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**sneuman** · 09-07-2010, 07:35

he completed the Trans Pac 2010 race on a Mt. Gay 30:

YouTube - 2010 Singlehanded Transpac Ronnie Simpson

#!

Stillraining · 09-07-2010, 08:43

Good on him

Abaco · 09-07-2010, 09:02

I give him credit. He had a dream, it bacame a nightmare. He recovered, and biked through China. Then gets the opportunity to refit a boat, drive it across the country and race single handed to Hawaii. Early in this saga, I believed him to be a bit of a flake. Now I really respect what he has done.

Anybody know how he's getting the boat back from Hawaii?

**sarafina** · 09-07-2010, 10:52

ah.... not sure what he raced in but it wasn't the transpac. transpsc runs every other year, on odd numbers... Cathy in Oz is trying to mount a campaign of women sailors for the 2011, but there was no 2010 race...

**sneuman** · 09-07-2010, 10:57

It's the singlehanded TransPac. It's organized by the Single-handed Sailing Society.

**sarafina** · 09-07-2010, 10:59

yep, thanks, I had just found it and was coming back to add the info...

fishwife · 09-07-2010, 15:44

Ahem, for those of us who don't know who this fella is, a few clues please. A google, using the UK settings shows up as a footballer. A few links pretty please.

P.

**GordMay** · 09-07-2010, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishwife

Ahem, for those of us who don't know who this fella is, a few clues please. A google, using the UK settings shows up as a footballer. A few links pretty please. P.

See

➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ued-20156.html

➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...e-20095-6.html

➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ite-14065.html

TaoJones · 09-07-2010, 16:14

Ronnie Simpson is a young American and Iraq War veteran who decided to get a boat and fix it up, then sail around the world solo - except he's never sailed before. Still, he embarked as he intended, leaving San Diego in October 2008, bound for Hawaii. He and his brother planned to make videos of the adventure and market them.

About 600 miles out of San Diego, he experienced steering failure and opted to abandon ship. He accepted a lift from a Chinese cargo vessel and wound up in China, with virtually nothing.

No problem . . . he decided to get a bicycle and pedal across Asia and Europe, trying to get back to the States. The funny thing is, he did it! You can follow the journey on his website:

Welcome to the Open Blue Horizon

Once back in the US, he decided to give it another try, this time starting out by sailing in the Singlehanded TransPac. This brief sketch should bring you up to date.

Here's a page of links on Cruisers Forum:

Ronnie Simpson - Google Search

TaoJones

**Wotname** · 09-07-2010, 22:20

Looks like he completed his apprenticeship (with some difficulty), is now a tradesman and with luck, with become a master.

I was one of his critics and I am very glad to see that he has succeeded.

fishwife · 10-07-2010, 01:39

Thank you for the links and the potted history.

P.

imagine2frolic · 10-07-2010, 05:53

I give the man credit for getting back on the horse, but in his bio it claims he survived a hurricane. At worst it was 35 knots, and his own fears beat him. We can only take him at his word if the rudder was broken, unless the boat is ever found we will never know.

He was gifted the boat he used in the race, and the owner pushed Ronnie pretty hard. He even admits he was willing to go in when the owner pushed him on. In a video of his trasining he was more worried about camera angles than driving the boat. Running up, and down a deck single-handing on S.F. Bay without a harness can be pretty dangerous. I have to admit he gets a lot of ink, but I wish he were more honest about how he got where he arrived to. Well, he wanted to sail around the world, and he's only got 25k miles to go. I would like to see him finish that!..........i2f

jkd · 10-07-2010, 07:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abaco

Anybody know how he's getting the boat back from Hawaii?

He is bringing it back with crew, possibly his girlfriend I think.

I'm glad he made it and his blog is an interesting balance.
I have a general gripe with 'Pay Pal' sailors, but to each their own. I'm glad he found someone to loan him a boat and give him some additional direction and focus. (that is a true gift I hope he never forgets)

John

Doodles · 13-07-2010, 04:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkd

He is bringing it back with crew, possibly his girlfriend I think.

I'm glad he made it and his blog is an interesting balance.
I have a general gripe with 'Pay Pal' sailors, but to each their own. I'm glad he found someone to loan him a boat and give him some additional direction and focus. (that is a true gift I hope he never forgets)

John

Excuse my ignorance, but what's a 'Pay Pal' sailor?