
 
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