Typical week-end conditions

[Sybarite]

" Survival conditions for Ellen MacArthur, sailing in massive violent seas
and storm force winds - wind has been averaging 40 to 50 knots - this is
an average, the gusts are still much, much higher up to 60 knots.
MacArthur is in pure survival mode, dropping the mainsail of B&Q entirely
last night and now sailing under the tiny staysail only, she was surfing
down the waves at over 30 knots on the final approach to Cape Horn."
(from Scuttlebutt Europe)

And Mike Golding has slipped back to 2nd again....

John

 

[powerskipper]

why does she do it, that must be close to hell on earth!!!!

 

[BrendanS]

Not to people that get a buzz out of it.

I did all sorts of dangerous sports when younger, in conditions most people would regard as hell...having the tiny hole around a proper -20 degree C sleeping bag freeze up in the middle of the night due to your breath, so you can't breath is a pain, but you get through it. Sleeping 8 in a 2 man tent, cos the other 3 tents have ripped in the wind etc.

Kayaking miles off shore in wonderful waves, hang gliding off cliffs and hils where you cannot land at the bottom, so you have to stay up or die, cave (pothole) scuba diving, etc.

I've tried free fall parachuting later in life and found it quite tame

They are life building experiences, that not everyone wants to go through, and only people that have gone through them can ever understand.

Tcm knocks Alan Priddy a great deal, but going to his talks, he experiences things only adventurers can ever talk about


Some will instantly understand what I'm saying, and are probably like minded. Others will not see the point

 

[Shakey]

Yeah, it's something that you do because you can.

I've never done the hang-gliding or scuba diving, but I think I know what you mean.

I've had the first stages of hypothermia twice (once camping in Sweden, once sailing in Wales) and I've been uncomfortable, cold, miserable, seasick, hot, thirsty, tired and in pain on innumerable occasions.

My favourite memory whilst out running was on the North Yorks moors, running straight into a cold January F7 with rain and hail stinging my face arms and legs.

It makes you know you're alive when every sense is screaming at you.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a masochist or owt. But which would you rather have; the discomfort of a hard run or having to get around in a wheelchair?