Against All Odds ?

[Ex-Calif]

I really liked John Krethcmer's "Cape Horn to Starboard"

I think of that book every time someone tells a new sailor here they "can't" do something. He started with a vision, learned how to sail, crossed the atlantic and then doubled the horn in less than 12 days. In a 32 foot boat...

[Shrew]

Who is more foolish, the one who dies trying or the one who dies regretting?

[boatman61]

If you're reading this and are trying to weigh whether or not you're worthy of a journey, please don't take the word of a stranger. Trust yourself and your instincts. You'll be there when the chips are down. Always take advice for what it's worth, nothing more.

Jeff and Nancy
SV Oblivion

You've got to remember those times (if you've ever had them) when you've had a great job offer which involves moving out of state or something...
All the friends, neighbors, relatives etc say things like.. "Don't go we'll miss you terribly,...", "Wow your taking a hell of a risk uprooting.. what about the kids..", "Blah, blah, blah..." so you feel all guilty n selfish and don't go...
Six months later half of them are doing what they talked you out of and don't give a **** what you think....

Going off on a boats much the same... in every endeavour you'll find the naysayers... the useless critics who'll walk past you in a boatyard or marina pause... then shake the head... "Tut Tut Tut... I wouldn't do that..."
2 months later the same person will wander by and say... "Wow.. lovely bit of work... just what I would have done..."
Screw them.... Its your life... live it... there aint no rehearsals

[Tellie]

Funny, seems to me that alot of the people I read about that get into trouble are for the most part the ones that have all the experiance.

[KillerBoo]

Originally Posted by Shrew

Who is more foolish, the one who dies trying or the one who dies regretting?

Neither.. It´s the one dies regretting that he tried

[Sharkbreath]

Funny, when I read that first post the sense I get is someone who is going to do something - their mind is already made up. what they want is reassurance that what they want to do isn't totally crazy. I can empathize but as is always the case, it's the individual that has to make the leap, alone. Words of support or negation don't make much difference when you throw of that last mooring line. But that's what makes it so awesome - you win, you lose, but it's all yours!

[sailorboy1]

I didn't read all the thread just the start and a couple just before this one. But I think we discourage too many people overall. I think it's because the answers tend to always assume someone is just going to get a boat a sail across the wide open ocean right away. But I don't think getting a boat and doing local cosatral cruising for a few years is really all that different than getting one and working your way down along the coast on passage. Either way you get the sailing experience and as long as you're not a total idiot you will know when you have the needed experience to go into wider seas.

So go for it and sail within your comfort level alond the way! If on the other hand you really are a total idiot in your sailing chioces, well then it is your problem and choice.

[Eleven]

It's a lot easier to sink a boat on a coastline than in the deep blue sea

[zopi]

Sometimes, you just have to drop lines and go..."you'll shoot your eye out!" "That Motorcycle will kill you!" "That old boat is junk!"

Our entire society seems bent on protecting us from ourselves...'s one more reason to bail.
If Patty Wagstaff's dad hadn't have set her in fromt of the controls to a DC6, and she hadn't the guts and gumption she does, she'd be a (very cute) secretary somewhere, instead of one of the most famous female pilots in the world..

[zeehag]

a person can do that which he/she sets his/her mind at doing......

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by zeehag

a person can do that which he/she sets his/her mind at doing......

Yes. But some people need to be guided back onto the strait and narrow.... Not all can be rocket surgeons........

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Yes. But some people need to be guided back onto the strait and narrow.... Not all can be rocket surgeons........

is why gods made darwin........rocket sturgeons are hard to catch... need rocket line....is rare.

guidance is offered by baja haha and crowd...

[zopi]

Originally Posted by zeehag

a person can do that which he/she sets his/her mind at doing......

You forgot "it"

[zeehag]

LOL---IT!!!! oops i best be nice-- i have a friend........ very loyal, but.......

[zopi]

Originally Posted by zeehag

LOL---IT!!!! oops i best be nice-- i have a friend........ very loyal, but.......

Yeah..I've got some strange acqaintances as well...