Yachtsman of the year? NOT Mike Perham

[NickiCrutchfield]

I think we can learn from them all; young, resilient, enthusiastic (in both joy and grief). Is crying one minute and dancing without a care in the world the next a particularly worse method of coping than a more mature, less extreme reaction to events? Sod the awards, these fabulous kids gladden my heart. By the time most of us realise we have not achieved what we would really have liked to have done it is either far more complex to get the time or just too late. I see a parent sending a child off as being the polar opposite (ie same) as getting permission from a partner to do it later. As for toddlers circumnavigating, well that's just a bloody silly comment.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Reading Sir Alec Rose (God bless him!) made me to realize how tedious it is. Pages and pages of "Had sandwich, drank a whisky, changed foresail". In contrast Slocum I thought had countless stories of interesting places and people and barely mentioned the dull bits at sea! I conclude stopping is better.

Absolutely. Almost all sailing - ie the bit at sea - is really quite boring unless you were there, and often quite boring when you are there as well. Slocum's tin-tacks, Gerbault's wrecking and recovery of Firecrest - they're the bits I remember.

Which is not to say that anyone who likes a non-stop blast is wrong - each to his own, and whatever floats one's boat. Just not why I go sailing.

 

[Ubergeekian]

This step now takes real courage. But John, for probably the first time in his life has escaped the system and found that he can take control of himself and this new energy will carry him through.

Which it does.

All done from his own resources and without asking anything from anybody.

Beautifully put.

 

[Ubergeekian]

As for toddlers circumnavigating, well that's just a bloody silly comment.

Who said anything about "toddlers"? I said "children" and I meant "children" and I'll stand by "children". How many of them would be able to cope if it wasn't for the sponsorship, the shore team and the instructions relayed to them every day by radio?

 

[NickiCrutchfield]

Orbister, if you look with a little more care you will see that I used the word 'child' in my post also. Check Guapa's comment near the beginning of this thread: "Moses in a basket".

 

[snooks]

Almost all sailing - ie the bit at sea - is really quite boring unless you were there, and often quite boring when you are there as well.

I'm not sure I'd agree with that...I go sailing to go sailing, not to drink in a different pub or restaurant or sit in a marina or at anchor, being out there powered by the wind, just magic. OK it's not always magic, but I live for the days when it is.

If you think the bit at sea is boring, get a mobo and get it over with asap

 

[Ubergeekian]

I'm not sure I'd agree with that...I go sailing to go sailing, not to drink in a different pub or restaurant or sit in a marina or at anchor, being out there powered by the wind, just magic. OK it's not always magic, but I live for the days when it is.

If you think the bit at sea is boring, get a mobo and get it over with asap

Boring unless you were there. Yes, we have all had those transcendental moments afloat, the days which never end (Thinks: Garbh Eileach to Gigha on a beautiful day in 1990. Sigh.) but just try describing them in detail to someone else and watch them start twitching.

As I have said, I sail because of the places I can go to, and not particularly for the passages themselves. Except at night - I never turn down the chance of an overnight sail. Yes, the idea of a motorboat is quite tempting, but I could never afford the fuel for anything that goes much faster than I can sail! Plus a quick look around suggests that motorboats are owned in general by precisely the sort of people who buy motor homes and one does have standards.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

I'm not sure I'd agree with that...I go sailing to go sailing, not to drink in a different pub or restaurant or sit in a marina or at anchor, being out there powered by the wind, just magic.

So why go for a Sadler 32 which sails like a dog compared to a fast dinghy but has accommodation, a bog and a cooker? Why not an RS700 which sails gives a far better sailing experience but has no accommodation?

Surely, the only thing the Sadler does that an RS700 can't do is allow you to drink in a different pub or restaurant or sit in a marina or at anchor???

(Is this the pick on Snooks thread? It's just 'cos I'm jealous of your talent with a Camera and your spotless boat!)

 

[snooks]

and often quite boring when you are there as well.

Not all mobos burn fuel like it's going out of fashion. MBY had a Nimbus Nova 250, we went from Dartmouth to Exmouth to Weymouth to Lymington and it cost £30 in fuel...OK this was when it was 30p a litre, now I guess that would be around £100 but that was doing 40 knots! We didn't have to travell that fast but we could

A semi displacement boat will happily sup slowly away at diesel while doing 10-14 knots up wind! You don't have to spend money on sails, ropes and rigging etc...and you only draw around a metre.

As to people who own mobos, they are pretty much like sailboat peeps, and some of the owners I've met were raggies, and either wanted a change, wanted to go further in a shorter time, or weren't able to keep sailing...but like raggies they enjoy spending their time on the water....we're not so different.

 

[snooks]

So why go for a Sadler 32 which sails like a dog compared to a fast dinghy but has accommodation, a bog and a cooker? Why not an RS700 which sails gives a far better sailing experience but has no accommodation?

The Sadler 32 sails a whole lot better than a lot of modern boats, thanks to her pert little transom

If it was just sailing I was after, I'd go for a JS9000...but I gave up dinghies and open keel boats in favour of having a dry rse and a cuppa tea!

(Is this the pick on Snooks thread? It's just 'cos I'm jealous of your talent with a Camera and your spotless boat!)

Thanks, tho you haven't got the hang of picking on me...have you? *phew*

I wish I could take the credit for Pixie looking spotless, but it's all down to my girlfriend. After I've been working on the boat there is no where to put a bottle of beer down...I usually have to stand on the pontoon to drink it!

 

[Koeketiene]

Orbister, if you look with a little more care you will see that I used the word 'child' in my post also. Check Guapa's comment near the beginning of this thread: "Moses in a basket".

Why is it a silly comment?

What's the driving force, if it's not sending ever younger sailors around the world? And what is the point/merit of it all?
Financial gain? Launching a career? Fame?

It will never be the same as with the first. Quite a few people have set foot on the Moon - who does everyone remember? Neil Armstrong. Astronauts have spent more time on the Moon, have done more on the Moon than Armstrong... no matter. Who do you remember? Armstrong!

Dee Caffari has been RTW singlehanded - the wrong way. And, if IRC, something Ellen Macarthur never did. Who's more 'famous'? Ellen! Why? Because she was first!

In the case of ever younger circumnavigators - where will it end? In grief - that's where. You could already see the first signs of it when that Australian girl collided with that merchant 2 days out. Then everyone will jump on the bandwagon - totally irresponsible, it should not be allowed, etc...
Or in the case of the Dutch girl - in court. Putting parent against parent.

It's good to have supportive parents. It's another thing when pushy parents start living vicariously through their kids. Is a 13 year old living his or her dream, or is this a case of a parent living vicariously and/or looking for financial gain?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it will end either in grief or when a toddler has been RTW. 'Moses in a basket'

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

The Sadler 32 sails a whole lot better than a lot of modern boats, thanks to her pert little transom

Too right, cracking boats.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

And what is the point/merit of it all?

Errr, having a great sail and the adventure of a lifetime? Are you out this weekend? What is the point or merit in that?

In the case of ever younger circumnavigators - where will it end? In grief - that's where.

So far it's ended in a couple of lads have a superb adventure! I'm sure if enough people do it for long enough someone will get hurt or killed but I bet it's still safer than off-road motorcycling or rock climbing or horse riding or any of the myriad of other things that normal kids do for fun.

You could already see the first signs of it when that Australian girl collided with that merchant 2 days out.

Sir Alec Rose hit a ship in his first couple of days out and had to return for repairs. Moitessier had a load of near misses. What's the difference?

Is a 13 year old living his or her dream, or is this a case of a parent living vicariously and/or looking for financial gain?

The nice thing about the modern world is that you can actually e-mail her and ask her.

 

[NickiCrutchfield]

OK Guapa. Don't agree with you any more than you agree with me. I guarantee that no toddler will sail round the world solo in a boat piloted and driven by themselves. They can't boil a bloody kettle for starters. What do you think the minimum age should be? Plenty of 40 year old idiots around. I'm 40 and I include myself in that bracket.
Moitessier did hit/was hit by a ship on the way down the west African coast. It bent his bowsprit.