Gene wrote..."Larry Pardey is not a hero of mine, but he's bright". As a fellow sailor and a fellow Canadian..if a chap who builds his own 24ft 7in boat out of wood, does a beautiful job of it, proceeds to sail it WITHOUT electronics OR an ENGINE around the world, then builds another 29ft 6in beauty himself...again engineless and keeps going for a total of about 180,000knm, around ALL southern capes including the horn,against the wind,using his home made selfsteering and on a very low budjet without money to burn on tons of 'store bought stuff' is not ANY sailors hero....who is?? I doubt there is a sailing couple with the traditional boatbuilding,navigation and sailing skills alive today. Just curious. Please submit your sailing hero here.
Wow, thats a heckuva question. :)
To me, certainly L&L deserve to be up there, alongside the likes of Bob and Nancy Griffith, the Smeeton's, RK Johnston, Chiles, Hasler... and many, many more, too many to name.
And on a different scale, but heros in their own right, folks like Craig and Rose, Connie, James, Magnus, and even you, Frank - people who live their dreams.
I guess that is what matters to me - people who do what it takes to become someone who *lives* their dream, not just dreams it. :) All of the above have done that. Kudos! :)
Agree with Kurt on all accounts.
Some names I'd like to add to Kurt's list: Don Street, the Hiscocks, Yves Gellinas. In general, I think we can sum it up as Sailors Who Sail.
On a broader scale, I'd offer some of historical greats who forged a path without any of what we'd consider modern conveniences. How about Ericson, Cook, Anson and Wilkes to name but a few. This list could grow very long indeed. All inspiring in terms of guts, fortitude and vision.
Jimmy Cornell. Evans Starzinger and Beth Leonard. William Shellenberger (for very different reasons). Tom Neale and his family. Tom and Diane Might. Magnus Rassy. The Dashews.
The Hiscocks and Smeetons are right there in my books too.There are SO many.I think what the Pardey's have done differently is 1-build their own boat(s) 2-take simplicity to the max and finally, during their cruises,they took the time to emerse themselves in other cultures by working/living in different counties long enough to really get a 'feel' for the people there.Both Hiscock and Smeeton had amazing women with them as well..true sealadies in the finest sence. I remember reading an article about Susan after Eric had died and she singlehanded for a while (quite a small elderly women) It recounted how she was rowing her dingy back to their boat and as she came between 2 vessels anchored close together..she changed from rowing to sculling to rowing effortlessly as she passed between them.
Well, I suppose Gene might have another meaning for the word "hero" ??? and Larry doesn't fall into that group. I do think that the word"hero" is used too much in todays society but I also think that the Pardey's are people that everybody can look up to for inspiration and guidance. As far as I'm concerned L@L are the tops and get my respect and it doesn't make any difference if they are considered hero's or not.
Fair winds
I wouldn't call these people heroes as much as sailing and cruising authors who I appreciate and am influenced by:
1. John Guzzwell
2. Lin and Larry Pardey
3. Sir Francis Chichester
4. Anne Hammick
I try not to forget that sailors, in a previous time, did as their day to day routine what we now get all excited about and think is a remarkable accomplishment. In some ways it's like comparing a farmer to a hobby gardener, wondering what the gardener is all excited about. It's been done many times before, with much lower technology and in a manner that had to be commercially viable as well.
Not to sound cynical, but cruising heros are creations of magazines like cruising world, which exist to sell sailors bigger boats than they need and expensive, must-have gear that they could do without.
The late Alex Lowe, one of the finest climbers who ever lived and a very humble man, once said that "The best climber in the world is the one who is having the most fun." Not to throw cold water on the party, but I think this approach is much more appropriate for cruising than the concept of "heros".
Grog to ya Bill ;D
Well said Bill. Also, note that it doesn't take a 40-something foot boat to do it.
Quote from: Bill NH on January 02, 2008, 12:10:08 PM
I try not to forget that sailors, in a previous time, did as their day to day routine what we now get all excited about and think is a remarkable accomplishment. In some ways it's like comparing a farmer to a hobby gardener, wondering what the gardener is all excited about. It's been done many times before, with much lower technology and in a manner that had to be commercially viable as well.
Not to sound cynical, but cruising heros are creations of magazines like cruising world, which exist to sell sailors bigger boats than they need and expensive, must-have gear that they could do without.
The late Alex Lowe, one of the finest climbers who ever lived and a very humble man, once said that "The best climber in the world is the one who is having the most fun." Not to throw cold water on the party, but I think this approach is much more appropriate for cruising than the concept of "heros".
Maybe this one is too obvious, but I'd say Chuck Norris, even though technically he doesn't sail.
He stays in one place and makes the world turn around him. ;D
On a serious note, I've always admired Eric Hiscock. I have his book "Wandering Under Sail" and it's pretty amazing. Tales of his FIRST cruises in the original Wanderer (a 23 wooden gaff cutter), well before he met Susan. He sailed all over the English Channel, Brittany, France, etc, with a gaff rig and no engine. Some pretty fascinating tales.
Hello All:
HNY, etc.
Sailing heros? I propose a guy who is probably under everyone's radar, Jim Melcher. He is 80 something and recently completed a couple of trans-Atlantics on his 33 ft leeboard ketch. Jim is a Cape Cod boy. He is referenced in the atomvoyages.com pages.
The fun part for me is that he is a family friend. It is special to actually know the person. I certainly admire the others. In the famous person category Knox-Johnson tops the list.
If it makes anyone happy, today in tortola, it is pouring down rain and chilly.
Norm
Boston and Tortola
The weather forecast from Tortola still doesn't make up for the single digit temps we had last week. :)
I would agree it is pretty cool to know some of these people. I've met Webb Chiles, just prior to him and his wife moving to Chicago, from here in Beantown.
Quote from: Norm on January 06, 2008, 12:22:01 PM
Hello All:
HNY, etc.
Sailing heros? I propose a guy who is probably under everyone's radar, Jim Melcher. He is 80 something and recently completed a couple of trans-Atlantics on his 33 ft leeboard ketch. Jim is a Cape Cod boy. He is referenced in the atomvoyages.com pages.
The fun part for me is that he is a family friend. It is special to actually know the person. I certainly admire the others. In the famous person category Knox-Johnson tops the list.
If it makes anyone happy, today in tortola, it is pouring down rain and chilly.
Norm
Boston and Tortola
Yep it is. Laura and I have done two delivery trips ( short ones) with Charl De Villiers, the Silent Voyager. His web site is here-
http://www.silentvoyager.com/
He's the deaf sailor who recently completed a solo circumnav from here. A shot of Laura, Charl and me on the Irwin 46 we were delivering-
(http://downloads.c-2.com/photos/1199321330.jpg)
Thanks for the link Charlie. :)
Quote from: Frank on January 08, 2008, 09:34:31 AM
I have once been 'towed in'
:o $$ I hope they have tow a$$ist or $$$!!
Quote from: Frank on January 08, 2008, 09:34:31 AMconsider how for over 40yrs and 170,000 knm's the Pardeys have 'sailed in'.This has included most ports never before entered by them as well as the strong currents and tides of the Vancouver erea in the NW..
My understanding is that the Pardey's have been towed in by friendly cruisers many times.
Yes they have.You are quite correct.They have sailed or sculled in far more often.In august last year I was in New Zealand meeting with a yacht designer.When the Pardeys came up in conversation (they live there now) he recounted how he had witnessed them preparing to go for a sail from the dock.The wind was on their nose, they raised the main and jib...backwinded them both, backed out of the slip, swung the jib over and sailed off like nothing had happened.He, being very knowledgable about things marine...said he had never witnessed such a smooth and effortless display of boathandling...as if you or I were simply backing out of a parking space with our cars.
Of course, having many decades of sailing on an almost daily basis goes a long way to having that kind of confidence under sail. :)
Quote from: Frank on January 08, 2008, 08:34:42 PMhad never witnessed such a smooth and effortless display of boathandling...as if you or I were simply backing out of a parking space with our cars.
Nice. That's worth practicing boathandling for ...
My hero is BERYL SMEETEN. She was born in 1905 and died in 1979, I think. Everything I say is from memory, so take it with a grain of salt. In her early 20's, she walked and rode horseback through China and Burma alone. She explored southern Patagonia by horseback alone. She was the first women to climb to 7,000 meters. At the age of 52, she and her famous husband, Miles Smeeten, bought a boat in England and took off with little or no experience with the idea they just needed to get their funds out of the country legally and into BC, Canada.
They spent the next 20 years afloat and accumulating over 100,000 miles of off shore voyaging. They pitch poled and dismasted while rounding the horn. She had serious injuries but managed to secure the boat and limp into Chile. In her senior years, they bought a farm in the Rocky Mountains of Calgary and made a 160-acre game sanctuary.
She inspired me to trailer The Edge from Vancouver to Jacksonville and sail her to the Bahamas alone just 5 years ago.
The best book I read about them was "High Endeavours" by Miles Clark. He brings out their personalites.
"As for Beryl, Miles wrote 'Her love for adventure smolders within her like an eternal flame.'"
Quote from: gltea on January 31, 2008, 10:00:56 AM
My hero is BERYL SMEETEN.
Thank you for the name Sarah, I am going to pass it on to my first mate's daughter, who for her senior thesis spent 3 months traveling around gaucho country by herself with just two horses and a dog. Last summer along with two friends she kayaked along the west Greenland coast climbing glaciers. At only 22 she is well on here way to a lifetime of adventuring. :)
Tim
Again, as with you..by memory.The story goes that when they pitch poled in the roaring 40's, the cabin roof came off. Beryl kept her composure and went about useing screws and not allowing a fast repair with nails ;-). I bought Judy that book about her for Xmas a few years back. She was quite the gal.
All here seem to love small craft.Most sail them,many cruise them...so we understand the restrictions of storage,tankage and stowing anthing while at the same time living abourd for a week or more at a time.Don't know why I haven't thought of it..but for a true small boat hero...what about Dave and Jaja Martin who not only 'sailed around'..but did most of it on a cal 25 (low head room) AND HAD 3 KIDS ON THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spend 2 weeks on a small boat and it will put this in perspective. WOW!!!
Hi Frank,
I know she was pretty badly injured at the time. It seems to me that her head had a huge gash in it and she had broken ribs. I have to get that book again.
If you'll listen to the Furled Sails pod cast interview with John Guzzwell, he tells of the pitchpole. He was aboard with Miles and Beryl at the time. He has lots good to say about them both.
Beryl was thrown overboard and swam back to the boat, with the gashed head and a broken shoulder, if I recall correctly..
Actually they tried again later and pitchpoled AGAIN. Their third try was successful. Miles wrote a book about it titled "Once is Enough"
Frank- actually Dave and Jaja had TWO kids aboard "Direction" their Cal 25. I read where Dave said the birth control system was the ONLY one that failed during the trip. When they found out she was pregnant with the third, they sold Direction and got the 33 foot steel boat they have now- Driver.
Quote from: Frank on January 31, 2008, 01:33:04 PM
Spend 2 weeks on a small boat and it will put this in perspective. WOW!!!
Well, we haven't done two weeks yet, but 9 days with the four of us on the Alberg (the children were 2 and 5). Not cooped up like an offshore run, however.
It's a different sort of adventure even just say sailing with small children. Some of the stresses are magnified, but then so are the joys. The first time I let my daughter steer the boat all by herself was just one those times you really cannot describe. And seeing my son ride out 50 degree rolls from a passing container ship wake in the Charleston channel just off Ft. Sumter without batting an eye...well, you sure don't get that watching them play video games.
My hat's off to the Martins. They are among my inspirations, and part of the reason why I want to take my children cruising while they are young.
My hero - Sir Francis Chichester
Of course, beating his last record is a great dream! ::)
CharlieJ,
Back to Beryl...When they pitch poled, she was on the tiller. I believe the other two were below. When they came out, she was gone. That is what I remember. I think she was 50' from the boat when she swam back. How she handled the boat recovery to Chile really impressed me...when the adrenaline rush wears off and you are faced with days of trying to survive. Wiping the blood off her face and everywhere was the last thought on her mind.
When she finally settled down she devoted her life to saving animals.
BTW, Sarah, it is Beryl Smeeton IIRC. :) Haven't read a book by them in a long, long time though.
While I would not classify him as a hero, a small boat sailor that I admire is Glenn Tiemann. He spent 10 years cruising on a Wharram Pahi 26 in the pacific. This boat had no engine, no fixed interior i.e. used a camping stove and bucket. He lived on an average of 1 to 3 dollars a day.
Currently, he is cruising down the coast of Mexico getting ready to head offshore on his Wharram "Child of the Sea" catamaran. This boat again has no fixed interior or standing headroom. While the Length overall is around 36 ft it has at least 10 feet of overhangs for the "sea axes" on each end. This catamaran uses the traditional Polynesian Crab Claw sails and is based on a canoe hull from Polynesia in a museum somewhere. As with the previous boat, he is sailing without an engine.
One caution from him I that read somewhere about sailing without an engine is do not try sailing without an engine if you have to be at work on Monday morning. Not having an engine requires time and patience as well as skill.
If anyone is interested there are some articles about Glenn and his boat on the Wharram website under the latest news section. I would post a like if I was internet savvy.
Sara,
I agree both Beryl and Miles are two very notable sailors and individuals but I think John Guzzwell is also a notable sailor, boat designer and his Trekka Around the World is a well written account of sailing a small boat around the world. He also has a brief account of the pitch poling of the Smeeten's boat and their recovery in his book. Dan
I've been thinking ::) about this for awhile and I've come to the conclusion that my HERO is the guy or gal who is just out there doing it :D. Simple ideas from simple minds :-*.
Fair winds,
Pappy Jack
I don't really like the term 'hero', but two people I respect are Bill Tilman, for is combination of mountaineering and sailing, and for being seemingly as hard as nails. Mucho respect also for the then 19 year old Jarle Andhøy, for being insane enough to take an Albin Vega around Cape Horn and onto Antarctica with two crew who didn't know how to sail. And then, for hitting something and saving himself in the dinghy on route to Africa.
n.
Jessy Martin,the youngest to circumnavigate,Not because he is an Aussie,because the film footage showed how scared you can really be out there.And lets not forget Kay cotty.Maybe it was the film of both these fine sailors that brought the "Loneliness"home stong.Mudnut.
Quote from: mudnut on March 03, 2008, 04:03:40 AM
Jessy Martin,the youngest to circumnavigate,Not because he is an Aussie,because the film footage showed how scared you can really be out there.And lets not forget Kay cotty.Maybe it was the film of both these fine sailors that brought the "Loneliness"home stong.Mudnut.
Jesse's first book was a good read too. I didn't read his second, but maybe one day I'll find it somewhere. Have you seen the truth behind Jesse's circumnavigation?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pjntiSOo7ks
;)
Quote from: nick on March 03, 2008, 04:58:56 AM
Quote from: mudnut on March 03, 2008, 04:03:40 AM
Jessy Martin,the youngest to circumnavigate,Not because he is an Aussie,because the film footage showed how scared you can really be out there.And lets not forget Kay cotty.Maybe it was the film of both these fine sailors that brought the "Loneliness"home stong.Mudnut.
Jesse's first book was a good read too. I didn't read his second, but maybe one day I'll find it somewhere. Have you seen the truth behind Jesse's circumnavigation?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pjntiSOo7ks
;)
C'mon,don't tell me he didn't really do it!!!!
The truth,don't know what ya asking really.I know he lost a lot of film from the knock downs,he had an imaginary friend aboard(so did Kay Cotty)well at least they thought they did.Jessy runs a charter bis NE of OZ somewhere.All I really know is what I saw in the film he took inside the boat"Lion Heart".Now I haven't watched any other self documented films from anyone else,not intentionaly anyway,but he sure looked scared and disorintated to me,Kays on the other hand sent home the reality of loneliness.Help me out,tell me.Mudnut.
Wow,I had to set my puter up to hear that.So have you got full coverage of all that and "NOT" something out of context.Seems a load of "Utube to me"
The bit I remember seeing was deffinately Jessy stating he wasen't "ALONE on the boat"had to do with his "IMAGINARY friend"brought about by deprevation.Truth,I would like to see some in regards to that.Mudnut.I have seen a lot of poop on utube to beleive that on face value.Sorry,Mudnut.
Haha, Mudnut, it's a joke!!
Did 'mangina' not turn your humour meter up to ten? ;)
Of course he did the trip - It's a comedy skit.
nick
Quote from: mudnut on March 03, 2008, 05:41:43 AM
Now I haven't watched any other self documented films from anyone else,not intentionaly anyway,but he sure looked scared and disorintated to me,Kays on the other hand sent home the reality of loneliness.Help me out,tell me.Mudnut.
If you get a chance, check out "With Jean Du Sud Around the World" by Yves Gellinas. He was a filmmaker before setting out on his solo circumnavigation, and filmed the entire trip. He's pretty candid about his shortcomings/mistakes and shows a very high order of seamanship.
Great film.
IIRC, he's also the inventor of the Cape Horn windvane, and his website is located HERE (http://www.capehorn.com/sections/30%20ans/30ansAng.htm). His boat, Jean du Sud, is an Alberg 30. :)
Quote from: Captain Smollett on March 03, 2008, 08:33:32 AM
Quote from: mudnut on March 03, 2008, 05:41:43 AM
Now I haven't watched any other self documented films from anyone else,not intentionaly anyway,but he sure looked scared and disorintated to me,Kays on the other hand sent home the reality of loneliness.Help me out,tell me.Mudnut.
If you get a chance, check out "With Jean Du Sud Around the World" by Yves Gellinas. He was a filmmaker before setting out on his solo circumnavigation, and filmed the entire trip. He's pretty candid about his shortcomings/mistakes and shows a very high order of seamanship.
Great film.
While you're discussing French sailing folk...Last year I was in the Canaries prior to crossing to the Caribbean, and got friendly with a French singlehander in a 25 foot self built alluminium boat. "Where are you bound for?" I asked.
"Senegal", he replied
"Senegal !! I said, there's only a big river there, with famine on one bank and civil war on the other"
He looked at me, grinned, and gave a typical French shrug of the shoulders and said
"Zen I stay in ze middle of ze river!!!" ;D ;D ;D ( you have to give 'em credit..)
My sailing heroes, Shane Acton of 'Shrimpy' and Bernard Moitessier of 'Joshua'
Hey Nick,"Not bad for caned soup heh",done well.
AdriftAtSea,I've been to his web site,courtesy of the link from sailfar,most people speak well of the windvane.It's on my list of must have when the time comes.
Captain Smollett,I will deffinately try to get a copy,Thanks all.Mudnut.
Kinda funny who we choose as our hero's.My hero doesn't' have thousands of sea miles behind him,and most folks wouldn't recognize his name.He hasn't written any books and was far from famous. Mine is my dad,Stan Davis. He taught me how to sail as soon as I was old enough to grab the tiller. He sailed an O'Day mariner for over 25 years while raising a family of four,providing each a loving home and a chance for a college education. He taught his son (me) how to love mother nature,and how to respect her and take care of her for the generations to come.
He taught me how to live within my means.Be kind to others if you expect the same in return,to teach by example. Be happy with what we have,and not to dwell on things beyond our grasp. To enjoy life whenever you can,and the power of a friendly smile.
He taught me to dream,and not loose sight of those dreams no matter how hectic life gets.
Dad died when he turned 67. He had fullfiled his dream of raising a happy well adjusted family,and was preparing to fullfill the dreams he had put on hold until his children were on their own. He had bought a bigger boat(O'Day 27) and he and mom were heading South to cruise the Keys,and eventually end up in the Bahamas.Mom sold the boat the following fall.
My Dad taught me a ton of valuable lessons I still fall back on to this day,15 years latter.The one I hold dearest is that life is truly precious.Try to live each day like it's your last. Life is short,and the journey is long.
I know this probably isn't what the intent of this thread was,but it makes me feel good to share a bit of the story behind who I consider the most influential sailing hero to me. He was a great man,and he is missed.
FairWinds
-Sandy Davis
Sandy-
Sounds like a good choice to me. :)
I think your Dad was eminently worthy of the title hero, Sandy. Sometimes true heroes do not gain recognition or medals, they just leave quietly, but with honour. Saxon
Hi Sandy,
I wish I could have met your dad. He sounds like he was one heck of
a guy. It just goes to proves that the good die young.
Fair winds,
Pappy Jack
Pretty heroic story, Sandy.
(I sailed an O'Day Mariner during my late teens and early 20s, FWIW.)
--Joe
David Lewis....participated in the first transatlantic singlehanded race (in a small sailboat that immediately dismasted - "The Ship Would Not Travel Due West"), first to singlehand to antartica, physician, moutain climber, explorer, crazy lady's man, anthropologist, communist/socialist, studied and memorialized the ancient navigation techniques of the polynesians ("We, The Navigators"), many other sailing adventures and wrote several books about his adventures, died in the last couple of years (in his eighties). one thing that i find particularly inspiring about lewis' life is that he really didn't get rolling on his sailing adventures until his mid-40's and thereafter he managed to raise heck almost until his death. his autobiography is "Shapes on the Wind."
David Lewis on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Henry_Lewis
One point in the Wikipedia account that needs some clarification. This paragraph-
"Lewis' next adventure was an attempt at circumnavigating Antarctica single-handed. For this he acquired a small steel yacht, named Ice Bird. Facing treacherous conditions in the Southern Ocean after departing, Lewis was not heard from for 13 weeks but –incredibly-- frostbitten and exhausted, sailed Ice Bird to the Antarctic Peninsula under a jury rig after dismasting. He repaired the vessel in Antarctica and left again to complete the voyage, but was capsized again and eventually brought the boat to Cape Town, South Africa. This is described in his bestseller book, Ice Bird."
Is true, but leaves out a huge bit of info. He repaired his boat with LARGE amounts of assistance from the Calypso ( of Cousteau fame) but gave them zero credit in his book. I spent an afternoon with Madame Cousteau aboard Calypso and we spoke of Lewis. She was NOT particularly happy with him. The crew of Calypso most likely saved his life, gave him supplies, opened their communications for him, and rendered assistance in repairing the boat and nursed him with food and warmth while he was doing the repairs. She felt that Calypso and her crew should have been given more credit in the book. I have to agree. He was extremely fortunate that Calypso was at anchor there when he came in.
Madame Cousteau lived aboard Calypso full time by the way and was aboard during the Antarctic voyage.
Not to denigrate what Dr Lewis did as a sailor- I had the book "Ice Bird" and still own "We, The Navigators" very interesting man and interesting books.
It's a darn shame that Lewis feels he had to slight the Cousteaus and the crew of the Calypso to make his exploits seem more noteworthy. I think it would be far better to give credit where credit is due.
it's interesting to hear ms. cousteau's view. who knows what the reality was? i just reread the chapters in Ice Bird in which lewis details his time at the palmer antarctic station where calypso was also anchored and, no, he doesn't give credit/thanks to calypso for any help in the repairs of his boat or the recovery of his health (as to his health, he almost immediately moved onshore to recover at the palmer station). but he certainly isn't shy about giving credit for all the help/work provided by the folks living at the palmer station ("any successes Ice Bird and I may subsequently achieve are due to the efforts of the men of Palmer Station...."). and at the end of the book he provides thanks/acknowledgement to just about anybody that provided him any assistance in his adventure.
how 'bout Peter Kittel? may he r.i.p.
wandered the seas for many years in small boats that he had salvaged.
had a wonderful website (that just went dead recently), loved whales, was totally accessible to anyone who had a question about sailing, and lived the dream on a shoestring budget.
I wish I could find my copy of "Bluewater"... ??? With that in mind, I was doing some searching to see if it was online anywhere, and made a relevant find - which wound up in my necro'ing of this old thread... ;D
---------
Here's a link to a story from the 1989 'Modesto Bee' newspaper that is about Nancy Griffith, who was still mastering a tramp steamer/sailer in the SoPac at that time. The article references the fact that she had "Awanhee" towed to sea and given a 'Viking funeral' some years prior...
Jan 15, 1989 'Modesto Bee' (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ouIjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YNYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1240%2C2200943).
William Bligh (who might not have been someone I'd enjoy chatting with, but his sailing deeds seem impressive), who in 1789 took a crew of 18 in a 23' launch (lifeboat or oversized dinghy?) with no charts or compass guided the boat & crew to safety on a 3500+ nm journey using a sextant and a pocket watch. I don't think the deed qualifies as "cruising" but it certainly was a masterwork of sailing. Famous (infamous?) as the captain of the HMS Bounty, he must have been an interesting character.
I'm certainly not knocking anyone else's choices, and not sure Bligh would represent a very happy soul for an evening of conversation, but it's interesting to note that he is supposed to have learned navigation from Captain Cook, and must have been a heck of a sailor.
Haiden- Laura and I have a friend who met them once. Told us they were a fascinating couple.
Funny that this came up again. I'm currently reading Moitessier's The Long Way with a copy of his A Sea Vagabonds World nearby that I'm dipping into occasionally. He is Sailing/Spiritual/Philosophy Hero material.
Also, John Kretchmer, James Baldwin, Webb Chiles, Fred Bickum, Robin Lee Graham, Robin Knox-Johnston, Tania Aebi, . . .
. . . . I'm sure I'll think of some more as soon as I hit "Post."
Todd
Of course, a more recent and still living sailor, who accomplished much in something not muc better than Bligh's lifeboat is Webb Chiles. He took an 18' Drascombe Lugger around most of the world... technically, it was two Drascombe Luggers, as the first was confiscated by Egypt and the second was sent to him by the company so that he could continue. He recently finished his fifth circumnavigation and is back in Chicago. I had the pleasure of meeting Webb just before he and his wife moved to Chicago.
Quote from: tomwatt on February 01, 2010, 06:24:13 AM
William Bligh (who might not have been someone I'd enjoy chatting with, but his sailing deeds seem impressive), who in 1789 took a crew of 18 in a 23' launch (lifeboat or oversized dinghy?) with no charts or compass guided the boat & crew to safety on a 3500+ nm journey using a sextant and a pocket watch. I don't think the deed qualifies as "cruising" but it certainly was a masterwork of sailing. Famous (infamous?) as the captain of the HMS Bounty, he must have been an interesting character.
I'm certainly not knocking anyone else's choices, and not sure Bligh would represent a very happy soul for an evening of conversation, but it's interesting to note that he is supposed to have learned navigation from Captain Cook, and must have been a heck of a sailor.
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on February 03, 2010, 11:36:28 AM
Of course, a more recent and still living sailor, who accomplished much in something not muc better than Bligh's lifeboat is Webb Chiles. He took an 18' Drascombe Lugger around most of the world... technically, it was two Drascombe Luggers, as the first was confiscated by Egypt and the second was sent to him by the company so that he could continue. He recently finished his fifth circumnavigation and is back in Chicago. I had the pleasure of meeting Webb just before he and his wife moved to Chicago.
Neat. Mountaineers and mountain-climbers I've met. I haven't met a lot of famous (or worthy of fame) sailors unfortunately.
haidan - Great link to the Farrell site, love the artwork - Thanks!
tomwatt - I've read that someone is 'reenacting' Bligh's open-boat voyage... I forget who (and a quick search didn't show it - someone here prolly knows...), but a circumnavigator (?IIRC) who finished sometime in the past year or two is joining them... Tough job, that!
Todd and Dan - Both Moitessier and Chiles are great reading and instructional. Webb's site is a delight.
Quote from: CapnK on February 04, 2010, 01:36:37 PM
haidan - Great link to the Farrell site, love the artwork - Thanks!
tomwatt - I've read that someone is 'reenacting' Bligh's open-boat voyage... I forget who (and a quick search didn't show it - someone here prolly knows...), but a circumnavigator (?IIRC) who finished sometime in the past year or two is joining them... Tough job, that!
Todd and Dan - Both Moitessier and Chiles are great reading and instructional. Webb's site is a delight.
Wow. I don't think I'd volunteer for that... incredible.
My sailing hero is a man named Charl DeVilliers. Originally from South Africa, he was in a terrible accident as a child and lost his hearing as a result. He later moved to South Texas with his family, where we met him playing rugby in Victoria. He left Palacios, TX in 2004 and nine months later became the first deaf person to circumnavigate alone.
He is my hero because he never let his so called 'disabilities' get in the way of his goals. He's one of the most amazing men I've ever met.
He has his own website
www.silentvoyager.com
Laura and I had the pleasure of sailing with Charl on two short delivery trips. Really a nice guy and an excellent sailor too. Understand he's gonna try for a non-stop soon.
No way! Really? Do you know where he's hanging out these days? Still in Palacios? Galveston? I'd really like to get in touch with him again.
Joshua Slocum. Not only was he the first American to circumnavigate, he rebuilt and old wooden boat, Spray,an old Oyster boat, with hand tools. I have read his book...Sailing Alone Around the World. In MHO, he was an incredible man and I consider him one of my heros.
Sorry....Joshua Slocum was born in Noca Scotia Canada, but yep...he was the first sola around ;)
Larry Pardey is a canuck too eh
Quote from: Frank on February 19, 2010, 06:06:29 AM
Sorry....Joshua Slocum was born in Noca Scotia Canada, but yep...he was the first sola around ;)
Larry Pardey is a canuck too eh
But Lin isn't, if I recall correctly, so take THAT!! :) ;D
(Yves Gelinas is French Canadian, yasbsc...(yet another small boat solo circumnavigator).
Joshua Slocum was born in Nova Scotia, but in 1865 became an american citizen. He set sail From Boston in 1895 to visit his boyhood home, and departed from Sambro Island Lighthouse near Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 3, 1895. On June 27, 1898, he returned to Newport Rhode Island to become the first AMERICAN to solo circumnavigate. :P ;) ;D ;D
Details...details. ;D Born and raised is what counts eh :o ::) ;D ;)
He is still my hero,eh. ;D
Frank is my contemporary hero ;)
I don't know about being a hero, but James Baldwin gets a lot of respect from me. I met him when I was in Brunswick, GA last November. His wife, Mei, makes great cookies!
Tim...OK OK.....you can anchor out back AND have a bunk upstairs ;)
Quote from: Tim on February 20, 2010, 09:45:43 AM
Frank is my contemporary hero ;)
Quote from: Frank on February 20, 2010, 04:19:25 PM
Tim...OK OK.....you can anchor out back AND have a bunk upstairs ;)
Quote from: Tim on February 20, 2010, 09:45:43 AM
Frank is my contemporary hero ;)
LOL
Here's a toast to the unsung heros.
My Dad was never a great sailor. He never set foot on a sailboat until he bought a Pearson Commander nearly 40 years ago. But, he would never let inexperience or fear keep him tied to the dock. He would pile his 8 kids aboard and head out into the Ocean. I wouldn't be a sailor if not for him.
Sail on old friend.
No condolences required, but please take a moment to think about the heros who introduced you to sailing.
From today's Newsday
Thomas Connelly, lawyer who fought for civil rights, dies
February 23, 2010 By KATHLEEN KERR kathleen.kerr@newsday.com
Thomas J. Connelly, 77, an attorney who lived in Brightwaters and spent his life fighting for civil rights, died Saturday after a long illness.
During the 1964 Freedom Summer, Connelly helped black Mississippians register to vote. He left only after local police said he was not welcome and locked him in a gas station.
Connelly, born in Brooklyn and raised in College Point, Queens, then returned to his North Babylon law practice. He had earned a law degree from New York University while driving an ice cream truck and working as a night watchman in Harlem.
On Long Island, Connelly worked with the NAACP to desegregate fire departments. He and Dr. Yale Solomon of Huntington were in a group that founded Suffolk's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union in the 1960s.
"I think his courage was in not allowing the unpopularity of an issue to deter him from representing a case in the public forum, in the court," Solomon recalled.
Connelly battled police misconduct and housing discrimination and argued for the right of opponents of the Vietnam War to peacefully demonstrate.
"Our noble profession has lost a valiant warrior for the rights of the oppressed," said retired State Supreme Court Justice Michael F. Mullen.
In 1999, Connelly won a $10.7-million award from the Long Island Rail Road for a Seattle man who, in 1981, at age 9, fell between a platform and a moving train. At the time, it was believed to be the largest sum awarded by a Suffolk County jury. Connelly's son Peter, of North Babylon, was his law partner.
"He did all different kinds of cases, including criminal cases, accidents," said Connelly's son Matthew, of Manhattan.
Connelly and his wife, Maureen, were married for 55 years and had 22 grandchildren. A devout Catholic, he would discuss the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas at dinner.
Survivors include two other sons, Thomas, of Raleigh, N.C., and Patrick, of Chester, N.H.; three daughters, Maura Watters of Ramsey, N.J., Annamarie Monks of Mansfield, Mass., and Jeanellen Vapsva of Berkeley Heights, N.J.; four brothers, Patrick, of Manchester, N.J., Terence, of Southport, N.C., John of Lakewood, N.J., Jerry, of Queens Village, and a sister, Ellen Nash of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. Connelly's oldest son, Stephen, died in 1992.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday at St. Patrick's Church in Bay Shore with burial at St. Philip Neri Cemetery in East Northport.
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q30/commanderpete/morememories.jpg)
Thanks. grog
My condolences. You have much to be proud of... :)