Top Ten Most Inspirational Sailors

[Cuajota]

John from Sailing with Cancer- One Man's race against time!

His story inspired me more than anyone else with regards to sailing. I only hope that when facing adversity, I can face things as bravely as he does.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Naomi James
Clare Francis
Shane Acton
Tristan Jones

and

Horatio Nelson

[tager]

+1 for moxie marlinspike.

[captainKJ]

personally I like " Barnacle Bill the Sailor"

[Coachbolt61]

Add zeehag. She is truly inspirational.
Coachbolt.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by MacG

Sure, Shackleton belongs to the pioneers. But he was not a sailor. Nordenskjuld was. They were pioneers for another reason. In any case, not sailing.

I have to differ, if ever there was an adept sailor who not only managed but took care of his crew it was Sir Earnest Shackleton. Not only did he cross from Antarctica to South America in a open long boat, but after getting his crew to safety, he mounted a rescue party to recover the other half of his expedition that had left from OZ or NZ. The book of his voyage is available from some sources as a free e-book and should be read by sailors and managers alike. After reading that book, read Bligh's log of how he made his crossing after loosing the Bounty. Both were great sailors, only one was a leader...

[boatpoker]

Sailor .... Francis Drake right after Cook

A sop to the stink potters .... Robert Beebe

[Viking Sailor]

I pick the following as sailors who have inspired me by overcoming hardships to live their dream:

Leif Erikson
Thor Heyerdahl
Joshua Slocum
Roald Amundsen
Eric and Susan Hiscock
Hal and Margaret Roth
Lin and Larry Pardey
Zeehag
Captain Ron
Popeye

[rebel heart]

John Paul Jones (father of the American Navy)
Mortissier
Richard Henry Dana
William Bligh (great sailor, terrible leader)
Pardey's


Not sure who else off the top of my head.

[Factor]

In no order -

Moitessier
Eric Tabarlay
Dr David Lewis
Jessica Watson
Ellen Macarthur
Rosie Swaile
John Guzzwell
Francis Joyon

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Lowcountry

Moitessier, because he accomplished incredible feats of sailing and navigation (largely by himself), and he did it on a shoe-string budget.

What? Not the Bumfuzzle's.

[Geoduck]

Inspirational sailors?
How about William Willis?
Of course Bernard Moitessier!
Tristan Jones - B.S. artist - non the less, inspirational.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Factor

In no order -

Moitessier
Eric Tabarlay
Dr David Lewis
Jessica Watson
Ellen Macarthur
Rosie Swaile
John Guzzwell
Francis Joyon

Glad someone thought to add Guzzwell. Hard to think of anyone more inspirational for the "go small, go now" set.

[Coachbolt61]

Dr David Lewis. He sailed a number of times to the Antarctic solo on ice bird and later on Solo. Known also for using Polynesian navigation to navigate and some single handed transatlantic crossings on. 25 ft boat. He finished third.

[Factor]

As well as the first modern circumnav in a cat.