Wrong-way solo circ stopped short

[SV Someday Came]

In John Vigor's book called Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Sailing, he talked about being careful what you name your boat so to be respectful to the sea and mentioned a couple of names that might rise the ire of Neptune. I was looking through this guy's photographs, and came across a picture of his spinnaker. It is half down on this link Kim Chow photos. Yikes!!!!! Maybe this is why the guy did not make it -- this is precisely what Vigor was being cautious about!!

[cathyoz]

Originally Posted by jzk

So what is wrong with his boat? What is unseaworthy about it?

the boat does not seams unseaworthy to go cruising relax,

but sailing "around the world" in head winds for days on end , pounded by big seas , sometime with huge waves.........near iceburgs, or big floating logs..ect,,
Few people did it and you just have to look at their boat ,read their adventures to compare , they had very solid modern material, or steel, or Aluminium , but certainly less maintenance about vernish ..ect..
watertight compartment, watertight haches ..ect..ect..
i am sure for the price of his beautifull boat, he could have sell it and buy a more prepared 30 fts for this type of navigation and hard program

it is not the size, but the hability to be watertight, flash deck, rustic , but solide.
if anyone has been in strong seas for days , they will know what i am talking about..
too long to discribe here...
you are glad then that the boat is strong, and nothing on desk will goes or get pull out ,and can resist to constant waves bashing, washing...as even going into the cockpit to empty your "bucket"is a tuff and wet exercice,

[cathyoz]

MAUD FONTENOY à CONTRECOURANT

if you enter the site , cliking on the English flag , you will get the english version..
great boat, great adventure, and a great young women , she did 2 crossing rowing before the Atlantique and Pacifique.
great women, humble, focus, modest and good role model

She is French and a "pretty women" !!!,
but 'we will forgive her this 2 major handicaps"...

[Lorianne Davies]

What worries me is that this jerk even got press!!!! Slow news day in Canada.

I'd like to tell him where to shove his teacup...and that's not very "Canadian".

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Lorianne Davies

What worries me is that this jerk even got press!!!! Slow news day in Canada.

I'd like to tell him where to shove his teacup...and that's not very "Canadian".

He got coverage before (Pacific Yachting Magazine - Victoria Man Sails the Globe Backwards).

I can think many more foolhardy trips made or contemplated by other sailors.

Jack

[Northeaster]

He did make it 215 days, from Victoria,BC, Canada to the Falkland Islands!

[sestina]

Hello everybody, this is my first post. FWIW my father had an Offshore 40, very closely based on Phil Rhodes's Reliant design. So closely based as to be considered plagarisim!

They are very fine sea boats, the weakness of an offset companionway accepted. Nevertheless, Sunflyer 111 looked after me in my first gale at the tender age of 11 and we had many happy years family cruising in the Mediterranean and the English Channel.

They are a remarkable design for their age, cram a three cabin layout including and aft head into a boat with 28' of waterline and make it look and sail like a dream.

[CharlieCobra]

Originally Posted by jzk

So what is wrong with his boat? What is unseaworthy about it?

I don't think it's unseaworthy at all. It's quite a bit like my boat, except for the offset companionway and I've had mine in force 11 before. I'd take mine offshore after some improvement of the hatch watertight integrity.

[Artful Dodger]

I wonder what your comments would be if he had completed his quest. I've followed this venture from it's start and have been impressed with it all, and all though I've been sailing a short time I will say at least he went for his dream, instead of sitting back in an arm chair and passing comments.

[imagine2frolic]

Here's a bit more. His rig looks intact, but he is a shambles. Scroll down on the page.

Latitude 38 - The West's Premier Sailing & Marine Magazine

[Duckwheat]

The boat looks in pretty good shape in the photo with the Ship in the background.

What ever it went through it survived. Why not make some repairs and move on.

I agree his plan seems a little against the grain.

DW

[Triton318]

Originally Posted by Lorianne Davies

What worries me is that this jerk even got press!!!!

Why is he a jerk?

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Triton318

Why is he a jerk?

When I first saw the thread, and saw the word "Canoe" I did not bother clicking the link - but now that I have been to his website IMO the boat does not look unsuitable - albeit of course the devil is in the detail.....and bearing in mind he made it from Canada that far speaks to me a fair bit.

However that offset hatch is something I have never seen before......and is not something my gut would choose.

Reading his blog, he does seem to have picked up an injury before the roll, and a few more afterwards, nothing "serious" on their own but together would affect both mental and physical capacity to cope with further trouble......given the weather, that the boat had sustained some damage (nothing "serious" on their own - but yer can guess how things could later go) and that help was on hand and offered, albeit he does not seem to have actually called for a Rescue - (just keeping folk informed)........then his decision to abandon the boat looks to me understandable.......not to say it was easy to make.......and I put down to "you had to have been there"......probably by now / later at least a small part of him will be 2nd guessing himself on the decision......but IMO the decision was right, because it was made by the Captain at the time based on the facts he knew.........and IMO this decision remains right, no matter that later facts may show he was wrong.

[imagine2frolic]

The damage to his body was enough that he thought he couldn't repair the hatch. The motor wasn't working, and his batteries dead. Sometimes it is the wise choice to quit!