The sailor of the century

[grumpy_o_g]

Elvstrom, Ainslie, Uffa Fox, Tilman, Moitessier, Tabarly, RKJ, Blondie Haslar, Shane Acton - you could take your pick. I'd probably put Hilary Lister pretty high up that list too.

 

[Tomahawk]

Tarbely is a national hero who inspired thousands onto the water..
Ben is a hero, but has he inspired peeps to take up a rag?

 

[Blueboatman]

Blondie Haslar for me simply because he pioneered small offshore racing and with his inventive mind developed a western take on Chinese rigs ( junk) , minimalist boats for that( Jester). And a self steering windvane, named after himself..so that is three things..

Tabarly just raced 'em ( sort of) but raised the sports profile a lot more in France..

Ellen McArthur seems to have inspired young Brits to have a go.

There must be plenty ' behind the scenes' who quietly got international RTW racing up and running , with bigger budgets. Sponsors, media coverage and the technologically innovative 'thirst for speed '.

 

[Daydream believer]

Sir Ben - essentially hasn't been beaten in a regatta since 1996


I think you are wrong there
He was disquailified in Australia
So lost that one!!!


I think the best are those that inspire others to have a go so I would go for the Hiscocks because i read about them in my younger days . less so by Tabarly
I would not vote for Blake but I would RKJ, AlecRose & Chichester
The little heard of William Willis did some amazing feats & his book "the seven little sisters" was a great read

 

[Seajet]

As far as I recall RKJ didn't initiate the first Golden Globe race, he was against it - Suhali was hardly a racing boat - and people died trying to beat him.

Peter Blake lies in Warblington cemetery and a tradition has sprung up of leaving coins on his grave which shows a huge respect.

My vote however would be for Arthur Ransome, for the wonderful introduction to sailing he has given to so many, including me; when I went aboard ' Nancy Blackett ' - ' Goblin ' in ' We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea ' complete with ladies wearing Swallows & Amazons clothes at an International Festival Of The Sea- I don't mind admitting there was a tear in my eye.

 

[paul.norton]

Maurice Griffiths?

 

[Babylon]

The French have voted for Eric Tabarly.

Do you have a source for this? What context? What Century?

Otherwise I'm voting for Jack Aubrey - for giving the French one in the eye on numerous occasions!

 

[Roberto]

Donald Crowhurst for the sailing century's dark side nominee

 

[westernman]

I would vote for James Cook - depends on which century we are talking about.

 

[Allan]

Yves Parlier? His Vendee globe story is inspirational. I think Moitessier gets it for me though.
Allan

 

[Seadog17]

I'm surprised that Chichester has only been mentioned once.

 

[Seajet]

I'm surprised that Chichester has only been mentioned once.

Agreed, ' The Lonely Sea And The Sky ' is a truly inspirational book.

 

[Quandary]

Talbarry is a good shout, but I have to think that getting killed at sea has to count against you in this category /QUOTE]

But he should get extra points for having chosen a crew that did not make a fuss about it, Pen Duick carried on to the Fife regatta without him and a week later I had the privilege of taking a load of photos of two cracking classics close racing tack for tack to windward up the Sound of Mull on one of those bright afternoons with a fresh breeze, sunshine and towering cumulus.
Had to get up a couple of times in the early hours of the next morning to disentangle her bowsprit from our lifelines but it was a pleasure to have such a boat anchored so close. Had a chat with them in the morning but did not feel it appropriate to ask if they were missing Eric.
My vote is for Tabarly.

 

[westhinder]

Not being French or British, I have no loyalty issues. Tabarly gets my vote for the impact he has had on the sport and its popularity, and not just in France. Not only did his achievements draw lots of people to sailing, look at all the big names in French sailing who started crewing for Tabarly and went on to make a name for themselves. Then there was his influence on the technical development of raceboats, his early adoption of multihulls and his labour of love in saving and restoring Penn Duick.
Much as I admire Robin Knox Johnston for his extraordinary seamanship and his perseverance, I am afraid he is a very worthy second. Peter Blake and Moitessier are two very different contenders for third place.
And if loyalty comes into play, I must mention Willy De Roos, the first man to do the Northwest Passage in one season.

 

[Grumpybear]

Nothing much to argue with in the earlier posts.

But, going back a bit how about:

Vito Dumas?

the Smeetons?

 

[Seajet]

Nothing much to argue with in the earlier posts.

But, going back a bit how about:

Vito Dumas?

the Smeetons?

Grumpybear,

I'm glad you reminded me, I had - unforgivably - forgotten the Smeetons, their book ' Once is Enough ' and their life story ' High Endeavours ' should be mandatory reading in all schools, as should ' The Loneley Sea And The Sky ' to show there is a life beyond Halfords and nuclear powered hi-fi's !

 

[[2574]]

For me, the sailor of this century is Jeanne Socrates. She must surely win the YJA Yachtsman of the year.

 

[dovekie]

The list of candidates will be very long I suspect.

I suggest Tim and Pauline Carr, and Willie Ker.

 

[Nicholas123]

Peter Tangvald,no competition.Of course he did'nt have the backing of the establishment.

 

[bigwow]

James Wharram