Flicka 'round the world' trip planned

[Zen]

Oh, I saw that. I thought it meant take all the provisions off

[Lynx]

Moral of the story, don't leave in Bad weather.

The crossing from Fl to Mexico is a yearly trip done in the spring with many boats and familes. If she would have waited or just played on FL west coast until spring and left then she might have made it.

[Captain Smollett]

Moral of the story, don't leave in Bad weather.

The crossing from Fl to Mexico is a yearly trip done in the spring with many boats and familes. If she would have waited or just played on FL west coast until spring and left then she might have made it.

That's a fair point.  I also considered it perhaps better that she met her challenge so soon.  Otherwise, she might have been lulled into false security and hit the rough stuff 1000 miles from anything.

Pat Henry, of roughly similar age when she embarked from Mexico to sail her SC31 around the world solo, had a measurably larger degree of blue water sailing experience than Heather, but not much solo.  That 3000 nm stretch to the Marquesas (also Heather's Pacific destination) proved to have quite a learning curve for her.  Of course she made it, but it was not without pitfalls, and the trip took just over one month.

That's a long haul to sail by oneself, expecially if you are not used or prepared to sail solo.  And there is NOTHING out there - no one to help, no port to run into, etc.

It was not an overnight crossing Heather was planning.  It was real long distance stuff. 

[maxiSwede]

Sad news. With all respect, I can't help thinking it could have been sooo different...

-if not telling all the world about the circumnavigation plans. (What's wrong with a trip of a few     months to the islands and then just maybe... take it from there.

-if not having set a fixed departure date.

Added lots of  pressure on her that shouldn't be necessary in my humble opinion...

Never the less I wish Heather all the best whatever she will do from now on...  :)  Life is larger than sailing, after all. (even though I for one am having some trouble to comprehend that right now 8))

[CharlieJ]

I expect the January departure date had a lot to do with missing the Pacific hurricane season later on. There IS a timetable you must meet to sail the Pacific, just like the Carribbean, other wise you can get in BIG trouble.

You can't just leave when you want to, and sail on, but leaving directly into bad weather is NOT seamanly.

[Captain Smollett]

I expect the January departure date had a lot to do with missing the Pacific hurricane season later on. There IS a timetable you must meet to sail the Pacific, just like the Carribbean, other wise you can get in BIG trouble.

You can't just leave when you want to, and sail on, but leaving directly into bad weather is NOT seamanly.

Excellent point.

That's one of the key reasons why in my 'dream planning,' I am looking to take the Pardey's "slow down" approach.  I am not planning a circumnavigation.  I'm planning a series of places I'd like to visit that over time MIGHT end up being ATW.  In this planning, staying in one spot months or a year is definitely on the table.

This is why I think there is merit in not trying to plan TOO MUCH of a trip in one shot.  If the Pacific window is closed when the GOM window is open, well, is there somewhere intermediate where one can wait out a few months?  Even Pat Henry, who took 7 years to circumnavigate, did it this way, "short hopping" let's say (with 'short' being a relative term).

As far as I can tell, the trickiest place to plan around is the southern Indian Ocean (which Heather was not going to anyway, she was going via Suez).  The cyclone season in the western Indian seems to be more chaotic and less predictable than the others (in terms of year-to-year variability), and it's a LOOOOOONG stretch from Africa to Australia, even with stops along the islands.

Speaking of the Indian Ocean, and a bit off topic, I once saw a Nova or NG show about some guys that were doing a historical reenactment voyage on an open vessel.  I remember clearly one quote by they guy I THINK was the Captain - "This is one nasty piece of ocean."  That and the visual image when he said it has stuck with me since I saw it.

[AdriftAtSea]

From Heather's website, I only found this regarding "unloading" the boat:

But, as Dad would say, "Happiness is a choice."  And I have picked myself up now, and gotten my head back together and my attitude straight (which took some doing).  Though I haven't been able to bring myself to do it yet, I have finally admitted to myself that I need to unpack the boat.

As for sailing to a set schedule... that's generally a really bad idea.  IIRC, Pat Henry also did all of her own preparation.  Given Heather's father's intimate involvement in the journey preparation, I'd hesitate to say the same for Heather. 

[Captain Smollett]

From Heather's website, I only found this regarding "unloading" the boat:

But, as Dad would say, "Happiness is a choice."  And I have picked myself up now, and gotten my head back together and my attitude straight (which took some doing).  Though I haven't been able to bring myself to do it yet, I have finally admitted to myself that I need to unpack the boat.

That's been changed, then.  That's not what it originally said, right after Dave posted his comment on 20 Jan (yesterday).  Quite a few people on various forums have commented about whether "unload" refered to selling or unpacking, and it still said "unload" the last time I checked.  Apparently, she realized the ambiguity and clarified it.

[Tim]

I noticed that change in wording also. My gut feeling though is that the boat will get sold.

[CharlieJ]

It said "unload" when I read it also. And I feel the same way Tim does. Too bad, since IF she has "wanted to sail" for "some 40 years" you'd think sailing around Florida and the Caribbean would be a great way to salve a bit of the wounds from the setback.

Again, as I said earlier- this is all conjecture, since none of us really knows what's in her mind. I'm basing my feelings on what MY wife would be like in a similar situation- but then she doesn't even know how to spell "quit"

[Godot]

Some good thoughts, here.

Setting such a firm schedule and publicizing heavily (sponsors, websites, whatever) sets real firm expectations which likely tend to eclipse the simple desire to go sailing and see the world.  The early scheduling problems I'm sure where stressful as Heather fails to meet the obligations she has set for herself.  The bad weather, stuck hatch, broken motor, and seasickness was probably more than enough to crash morale into the toilet.  The trip then becomes a job.  A really low paying, lonely, uncomfortable job.  Where is the joy in that?  Throw in a father she's close to with failing health who I guess has lost some of the enthusiasm for the trip and finding a reason to go would likely become difficult.

Lessons I take from it: Do the trip for yourself.  Forget expectations of family and friends (and even boating forums).  Don't let it become a job.  The trip likely won't be easy or comfortable, so there needs to be a clear benefit to doing the trip.  Self satisfaction?  Spiritual fulfillment?  Wanderlust?  The call of the sea?  All good.  Meeting expectations (set by yourself or others)?  Bad.

I seem to remember reading about the Dove circumnavigation (the name of the young skipper slips my mind at the moment).  As I recall, National Geographic helped bankroll the trip and Robin (I think that may be his name) felt lots of pressure to press on and continue the trip long after he had his fill to meet the NG obligations.  I also remember reading that Tania Aebi was constantly struggling with guilt over not meeting the expectations of her father, and the pressure of a world record, for her trip.  I find that somewhat sad (even though I'm still envious of the trips).

Heather will likely be fine.  Maybe she'll do the trip a year or two down the road.  Maybe she won't.  I wish her happiness in whatever choice she makes.

[CapnK]

Before she could 'unload' the boat, she'd have to 'unpack' it. They are not mutually exclusive terms nor ideas. :)

I saw it on her site when it said 'unload', and took the meaning to be "sell". Why keep the boat, with all those improvements and it's current great Bristol appearance, only to have it depreciating daily and getting abused by sun~wind~rain, while you are off traveling the world by aeroplane?

The smart thing to do would be to sell it hasta pronto, if one were worried about recouping losses. It will only be harder to sell, and at a ever-lowering price, if it isn't getting used.

I hope that the folks who sold her the boat understand, and are not acrimonious. That boat was their baby, from all accounts. :)

[AdriftAtSea]

Any one in the market for a Flicka, fairly well-equipped, only slightly used? ;)

[Auspicious]

The wording in Heather's log has definitely changed. Until I hear differently from her, I choose to read her words as saying that she is taking some time to think about her future but isn't burning any bridges.

The fact that I myself might choose to do my thinking somewhere other than Thailand does not mean it isn't a great place for her, getting away from all other influences and have some concentrated time to focus.

I'm going to be doing some thinking of my own very soon, and although Harness Creek or the Wye River may be closer, Thailand is definitely warmer. I went sailing this morning (check-sail for a new 135 genoa) in 19F weather, 12 kts WNW, 1045 mb. A good friend is someone who will sail with you in weather that cold; a great sailmaker shows up for a check-sail in those conditions.

[AdriftAtSea]

That was the take on her plans I got from her last post as well.  Hopefully, she'll at least go coastal cruising in s/v Flight of years. 

[Bill NH]

Agreed - once you have the boat all sorted out why not just go spend the rest of the winter in the Bahamas relaxing, recuperating and working on the sailing skills? 

[Zen]

If it was me, I'd head down to the Bahama's and hang out some with Connie and just do some island hopping working on the sailing skills.  8)

Cheaper than flying half way around the world. However Great food to be had in Thailand, lots to see. Whatever... She did give it a shot, maybe she'll get pumped later after looking at it from a different view. Sometime you need to step back to go forward. In Tai Chi, we go a little down to go up, a little left to go right...

[Captain Smollett]

In Tai Chi, we go a little down to go up, a little left to go right...

;D

That's one of the neat things about living on a sphere.  You CAN go left to go right...if you go far enough.   ;)

[Auspicious]

It occurs to me that going to Thailand may contribute to some sailing goal-setting. "Hmm - I'd like to come back here, in my boat!" <grin>

[Auspicious]

Update on Heather's website, to which I have only one reaction:

"You go girl."