I-36 + 16 yo boy+water=world circumnavigation
http://zacsunderland.com/index.html
I'm going to start a topic about this 16 year old since he is on his way. He's is living the dream many of us had at his age, I think it will be fun to follow him. His blog is a a pretty good read so far IMHO
http://www.zacsunderland.com/index.html
Given his age, he still sounds far more prepared than some of the other sailors who have headed off on aborted circumnavigations in the last couple of years. For example: Heather Neill, David Vann and Ken Barnes. :)
I think his motivation will be a key to his success. This seems to be HIS dream from the very beginning, and if he can avoid getting caught up in the notoriety of the event I believe he will do it.
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on June 21, 2008, 12:13:15 PM
Given his age, he still sounds far more prepared than some of the other sailors who have headed off on aborted circumnavigations in the last couple of years. For example: Heather Neill, David Vann and Ken Barnes. :)
Please, can we let the unfortunate failed attempts fade away, and concentrate more on the successful? Or if we have to come back to them, let's try and concentrate on what we can learn from the attempt, and not on the issue of it failing. Trying and failing in my book is less of a sin than NOT trying at all (a sin that I, and probably most here, am so far guilty). I don't believe any of the above examples are worthy of the scorn that is being heaped upon them.
Frankly, I think I have been convinced that if (when!) I get out into the deep blue that I will keep it a secret. God forbid if something should go wrong and I have to listen to months of derision because of it.
Quote from: s/v godot on June 21, 2008, 02:40:41 PM
[Frankly, I think I have been convinced that if (when!) I get out into the deep blue that I will keep it a secret. gol forbid if something should go wrong and I have to listen to months of derision because of it.
You might find it hard to believe that when I was discussing a long coastal cruise the number of people casting derision. I still get it sometimes. It was nice to be able to communicate to people who had the same desire and encouragement.
why plan? you just decide to go to that place, spend some time, then you say maybe we can to this place...pretty soon it's closer to keep going then to turn around.
as for me I will go around the world but I care less what poeple say when I set out from my slip, and care more of what poeple say when I leave their port. always want to leave a good impression ya know.
Zac is about halfway to Hawaii although it sounds like he does not intend to stop unless compelled to. His blog continues to be an interesting read.
His "light touch" to writing and descriptions for the lay (non-sailor) is refreshing. His progress is not as fast as he would like and it is unfortunate that he is worried about his weather window down South.
But I guess that goes with the territory.
Good to hear it is going well for him.
Quote from: Tim on June 29, 2008, 09:02:27 PMHis progress is not as fast as he would like and it is unfortunate that he is worried about his weather window down South.
Timetables and sailing - ne'er the twain shall meet
(happily, that is...).
'Nuff said. ;D
For those that have not been tracking him, he made Port Moresby New Guinea yesterday.
He has to put in for some engine repair, butI'd say the young whippersnapper is doing OK so far.
Looks like Zac has some competition.
This 16y/o kid has some serious financial backing and a 50ft ocean racer to attempt to take the record away from Zac before he even gets it.
Here is the full article (http://www.sail-world.com/cruising/index.cfm?nid=50335&rid=11)
$63,000 for some communication equipment!!!?? Wow.
I could buy a boat and sail around the world with that :)
What sucks is this could put alot of pressure on Zac to push on even if he doesn't feel comfortable with a weather window or even a whole season! or whatever else.
I wonder if Mike realizes how much trouble a 50' boat can get into if he's not careful.
Personally, I think it sucks for Zac. IMHO, it shows a fundamental difference between two different schools of philosophy... IMHO, Zac is doing this for himself...and the publicity is merely a side effect—Mike is doing this as a massive and well financed publicity stunt—and the sailing around the world is a mere side effect of the stunt.
Zac bought and outfitted his boat himself, with mainly his own savings... and has prepared himself by working as a sailor... Mike is being given his boat, having someone "manage" it and the manager is also training him. IMHO, Mike represents some of the worst of today's youth—where they have stuff handed to them on a platter, when others have put years of hard work into achieving the same thing.
My sentiments exactly.
And Zac ,even if he gets the record taken from him, will have MUCH more personal satisfaction in years to come.
Sad for the second kid really.
Sadly a piece of social commentary. I will still be putting my money on Zac, the sea has a way of evening the scales.
I've been following Zac since pretty much the begining and at 16 all I can say is wow I know that someday I will be able to do this
I totally agree with Adrift, Zac is doing it the hard and honest way whereas this other kid will just have to push a few buttons, turn a couple knobs and take a ride around the world. How sad, even my 12 yr old daughter says that it is not right. I'm still putting my money on Zac. Marc
what is the website of this rich kid you all are talking about trying to sail around the world??
Mike's site is http://www.sailmike.com/
Quote from: chris2998 on November 11, 2008, 02:15:01 PM
what is the website of this rich kid you all are talking about trying to sail around the world??
BTW, from Mike's site:
QuoteThe Boat:
Mike's team has chartered a 50 ft Open racing yacht, owned by the Escoffier family for the World Challenge trip.
The boat was named TotallyMoney.com at the 2008 Southampton Boat Show in September, in honour of one of Mike's major sponsors.
The Major Sponsors:
QuoteTotally Money Without Totally Money coming on board to take us up to a 75% funding position this project would not have got off the drawing board.
Vocalink This was our first major contributor and gave us the confidence that businesses were prepared to support a 16 year old undertaking such a big adventure.
Skechers Supported Mike to enable him to become the youngest person to sail single-handed across the Atlantic. Their continued support has been built up from good relationships.
Mastervolt Offered to donate all necessary electrical equipment, which has made the difference between having enough power for all the communication equipment or having very little.
Kemp sails Have provided a full set of sails for the voyage. The focus has been on providing Mike with sails that are easy to handle, strong and will perform well in all conditions. Attention to detail has included adding a bolt rope to the mainsail to allow him to attach himself and climb to the top without swinging all over the place.
Personally, I hope Zac kicks Mike's butt... :)
I don't even understand how someone can get sponsoerd to do all this is it just because it is a record ting or what
Chances are more than likely it has a lot to do with who his father is, rather than who Mike is... His father, Peter Perham is a "boatbuilder" and has been behind most of Mike's record setting attempts. I believe Peter is using his industry contacts and his son's recent Transatlantic record to get the support that has been received.
Quote from: chris2998 on November 12, 2008, 05:42:13 AM
I don't even understand how someone can get sponsoerd to do all this is it just because it is a record ting or what
In general, sponsorships are advertisements.
if your attempting a record of any sort, or entering some type of race, companies will donate equipment or services. In return, they get their company noticed. Since its a race or record, its a guarantee that people will be watching, and donating a piece of equipment and getting your name plastered all over the place (websites, videos, on the boat itself or whatever) is alot cheaper than buying a commercial on tv or a billboard or something like that. Plus people will see that the product works and go out and buy it for their boat.
In this case though, I think Adrift is right about Peters contacts and influence on the whole situation.
Mike's Atlantic record is actually fairly impressive, not only was he the youngest, but he did in a small centerboard trailer sailor - Link (http://www.yacht-designer.co.uk/page53.html)
But I think trying to take this one away from Zac by throwing horrendous amounts of money into it is pretty lame. I hope zac gets the record and keeps it until some 14/yo in a dinghy respectuflly takes it away :)
Does it really count as a solo transatlantic if his father was shadowing him in another boat?
This will be a whole different kettle of fish. His biggest problem will probably be equiptment failure on a racing sled.
Good luck to the kid
oh yeah, i forgot about his father holding his hand the whole way :-\
so yeah, not so impressive afterall...
Zac has already proven that he can deal with equipment problems, and jury rig his way out of them. :)
I don't know if Mike is going to be as resourceful, given that his previous attempt was babysat by his father in a shadowing boat... Also, the gear on a 50' boat is harder to jury rig in some ways, since the forces on it are going to be higher than those on the smaller boat Zac has.
It seems to me through pure logic that if he had to change out sails etc. everything would be much heavier , is he a wrestler or a young body builder? Zac is the real sailor in this story, This KID has just way too much money and resources, heck, he may as well just buy a plane ticket and go around the world that way. Zac has all my support. Marc
Marc-
Mike isn't that big a person from the photos I've seen of him...and I think that he may be in over his head with a 50' racing machine. His father won't be there to hold his hand every step of the way, so it will put a lot more of his success on his shoulders rather than his father's, and it'll be interesting to see how he does. My money is still on Zac though. Your point about the amount of resources and money that Mike and mainly Mike's father are throwing at his attempt is a valid one IMHO.
Of the recent circumnavigators, the one I hold in the highest regard is probably Donna Lange, who did her circumnavigation with little in the way of financial support or backing other than her own, with almost no fanfare or media coverage. Just quietly and competently sailing her SC 28 around the planet. She wasn't trying to set any records AFAIK, and was really sailing around the world for herself...
I hope Zac pulls it off. I was a bit put off reading Mikes site. The boat is equiped more like the space shuttle then an ocean cruiser. I could run my entire house on a 7K generator. It is a huge accomplishment to sail around the world regardless of what you have for help, with that being said I admire Zacs attempt much more then Mikes.
I think Mike's dependence on all the high-tech gizmos and extremely complex systems that 50' boat has on it is going to come back to bite him on the backside. Simpler is generally better IMHO. If he needs a 7KW genset, how much electronic/electrical equipment is he relying on??? Ron's probably right, most of us could run our houses on a 7KW genset, at least during the winter, when air conditioning isn't a requirement.
Quote from: ronc98 on November 15, 2008, 10:24:54 PM
I hope Zac pulls it off. I was a bit put off reading Mikes site. The boat is equiped more like the space shuttle then an ocean cruiser. I could run my entire house on a 7K generator. It is a huge accomplishment to sail around the world regardless of what you have for help, with that being said I admire Zacs attempt much more then Mikes.
I left a blog telling Zac to come over here just to see how much we support him. Though from what I could tell, he isn't too worried about Mike. I hope his genset throws abearing or rod so that he will have to rely on celestial navigation. (lol). Or i f something like that would happen, his father would probably fly a mechanic with the right part to fix it. KISS is the right way to go. Marc
Oh and I wonder if he Zac will run into Natasa Caban out there looks to me they are taking the same route with her maybe a week or two behind him.
Quote from: Marc on November 16, 2008, 08:47:15 AM
Oh and I wonder if he Zac will run into Natasa Caban out there looks to me they are taking the same route with her maybe a week or two behind him.
If I was 16 that would part of my dream. ;D
Mike had to stop in Portugal for repairs to the generator and autopilot
http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/
He set off again, but the latest tracks have him heading back east to Portugal
http://system.marinetrack.com/scope/view/embed/sailmike.asp
heck, I wouldn't mind running into Natasza Caban myself. :)
Quote from: ronc98 on November 16, 2008, 08:57:20 AM
Quote from: Marc on November 16, 2008, 08:47:15 AM
Oh and I wonder if he Zac will run into Natasa Caban out there looks to me they are taking the same route with her maybe a week or two behind him.
If I was 16 that would part of my dream. ;D
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on November 25, 2008, 11:50:56 AM
heck, I wouldn't mind running into Natasza Caban myself. :) Quote from: ronc98 on November 16, 2008, 08:57:20 AM
Quote from: Marc on November 16, 2008, 08:47:15 AM
Oh and I wonder if he Zac will run into Natasa Caban out there looks to me they are taking the same route with her maybe a week or two behind him.
If I was 16 that would part of my dream. ;D
HAHA same here who the heck wouldn't mind running into her
Might not be too high on the list for Connie and the other ladies here.. :)
I have not tried myself, but I might when I get on the water next year. I think you would be surprised what you could get by asking.
I'm not discounting the industry contacts, I'm sure you're right. However, I think that with some hard phone work and leg work, sponsorship could be gotten. Alex on the Bluesphere Project has had some. He has also gotten some equipment that way.
Further, if you are actually out there doing it, your chances would be way better. I doubt that I could get the time of day from a major marine equipment company by calling to say, "Next year, I plan to do thus and such." But if you were out there and called to say here is my website/blog, here is my sailing resume, here are articles I've had published. I think you could get something. At that point, a $grand or two or a piece of equipment would mean way more to you than to them. I think/hope it can happen.
Todd
Quote from: sailorbum on November 26, 2008, 09:48:08 AM
I think you could get something. At that point, a $grand or two or a piece of equipment would mean way more to you than to them. I think/hope it can happen.
Todd
May be, and why not. But do not think it will be enough for a ''sponsor'' to mention his brand name a few times, at the end you will feel like a prostitute. Sometimes it is better to pass on a nice piece of equipment and keep the freedom.
I kind of agree with Manannan with the whole sponsorship thing. I have a car (03 Nissan 350z) thats sponsored right now. I'll be honest, they ammount of work that goes into your sponsorships (promoting and selling their brand) is alot more than just driving a car around.
Granted boats and cars are completely different. I haven't seen my car for over a year now (aside from pictures) due to the fact that its been with different sponsors to meet show/track requirements (events).
Sometimes, I think at the end of the day, I bought the car because I loved to drive it, and I haven't been in the seat since Sept of 07.
From now on im sponsored by my own wallet!
Go Zac go!
My money is on Zac too. What is in your heart is much more important than what is in your wallet (to steal from a TV gingle)
I would prefer to finance my own gear....since I tend to be pretty blunt about what works and what doesn't. If I had been given a piece of gear, I might have to be a bit more diplomatic about what I thought about it if it fails. :)
Hey Marc,
Maybe you and I, being from Iowa, could get a sponsorship from John Deere or some seed dealership ;D ::) :D? A couple of bucks here and there wouldn't hurt, would it? I wonder if we would have to paint our boats John Deere green and yellow ??? or could we just get away with with a JD baseball cap and jacket?
Fair winds,
Pappy Jack
Hey everyone, Have you noticed Zac Sunderland is nearing home after his trip around the globe. He is quite a remarkable young man. I have been following his trip since the beginning and I'm in awe of this young man. Gosh that makes me feel old when I talk like that!!! :)
I believe he is a very deserving young man. Considering some of the well promoted endeavors, his was done with class beyond his years.
Well said Tim. :)
Whatever happened to the other kid that was on the 50ft racer trying to circumnavigate?
Mike Perham is still going AFAIK...so is Jessica Watson.
I give both of these kids a great deal of credit.
Whatever motivates them, it has motivated too few others. We need these kids out there for the very sake of helping people to realize that adventure did not die in the days of cowboys and Indians, or the Union Jack off newly discovered islands. Adventure, and the chance to achieve huge goals, huge experiences, is with us now.
We need people to carry their story to the press in every possible local market. E-mail their cites and stories to TV, radio, and newspaper editors.
I think I just heard that Zac is the subject of ABC news nightline. They have something less newsworthy about a dead celebrity right now.. ::)
They actually did a pretty good job with the story.
The Zac's dad was rigging a fix for a broken bulkhead that looked pretty bad... this kid has been through some rough stuff... I hope that he gets some good coverage for his arrival.
Way to go Zac!
He did it. Read it here.
Zac Sunderland completes solo sail around the world... LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-zac-sunderland17-2009jul17,0,3460856.story)
(http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-07/47885071.jpg)
Quote"Zac Sunderland completes solo sail around the world
"The 17-year-old from Thousand Oaks is the youngest sailor to complete the feat. The journey lasted 13 months.
By Pete Thomas
10:30 AM PDT, July 16, 2009
"Zac Sunderland, who left Marina del Rey 13 months ago with a bold ambition to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone, returned to complete that quest today at 10:30 a.m."
Yay Zac!,
Islanders rock!!!!! ;D
Zac has been getting a lot of good press! Jim Rome mentioned him on his TV and radio shows. Sportscenter did a little story and Foxsports radio did a little story. Every report has been positve. Jim Rome was really impressed and he isn`t impressed by much.