Flicka 'round the world' trip planned

[AdriftAtSea]

While it may have been a very sturdy boat, Cap Smollett is correct about her serious lack of any real sailing experience.  IMHO, she also didn't do a proper shakedown cruise, where some of the problems that plagued her, like the sliding hatch lock design deficiency, might have come out with less dire consequences. 

Initially, right after she retired from her attempt, she said she might sail the Caribbean and Florida waters for a while, but since then she has seemingly given up on sailing entirely.  IMHO, a lot of this may be due to the fact that sailing around the world really wasn't Heather's dream, but one forced on her by her father. 

BTW, Gene, her father, was a member on this forum, and like almost every other forum I had seen Gene participate on, he became very defensive when asked even the simplest questions regarding his daughter's voyage, preparations or choice of equipment and shortly thereafter left. I recently read an editorial letter in an older issue of a sailing magazine, where Gene says how the Norsea 27 is the best and safest bluewater boat, and that no other boat would do for his daughter's voyage.  Yet, at the date of the publication of the letter, Heather had just purchased s/v Flight of Years.  This is probably due to the lag time in the magazine industry...but it was still rather ironic.

Well she seemed to prepare- a good sturdy boat, in depth refitting, prior sailing experience.

Not to pick nits on this, but she had no prior sailing experience to speak of until this solo circumnavigation plan was hatched and they bought a boat.  Though her planned departure date for a circumnavigation was 2 Jan. 2008, she was still taking lessons in December 2007, and her first ever singlehanded sail was likewise in December of 2007.

Of that first singlehanded sail, she wrote of 3 foot seas as being "heavy seas."  And if I recall correctly, that was not "outside."

Other folks have crossed oceans with as little as, or less, experience than Heather had, so I'm not saying one way or another if I think she "should have" tried it.  But, we do have to be honest here.  Heather was NOT experienced at sailing, much less offshore sailing.

[oded kishony]

My understanding is that Heather is selling her boat in order to pay for medical expenses resulting from the injury she sustained during her attempt.
Some sort of hand injury, as I recall.

~OK

[ronc98]

Sorry Tim,    it was "Deep Survival".    I guess I have been spending to much time on the boat.


Still a great book!

[newt]

Captain-I stand corrected on Heather's education.  I agree that if "ye are prepared ye shall not fear" concept, but do you think that she would have gone even if she had a couple of years of sailing experience?  At least she would have known what she was getting into.  I don't know about this thing about overbearing dads- I can't image projecting a dream of mine on to my kids.  I think all of them would gently tell me where to stick it. A few people on this forum tend to think that education will make someone a seafarer. I think it is in your blood. Either you have it, and then learn about it, or you don't. But  that's just a hunch.
I was born in New Mexico and never sailed a boat till I was 30- yet it was in my blood. I taught myself how to dingy sail, crewed on bigger boats, and ended up single handling my own boat, when I can't convince others  to come along. I feel at home in the sea, even though none of my family feels the same way. That is why I feel that Heather either had it or didn't, and no amount of education made much difference.
Just my two cents- although looking at this threat it appears more than that.

[Lynx]

Yes, education eases the learning curve.

[Frank]

We all dream, most here dream of sailing and voyages.Heather shared those dreams.The fun in dreaming is to actually see them take shape.Her year of purchasing her boat and the extensive re-fit showed her excitement in fufilling that dream.Unfortunately her 1st true outing was also her 1st encounter with serious weather as well as seasickness.I've only been seasick once.It truely is debilitating, leaving you feeling totally drained with no energy at all.Throw in wind,waves,LOUD noise,fear and the feeling of being totally 'out of control'...one can see where ideas could be rethought and dreams questioned.The 'dream' of sailing to exotic destinations became the reality of being in a washing machine on 'heavy load' mode.It is violant out there in heavy weather...no other way to describe it.Not the nicest way to begin a dream,but an enevitable reality of going to sea.

[Manannan]

..and as I quote : the act of dreaming is important in itself.
Some will spend years building or refitting their boats and never take off. The dream was more important. At least she went one step ahead. She did not pursue but I think it is not negative, she is the only one to know what she learned from that. And though it is probably now a painful moment for her, she will find strength from it.