s/v 'Flight of Years' Solo Circumnavigation

[stevelxls]

Does anyone know if the lady managed to set sail on her solo circumnavigation (s/v Flight of Years) on New Years day as planned?

Solo-Sailor....One Woman's Solo-Circumnavigation of the World

(Seems a bit of a slow site to open)

[GordMay]

Nothing posted yet ...
Her website (Ship’s Log) was last updated December 28/07, saying: The next words you'll read on this page will be posted January 1st 2008; the barometer reading, wind direction and velocity, wave conditions, my latitude and longitude and a description of Flight of Years coasting out of Steinhatchee, heading for Panama and around the world.
Check back here New Year's Day!
DATE OF EMBARKATION: January 1, 2008, 10:32 a.m.

Flight of Years - Ship's Log

[Auspicious]

She had some electrical issues that turned out to be due to misleading advice from a vendor. Regardless, she got it sorted out (John Gambill from Hotwire's Home Page is the hero in this story, driving up to put eyes on the problem) and is/was planning to sail on the tide today. If I have the timing right she left around 1530Z.

[Lynx]

She left with good winds.

[svHyLyte]

We rec'd the following from Heather's dad yesterday:

Hi Scott and Kit -
Heather left at noon today, into 22 knots, choppy seas and 24F for wind chill. Safe but miserable.

But she called us at 2pm, on her sat phone, to report all was well; she was on a broad reach and doing 5.6 - 5.7 knots - with a hull speed of only 5.7113. Very good indeed!

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

with a hull speed of only 5.7113

Hello?! What size boat has that hull speed?

OK thats my short term memory problem as I've looked at her website before.... Flicka 20... as in 20 feet long.

Good luck to her My knees couldnt stand it...


Mark

[camaraderie]

She has turned back for repairs to hatchboards, transmission and harness. I expect we'll hear more once she gets back to land and can post something.

[stevelxls]

The lady has now updated her log after returning to home port after a few days. Interesting, honest and a very worthwhile read that should surely throw up a multitude of viewpoints for discussion.

Have a read Flight of Years - Ship's Log and see what you think. Then put yourself in her shoes and as a novice, what (if anything) would you have done differently?

[pogo]

The Lady (Heather)

Seems to be a romantic soul. Beginning with the reasons she is going, to her descriptions, prior to arriving back in port. I truely hope for the best for her. It takes a strong heart to venture out to circumnavigate in a 20 foot boat, and a lot of luck mixed in with, good planning to make it a successful venture.

My kinda gal!! I mean she has what my dad called "piss and vinegar" in her veins. (spunky) It's an admirable quality.

Pogo

[dcstrng]

<a strong heart to venture out to circumnavigate….>

Yep – I’ve scanned her website a few times with considerable interest… sounds like she is quite aware of the magnitude of her adventure and relishing the coming unknowns; however, I gathered she’d not characterize herself as an old salt…

It sounded like her “shakedown” cruise was a tad abbreviated and she was trusting that all things would work as designed… maybe my experience isn’t representative (and I ain’t an old salt either – just old…), but I’ve never had a boat that became immediately predictable or responsive … whether power or sail, it seems like it usually takes me about half a year of regular use (time away from the dock) before things smooth out and I get down to just normal maintenance of wear and tear issues… so, it doesn’t surprise me that she used her (still) nearby port to resolve an issue or two – smart lady…

[Rez]

She's sure as hell an enormously honest person.

[MarkJ]

Its a good account of sea sickness and what it does to your mind and will. As everyone says you just want to die.
But thats only the first time you get sea sick that bad. Then after you realise that no matter how bad you feel you won't actually die... you just want t! LOL Then seasickness becomes easier (for me) and now it dont happen at all.

She is incredable brave to be that honest in her log: read it here Flight of Years - Ship's Log

Funnily enough some people put so much preasure on themselves "I'm going around the world, see me off on March 15 at 5.45pm". Thats fine if you've been to sea before but not the first time. Not the first time when you havent gotten sea sick before, or before you know your boat locks you out whenever you go on deck...

Now she will have lost a lot of confidence in herself which she will have to build up again by her self. I bet she will. But next time I bet she leaves quietly without inviting anyone to the dock.

There is one thing she should feel more confident about now: her boat. Sat there untended, hove to, and in a reasonable breeze and swell, quite happily and safely.

they must be good little 20 foot boats.


mark

[pogo]

Sometimes I would rather be handling a rattlesnake, over being in the cockpit and then, the water lays down and a breeze skims me along with ease, the sun comes out and it is sheer heaven.
40+ years on the oceans water and I am still amazed at its many moods.

It is much better she got a reality indoctrination where and when it did.

Now if she goes back out, she'll most likely be just fine. If she doesn't go back to it, at least she will not have spent a lot of time and energy fruitlessly.
Either way, she got something out of this experience, a dose of reality that will give her a greater appreciation for those that have accomplished circumnavigations, and a respect for the sea.

I hope she steps up and goes forward. My instincts tell me she will make a fine sailor. BRAVO to her for even considering it.

Pogo

[pogo]

Originally Posted by Rez

She's sure as hell an enormously honest person.

Yep, she isn't hiding anything. (most of us have had those feelings too, one time or another.)

[svHyLyte]

We have just learned that Heather has made a decision to sell "Flight of Years" and abandon her efforts after learning that an injury she sustained shortly before her original departure is much wore than originally thought and that surgery and a long re-hab will be required.

As many of us probably know, major decisions made when one is ill or injured, and despondent, can--and many do- later prove to have been unwise. If anyone cares, it would be good to click up to her site and send her a message of encouragement. A little spirit building from the community might be helpful.

s/v HyLyte