Whillans

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cerro

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Reading the exciting post on Bill Tilman reminded me of a story about Whillans who I new slightly. When he was on an International Experdition with Dougal Haston, Tony Habler of the German team was in the habit of goading Whillans and when Germany beat England at football in the world cup, He was rubbing it in with the remark I see ve beat you at your national sport Donald. Whillans dour and very witty snapped back I lad we bet yer twice at yours. Silence
 
amazing number of climbers/mountaineers seem to take up sailing based on the number of ex-climbers I used to know I have met afloat over the last few years, but I suppose both contain a number of the same attractions - too decrepit now but it would have been fabulous to anchor off the many sea cliffs in the uk, dinghy in to bottom of cliff, do the climb and then abseil back to the dinghy & boat. Similar thing to Tilman's exploits but in a much less ambitious way.
 
Be Interesting to know what expeditions you have been on Catalac we may know similar friends, I was on three expeditions two to Patagonia and one to the Karakoram, Soloed the Lauper route on the Eiger first British accent hope we know same climbers as I have lost touch
 
I had the privilage of meeting quite a few of those blokes on bits like Sowdon, Shepherds and other crags years ago, best bloke I climbed with was John Workman, and he sailed with me and eventually bought his own boat, last I heard from him he was living in Fort William.
 
In the book about Joe Brown's K2 ascent there is a story about him which I have always found to be incredible, although I don't doubt its truth. The expedition went out by ship (those were the days) and the team spent most of the time keeping fit in between drinking. Joe apparently could lift himself off the ground with his arms straight ahead of him, by pushing his hands together one each side of an 18-inch wide pillar.
 
Many climbers seem to take to sailing, and take to it with ease.

Years ago when I was a sailing instructor I had a guy who joined a Day Skipper course I was in charge of in the Channnel Islands, with much tricky pilotage around Herm and Sark to keep their interest levels up. Of all of the crew, he just stood out, although his sailing skills were no better than the rest. But his approach, ability to come to the right conclusions and lead were faultless, and made him really outstanding.

On the final evening I decided to tackle him on this as he just seemed to be too good to be true, and asked him why he hadn't let on that he was far more experienced than he had originally claimed - which he modestly denied. I then asked what he had done, and he admitted he had been a climber in his younger days. After a little more prodding, he said, well, yes, OK, some serious stuff - Eiger, two man ascents in Peru etc. Suddenly all became clear.

He is now a regular crew with me, with yet another climber, and both are the best guys to have along in any conditions - utterly reliable.

And climbers are just as daft as sailors - another thing we have in common.
 
I can assure you vyvcox joe could not do that its another mith that surrounds him I new him very well and the trick that most climbers got up to in my day was hanging by two fingers of each hand and pulling up no one could do it with one finger
 
As a sailor who occasionally climbs, having been a climber who occasionally sailed - how about this for A Grand Day Out?...

25deg, F3-4, beam reach across from Appledore to Croyde. Anchor off then go surfing in our kayaks. Then anchor at Baggy Point, canoe in and climb an E3, abseil back to kayaks. A climber says "That looks great, I've always wanted to do that, but it would be really neat to go diving as well". The skipper says "Oh, that's what I'm going to do now". Silence, then "You b*stards".

Mackerel fishing on the way back, then meal in Appledore pub on the quayside and watch the World Cup Final /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The boat was a Corribee bilge keeler, and we were at the end of a cruise from Starcross /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Yes that was John, last time I was out with him was on Dove Crag, he was way out of my class, but he enjoyed hauling me around, we were very good friends for years but have totally lost touch, pity. Bill.
 
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