Forum Member's Boat and Daughter in Trouble off of Mexico

[deckofficer]

An opportunity has presented itself to defend both Eric and the family cruising lifestyle. As all are aware the Mail has picked up the story and run with it. In their typical sensationalism reporting, they for some reason gave Eric a fair shake, but their massive audience in the comments section have not. Take the time to sign up to Mail and leave well constructed comments. Lets try to educate the masses that raising children to be confident, nonjudgmental, and happy by spending serious amounts of time with them cruising beats letting TV and video games do the molding of their characters.

'Are we there yet?' Family's round-the-world sailing trip ends after just two weeks as sea sickness and broken boat turn dream voyage into a nightmare | Mail Online

[Lucky Larry]

Wishing all the best to Eric and family.

[Argyle38]

Thanks for posting Beersmith. Don't know Rebel Heart other than from posts, but it sounds to me like he's made the right moves in a bad situation so far.

Tough few days for them for sure. Best wishes for them to get the family and boat back safe.

[Cheechako]

It was on CNN this am with photos etc. Reportedly the navy is taking "the family" off tonite or in the am. whatever that means.

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

An opportunity has presented itself to defend both Eric and the family cruising lifestyle. As all are aware the Mail has picked up the story and run with it. In their typical sensationalism reporting, they for some reason gave Eric a fair shake, but their massive audience in the comments section have not. Take the time to sign up to Mail and leave well constructed comments.

Apparently the Mail also censors their comments. Mine never show up. I guess they don't like me pointing out the factual inaccuracies in their article.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

An opportunity has presented itself to defend both Eric and the family cruising lifestyle. As all are aware the Mail has picked up the story and run with it. In their typical sensationalism reporting, they for some reason gave Eric a fair shake, but their massive audience in the comments section have not. Take the time to sign up to Mail and leave well constructed comments. Lets try to educate the masses that raising children to be confident, nonjudgmental, and happy by spending serious amounts of time with them cruising beats letting TV and video games do the molding of their characters.

'Are we there yet?' Family's round-the-world sailing trip ends after just two weeks as sea sickness and broken boat turn dream voyage into a nightmare | Mail Online

Good for you, Bob.

I'm afraid I don't have the stomach to tangle with people who've never been out of sight of land (or who've never been to sea at all) but who nevertheless don't hesitate to declare people they don't know, doing something they don't have the slightest clue about, to be "idiots". And who furthermore presume that anyone finds their opinions interesting!

A bit of thread drift -- but does it bother no one that Eric & Charlotte's blog is used, as if, against them, in public, and to a mass audience? Every blog post analyzed and commented on by strangers? Every family photo peered at? This is exactly why I do not have Facebook, and would never keep a publically accessible sailing blog. I have never been able to understand the naive exhibitionism of our age.

[foolishsailor]

The Daily Mail low lifes are now posting on Charlottes section of their blog.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by RainDog

Apparently the Mail also censors their comments. Mine never show up. I guess they don't like me pointing out the factual inaccuracies in their article.

Raindog,

I tried to comment just taking the shortcut of using my FB registration and it didn't work. When I took the time to sign up to The Mail and confirm via email, I was in.

[SaltyMonkey]

Imagine, you set off into the wild blue water glad to be on your private journey with your family, and suddenly overnight you are in every bloody news organization report in the world, including the Mail?? OMG I pity them.

[Sailmonkey]

What I worry about is the ridiculous comments posted on the news articles inciting some sort of California CPS witch hunt.

Here's to hoping for the best.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Good for you, Bob.

I'm afraid I don't have the stomach to tangle with people who've never been out of sight of land (or who've never been to sea at all) but who nevertheless don't hesitate to declare people they don't know, doing something they don't have the slightest clue about, to be "idiots". And who furthermore presume that anyone finds their opinions interesting!

A bit of thread drift -- but does it bother no one that Eric & Charlotte's blog is used, as if, against them, in public, and to a mass audience? Every blog post analyzed and commented on by strangers? Every family photo peered at? This is exactly why I do not have Facebook, and would never keep a publically accessible sailing blog. I have never been able to understand the naive exhibitionism of our age.

I view it this way, had I never followed Robin Graham's adventures with S/V Dove in Nat Geo in the late 60's, I might have chosen a different life path and be like those with the negative comments. Since The Mail has such a large following, just maybe others might be enlightened by our posting there as I was by National Geographic's coverage of Dove.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

I view it this way, had I never followed Robin Graham's adventures with S/V Dove in Nat Geo in the late 60's, I might have chosen a different life path and be like those with the negative comments. Since The Mail has such a large following, just maybe others might be enlightened by our posting there as I was by National Geographic's coverage of Dove.

Our posting in the Mail comments section would undoubtedly be useful and enlightening. I never questioned that. Kudos to you, Bob.

On the other question: allowing National Geographic to write about you, and simply self-publishing to the whole world everything you do, think and say every day, together with extensive photographic evidence, are two entirely different things. Twitter is even worse! I really feel sorry for Eric and Charlotte right now.

[foolishsailor]

Me as well, and they don't even know what's coming yet, wait till they step foot on land and back to this new reality.

Ugh.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Imagine, you set off into the wild blue water glad to be on your private journey with your family, and suddenly overnight you are in every bloody news organization report in the world, including the Mail?? OMG I pity them.

Indeed.

[noelex 77]

I don't understand this discussion about rescue costs. A sick child is always terrifying and on a sailboat much more so. Is there any skipper let alone any father that would factor the cost into account?

Cruising on a sailboat does have some dangers, and medical emergencies are the hardest to prevent. Rebel Heart was a very well prepared cruising boat.

Eric, Charlotte, Cora and Lyra, we are thinking about you and wishing you the best.