Webb Chiles
- Thread starter Wansworth
- Start date
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
He seems a little odd, but I really rate Web Chiles and his writing. If anyone can find the long gone "furled sails" podcast interview with him it's well worth a listen.
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
The story of Webb Chiles that amazes me was when, without warning his boat sank under him. He had had a collision with a feighter some time before which must have loosened the keel.
He had just enough time to grab a credit car (so that he could be identified) and then stepped into the sea. He swam for 26 hours before being rescued by a fishing boat some 85 miles from where his boat sank. It helped that he had been a competitive swimmer.
He said that he tried to drown himself but that the survival instinct was too strong.
He had just enough time to grab a credit car (so that he could be identified) and then stepped into the sea. He swam for 26 hours before being rescued by a fishing boat some 85 miles from where his boat sank. It helped that he had been a competitive swimmer.
He said that he tried to drown himself but that the survival instinct was too strong.
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
That's interesting, because the version of that story he told the Furled Sails podcast was that it was essentially attempted suicide. He just randomly decided it was time to die, and opened the sea cocks.
When he saw the fishing boat he changed his mind.
I wonder which version is the more accurate.
85 miles in 26 hours?
Whatever. Great man, great sailor, great writer, great speaker. He can do no wrong in my eyes.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Must have been a 3kt current
not a chance anyone is swimming for 26 hours straight, even 2 hours will tax most people as it’s slightly harder than a half marathon, and 4 hours would be a bigger effort than running a full marathon. That’s all assuming warm and dressed appropriately.Frank Holden
Well-Known Member
Some chap fell orf a Union Castle liner some time in the 60's. Posted missing in the morning- ship reversed course and picked him up after he had been treading water for 24 hours.
Meanwhile, I have a copy of 'The Ocean Waits' - his near circumnavigation in a Drascombe Lugger - OK two Drascombe Luggers the first was impounded by the Saudis when he was in the Red Sea.
I believe the Singapore - Aden leg still stands as longest open boat voyage on record.
Meanwhile, I have a copy of 'The Ocean Waits' - his near circumnavigation in a Drascombe Lugger - OK two Drascombe Luggers the first was impounded by the Saudis when he was in the Red Sea.
I believe the Singapore - Aden leg still stands as longest open boat voyage on record.
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
My grandfather and several of his mates were treading water in the Med for over 24 hours when they were sunk in WW2 so I have no doubts about the time in the water.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Treading water yes but swimming 85 miles not so much. There’s a reason cross channel swimmers don’t set off from Portland
Frogmogman
Well-Known Member
Hmm. About 325 NM further than Captain Bligh. Impressive.
AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
But Bligh's voyage was in an overloaded ship's boat through almost uncharted waters!
Frogmogman
Well-Known Member
Of course. An amazing feat of seamanship.
Frogmogman
Well-Known Member
I’ve just read David Grann’s book The Wager, about the wreck of HMS Wager in Patagonia, and the subsequent voyage of Gunner John Bulkeley and some of the other survivors of nearly 3000 miles, through Drake’s passage, to safety in Brazil. In some ways even more impressive than Bligh’s exploit.
Certainly worth a read.
Certainly worth a read.
jwilson
Well-Known Member
Many years ago I read Webb Chiles book describing the sinking of his She 36 'Resurgam' and whilst it was not 100% clear my reading was that he was planning to die, and deliberately sank the boat.
Sea Change
Well-Known Member
I recall reading about the sinking of the She 36 and he basically sailed her under. He seemed to have reached a mindset where he no longer cared.
Fascinating person, even if he is clearly a bit... odd.
Fascinating person, even if he is clearly a bit... odd.
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I guess it's to be expected that utterly remarkable people who do exceptional things would be odd.
It's a bit like VC winners. I'm always a bit disappointed if they turn out not to be calm, reasonable, nice people. I have to remind myself that yeah, by definition they *really* like fighting. (Not all, obvs.)
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
I remember his story in one of the yacht mags where he stated that the boat simply slipped below the waves. No mention of a suicide attempt. Except when he had already been in the water for several hours. One fishing boat passed by quite closely but he was not seen.
The distance covered is explained iirc by being in the gulf stream.
The distance covered is explained iirc by being in the gulf stream.
