KINGFISHER 9
Well-Known Member
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I seem to remember being threatened with death (on here) when I suggested that Ellen MacArthur had a lot of help!
Yachtsman of the year? NOT Mike Perham
- Thread starter snooks
- Start date
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I seem to remember being threatened with death (on here) when I suggested that Ellen MacArthur had a lot of help!
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
I can't claim to know Perham Snr but I've met him and talked to him for about 20 minutes at the time 'Cheeky Monkey' was being sold. I found him totally likable, he had plenty of time for me even though I made it clear I wasn't a potential buyer. If anything I formed the opinion that he was more a harassed father keeping up with his son's sailing ambitions than the other way round.
I suspect the truth is they were both enthusiastic about the Transat and the RTW sail, otherwise neither would have happened. Certainly, nobody went to the authorities or papers with any evidence at all that Perham was forced to go and I'm sure they would have if he was - indeed once out of sight and in deep water it would not have taken that much ingenuity to scupper the boat and put an end to the whole thing. If he was forced to go why would he come straight back and go off on another trip which sounds even harder to me?
It's interesting reading Chichester's "Gypsy Moth Circles the World" - People slagged off Chichester, his boat and his family using the same language and the same reasons that people have a go at Perham. Nothing new under the sun.
flaming
Well-Known Member
The yachtsman of the year won't be Mike Perham - May be he's too young and he hasn't been nominated
There's always the Young sailor of the year - Except he hasn't been nominated for that either
More info on Dick Durham's blog
Snooks,
Which of the three nominees would you replace with Mike?
Or which of the three young yachtspeople is less deserving than Mike?
Don't get me wrong, Mike's achievement is impressive in its own right, but more worthy than the other nominees?
Not for me.
Salty John
Well-Known Member
Mike Perham is perceived as being the instrument of his father's ambition and this doesn't sit well with those that judge his achievement.
There are many examples of this parental pushiness that ultimately devalues the achievement of the offspring - notably in tennis, but in many other fields of 'sporting' enterprise also.
There are many examples of this parental pushiness that ultimately devalues the achievement of the offspring - notably in tennis, but in many other fields of 'sporting' enterprise also.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Young YPs of year nominees are:
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Isobel Hamilton, age 17
In April 2009, windsurfer Izzy was third overall in the RYA Youth Trials, securing a place in the team which would compete in the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships. In July, while still 16, she competed in the ISAF Youth Worlds in Brazil where she look Silver in the RS:X class. About a week after that she raced in the RS:X Youth Worlds in Turkey where she took Gold, becoming Britain’s first ever windsurfing Youth World Champion
She celebrated her 17th birthday on August 25 while competing at Portland in the IWA Worlds. Once again she took Gold, this time in the Raceboard Youth fleet. Less than a week after, the RS:X Worlds started and Izzy competed in that also. She finished in 21st place, second Brit behind Bryony Shaw. Isobel has been named for the Olympic [Skandia Team GBR] Development Squad.
Phil Sparks and Ben Gratton, helm and crew 420, aged 17 and 16 respectively
Sealing Gold on the final day at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF Worlds Championships in Buzios, Brazil, in July, Phil and Ben became the first British boys ever to win a 420 ISAF Youth Worlds title. Phil and Ben were also only the fourth British pairing ever to win a boys’ double-handed ISAF Youth Worlds title.
They also secured Gold in the 420 class at the coveted Kiel Week Regatta, before going on to claim another World Championship podium spot – this time with bronze at the 420 class World Championships at Lake Garda.
Phil has now progressed to the Olympic [Skandia Team GBR Development Squad] where has teamed up in the 470 class with Chris Grube.
Aaron Lowther and Steve Curtis, aged 16 and 12 respectively
Aaron and Steve both won the Honda RYA Youth Rib Championship for the second time in 2009; Aaron for the 13 – 16 age group and Steve for the 8-12 age group.
Coupled with this fine achievement, both boys are excellent ambassadors for the event, the sport and their respective clubs. Both boys are very passionate about giving something back to their clubs and the younger members whether it be their time or expertise.
They are both assistant Instructors and have volunteered, under the guidance of the senior Instructors, to run the powerboat training for youngsters at their clubs. They engage well with the younger club members and are looked up to. They have also been asked to give demonstrations of their boat handling skills at a number of RYA Instructor conferences.
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What have they got in common? I suspect it's the backing of the RYA, whereas Perham did what he did in the face of RYA criticism.
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Isobel Hamilton, age 17
In April 2009, windsurfer Izzy was third overall in the RYA Youth Trials, securing a place in the team which would compete in the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships. In July, while still 16, she competed in the ISAF Youth Worlds in Brazil where she look Silver in the RS:X class. About a week after that she raced in the RS:X Youth Worlds in Turkey where she took Gold, becoming Britain’s first ever windsurfing Youth World Champion
She celebrated her 17th birthday on August 25 while competing at Portland in the IWA Worlds. Once again she took Gold, this time in the Raceboard Youth fleet. Less than a week after, the RS:X Worlds started and Izzy competed in that also. She finished in 21st place, second Brit behind Bryony Shaw. Isobel has been named for the Olympic [Skandia Team GBR] Development Squad.
Phil Sparks and Ben Gratton, helm and crew 420, aged 17 and 16 respectively
Sealing Gold on the final day at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF Worlds Championships in Buzios, Brazil, in July, Phil and Ben became the first British boys ever to win a 420 ISAF Youth Worlds title. Phil and Ben were also only the fourth British pairing ever to win a boys’ double-handed ISAF Youth Worlds title.
They also secured Gold in the 420 class at the coveted Kiel Week Regatta, before going on to claim another World Championship podium spot – this time with bronze at the 420 class World Championships at Lake Garda.
Phil has now progressed to the Olympic [Skandia Team GBR Development Squad] where has teamed up in the 470 class with Chris Grube.
Aaron Lowther and Steve Curtis, aged 16 and 12 respectively
Aaron and Steve both won the Honda RYA Youth Rib Championship for the second time in 2009; Aaron for the 13 – 16 age group and Steve for the 8-12 age group.
Coupled with this fine achievement, both boys are excellent ambassadors for the event, the sport and their respective clubs. Both boys are very passionate about giving something back to their clubs and the younger members whether it be their time or expertise.
They are both assistant Instructors and have volunteered, under the guidance of the senior Instructors, to run the powerboat training for youngsters at their clubs. They engage well with the younger club members and are looked up to. They have also been asked to give demonstrations of their boat handling skills at a number of RYA Instructor conferences.
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What have they got in common? I suspect it's the backing of the RYA, whereas Perham did what he did in the face of RYA criticism.
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
Racing, obviously. Perhaps the RYA thinks it's the only form of sailing that counts now?
flaming
Well-Known Member
This is not an RYA award. So whether the RYA prioritise racing is completely irrelavent.
I'll ask you the question though. Which of these excellent sailors are less deserving than Mike Pheram?
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Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
Not an RYA award?
Not officially, but...
From the 'blurb'
If it walks like a duck and it sounds like a duck...
flaming
Well-Known Member
What, so because it's not an RYA award no mention of RYA events should be included??!
That's a bit like saying the Fifa worlds player of the year award is not an FA award, so all Premier League football doesn't count.
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
Thanks for putting me right.
Don't know anything about any of 'em. If I cared enough to investigate I'd be interested to know who had done stuff off their own bat and who was the product of an ambitious parent. I've met enough pushy parents in the worlds of gliding, music and dancing to be rather wary of attempts to measure youthful merit.
snooks
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry to say I hadn't heard of any of the nominees, so I can't comment on their achievements or how less deserving they are than Mike, but I had heard about Mike and was surprised not to see his name in the YSOTY nominees and was also surprised not to see Hillary Lister recognised for her awesome achievement either.
Stopping or not, whatever route he took, Mike still sailed around the world on his own. How many other people have done that? (who knows?) How many other people have ever done that aged 17 or under?.....erm 2
Lets look at some other non-racing winners:
1994: Ellen MacArthur - For obtaining her RYA/DoT Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate with exceptional examination results at the very young age of 18
2003: Sebastian Clover - at 15, the youngest person to sail singlehanded across the Atlantic
2006: Katie Miller - for her single-handed circumnavigation of the UK in her boat Elektra
So Mike sailing around the world doesn't compare to sailing across the Atlantic, or sailing around Britain, and isn't worthy of even being nominated for the award?
Anyway, just realised that this all seems a very British award, a bit like America having their own World series in baseball, or Macdonalds judging the best burger in the world, but only looking down their own menu
Shouldn't it be renamed British Young Sailor of the Year or British Yachtsman of the Year?....I didn't see Michel Desjoyeaux in the nominations
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flaming
Well-Known Member
It's hard to compare different years, as by definition they faced different competition. My view is that Mike is simply unfortunate that other young people have been so sucessful, especially in an arena where achievement is easier to measure. It's hard to argue with "world champion". Especially when Mike actually didn't achieve his original goal
haydude
Well-Known Member
Yet another example of mafia like snubbery! I do not see what is wrong with being young, only envious people could snub that.
Anyway, my vote goes indeed to Samantha Davies
She cheered me up under every aspect!
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
Agree his trips eclipses all of those without any doubt, but that’s only obvious because they’re comparable. Who can argue that it's easier to win a power boat race twice than to sail RTW??? There’s no answer. It's like asking if roller skates are better than a rabbit hutch. (bad example as we all know roller skates are better!)
All of which leads me to continue to believe that 'awards' and 'records' are all just a bit of fun and we should just enjoy them and not take them too seriously.
One thing's for sure. I’d rather have a few hours on an Open 50 in plenty of wind in the Southern Ocean than almost any award, and Perham feels the same way - you only have to read his blog to realize that.
Just to get this further into perspective, Perham, being snubbed by failing to win a ’junior’ award is, IMHO, a bit like Jonny Wilkinson being snubbed by failing to win East Croydon best international player of the autumn award!
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
I'm rather more impressed by round Britain in a Corribee than "round the world" in an Open 50. Let's face it, you could put a chimp in a modern automated boat and sail it round the world. As the number of children doing it these days shows.
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
Each to their own.
Personally, I'd prefer to go Round Britain in a Corribee in small chunks, seeing the sights, meeting people. I like scenery and remote anchorages and pretty harbours. Weeks at a time out of sight of land would bore me.
...but, if someone else wants to go Round the World good luck to them, and I can certainly see the attraction of surfing through the Southern Ocean with big waves and wind behind you. (Mind you 2-3 hours would be enough for me - I wouldn't need 2-3 weeks of it.)
It would be a dull world if we all liked the same thing.
PS: Thanks for the heads up - if and when I feel the need to impress you I know what to do!
islandsailor
Well-Known Member
I am no fan of Mike, (see previous posts) although he grew on me when I watched the Channel 4 Documentary.
I am not sure where this "semi automated" boat myth comes from, I have been incredibly lucky in that through my work (which for the majority of time is not glamorous, but dirty and hard work) I have sailed onboard a number of modern racing boats including the Open 50 Mike went round the world on 4 years before he stepped onboard, these modern boats are incredible technical and difficult to sail and maintain, this idea that you press a button and off you go is simple not true.
I have sailed a Coribee (a boat I love and would love to own) but Mike does deserve some respect for getting that boat around the world (even with the stops and change in route)
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
Me too. The brother of a friend of mine did a leg of one of these pretend commercial round the world races: I really couldn't see the point of paying through the nose to go straight past so many interesting places
PS: Thanks for the heads up - if and when I feel the need to impress you I know what to do!
Does it help to know that my favourite sailing book is "The Art of Coarse Sailing"?
toad_oftoadhall
Well-Known Member
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.
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
My vote goes to the many unknowns who do this kind of thing every year.
John fulfils a dream. Despite having 2 kids and a wife to support, with effectively no disposal income, he somehow buys a Jaguar 22 for £2k. Whilst do it up, he does a winter shore based RYA course.
After about 3 year's of stop go work, finally, he gets afloat. All he can afford is a council half tide mooring in the back of nowhere . A couple of year's pass while teaching himself to sail and navigate.
He decides that to be a real seaman he needs to cross the Channel . A mate who works with him at the local tyre centre agrees to go with him.
With hand held Gps, chart and tidal atlas off they go from Harwich to Ostend.
The SW 4 , perhaps 5 forecast turns out to be SW6 gusting 7 half way across.
With his mate in a bad way John struggles through despite fear, exhaustion and seasickness.
After a few days in Ostend it's time to go home. The forecast is not ideal to say the least but there is no way he can afford to leave the boat there or take the cost of ferries. His mate , with a bit of luck decides to stay with him.
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.
John fulfils a dream. Despite having 2 kids and a wife to support, with effectively no disposal income, he somehow buys a Jaguar 22 for £2k. Whilst do it up, he does a winter shore based RYA course.
After about 3 year's of stop go work, finally, he gets afloat. All he can afford is a council half tide mooring in the back of nowhere . A couple of year's pass while teaching himself to sail and navigate.
He decides that to be a real seaman he needs to cross the Channel . A mate who works with him at the local tyre centre agrees to go with him.
With hand held Gps, chart and tidal atlas off they go from Harwich to Ostend.
The SW 4 , perhaps 5 forecast turns out to be SW6 gusting 7 half way across.
With his mate in a bad way John struggles through despite fear, exhaustion and seasickness.
After a few days in Ostend it's time to go home. The forecast is not ideal to say the least but there is no way he can afford to leave the boat there or take the cost of ferries. His mate , with a bit of luck decides to stay with him.
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.
