UK to Australia in a Drascombe Lugger?

[rbcoomer]

I've not been around these fora for a while and I don’t often venture out of the Motor Boat forum, but felt this might be of more interest here and thought it warranted a share. It’s a film on YouTube about a man who attempted to sail an 18ft open Drascombe Lugger from the UK to Australia in 1969. I thought it encapsulated some great British spirit of adventure and period footage. Enjoy. :encouragement:

 

[dom]

My goodness, what a guy!

Tks for link; will watch rest tomorrow :encouragement:

 

[Yorkshire Exile]

What an unassuming man. Me and my friend spent a week on Loch Lomand when we were 17 in a Drascombe Lugger. The only similarity was the cultural issues.

 

[psammead]

The book is a good read and highlights how a repeat journey would be nigh on impossible now due to the lack of stability in the Middle East. The book is very hard to find and when copies come up for sale they are generally expensive. I was lucky that my sister found me one in an old book shop for my 40th ��

 

[Boathook]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[rbcoomer]

For those who enjoyed this video, I see there’s an interview and Q&A about the trip posted now:

 

[dom]

For those who enjoyed this video...
[/video]

Some great links you're finding; suspecting an inner raggie somewhere trying to get out

 

[ari]

An incredible story and a very self effacing gentleman, good for him!

Could it be done today, given all the changes that have happened in the world in the intervening 50 years?

In fact could it be done better today, given the improvements in technology, communication, weather forecasting and so forth?

Anyone fancy trying it..?

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

I suppose you could always try the other direction … allow a few extra days! .. :encouragement:

 

[rbcoomer]

Some great links you're finding; suspecting an inner raggie somewhere trying to get out

Haha! I think me resorting to sail is stretching the imagination more than a little... I just felt it was a really interesting and somewhat inspiring story and as I couldn't see it had been posted, thought others might like to see too. I might be tempted to have a go in a fast powerboat, but alas couldn't afford the fuel or the time off work, let alone said fast powerboat so I'll be content with my pottering along the South Devon coast for now.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I love these tails of derring - do. I picked up a book in a charity shop some years ago called Sailing all seas in the Idle Hour by Dwight somebody which was also inspiring and gave an interesting picture of the world in the early 20th century.

 

[ari]

I suppose you could always try the other direction … allow a few extra days! .. :encouragement:

Wouldn't it be uphill on the way back?

50 years on it's hard to think of a better boat to do it in than a custom adapted Drascombe Lugger though - assuming you wanted to do it in a sub 20ft lifting keel open boat in the first place of course.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Dwight Long

I love these tails of derring - do. I picked up a book in a charity shop some years ago called Sailing all seas in the Idle Hour by Dwight somebody which was also inspiring and gave an interesting picture of the world in the early 20th century.

 

[DownWest]

I suppose you could always try the other direction … allow a few extra days! .. :encouragement:

I sent the link to a friend who did try it the 'other way', in a Javanese fishing boat. Got as far as Christamas Isl, before the boat gave up. He should have written a book.

 

[rotrax]

" Tinkerbelle " by Robert Manry is about his crossing of the Atlantic on a 14 foot ply cabin dinghy.

His previous sailing was on the Great lakes, not the Ocean.

Mind you, the Great Lakes can get pretty dodgy from time to time....................................

 

[Seajet]

Not quite the same and a full decked boat with cabin, but David Blagden did well in the 1972 OSTAR in his Oliver Lee designed ' Squib with a lid ' Hunter 19 ' Willing Griffin '.

It was a race of extremes, Blagden in his 19' v Jean Yves Terlain in the 128' ' Vendredi 13 '.

The Hunter came in 10th, which many regarded a moral victory against the V 13 monster.

David Blagden went on to present the ITV series ' Plain Sailing ' but was lost when his 39' wooden yawl was wrecked off Alderney.

His rather good book ' Very Willing Griffin ' is much sought after among Hunter owners and sailors of all sorts.