Hello & 'The Dove'

[Jeff Ayliffe]

Hi everyone -

Ive just joined the forum, am from Cape Town, South Africa, and very involved with sailing media, both shore based and on-board, on many differnet classes and races in cluding local regatta's and international. (Volvo ocean race, Clipper, Vendee Globe etc)

Reason for thew message, I do recall seeing a thread on Robin Lee Graham's 24 ft sloop, Dove, from that classic 1974 film of Robins story that motivated so, so many people to start sailing.

Im pretty excited to say that after months of looking, I have located the original 'Dove' that was used to shoot the South African scenes for the film. (There was actually more than one Dove) Super stoked that this was the actual Dove from the film, so will be doing a short podcast movie on her, going to meet her new owner, and going to go for a sail. If anyone on the forum is interested in seeing images or the vid, I will post it here once done.

Best Regards!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Jeff.

[Group9]

My grandmother subscribed to National Geographic and I, too, first became interested and then enamored with the idea of cruising, from reading the story of Dove and Robin Lee Graham.

[belizesailor]

Absolutely interested in seeing pics. Have not read Dove yet, been on my list for a long time, but familiar with the story.

When you say there was more than one Dove...do you mean as boats used in the film or that RL Graham had more than one?

[Jeff Ayliffe]

I mean that was used for the making of the film. I dont recall but Robin may have had 2, but I stand to be corrected. He lives with Patti and is still around, so must be possible to make contact with him, which Ill try to do.

[SniperSailor]

Originally Posted by Jeff Ayliffe

I mean that was used for the making of the film. I dont recall but Robin may have had 2, but I stand to be corrected. He lives with Patti and is still around, so must be possible to make contact with him, which Ill try to do.

That was my original inspiration as well. As I recall his original boat was destroyed in a storm off the coast of east Africa and NG bought him an new one to complete his journey. What a story. Would love the photos, Thanks.

[anacapaisland42]

At the risk of starting a thread :-)
One movie you really should watch is "Around Cape Horn" by Captain Irving Johnson
It was filmed in Regular 8 by him some time in the 30's, a great movie

[Tayana42]

Dove, great book, awful movie. The National Geographic articles and the book were a great inspiration to me too. I still have my tattered copy of Dove with my favorite books.

I'll second the recommendation of the film by Irving Johnson.


S/V B'Shert

[svfinlandia]

what a most interesting coincidence! I just finished reading the book yesterday.
And yes, I would be most interested in seeing anything you come up with.

Al, S/V Finlandia

[newhaul]

Would be great to see any vids of the boats and Robyn sailed the dove and purchased a mid 30 's boat to finish the trip from the Azores thru the canal and back to Cali he named it dove II BTW he lives in Montana and builds log homes for a living now.
One last bit FWIW I sail an islander 24 which Robyns gladiator 24 was a splash of.

[Valmika]

The original Dove did not sink until years later. Robin bought a bigger boat because he had simply outgrown the Dove and did not trust her to finish the trip. I believed he switched in the Caribbean. There is a photo of both boats together somewhere. The second Dove was in Hawaii most recently and doing charters for people like us how sailing careers were launched by Robins story.

Robin Lee Graham on the Latest Teen Circumnavs - Sail Magazine

Here is photo of the real Dove. The one used in the movie was not the same designer.

[Scout 30]

My inspiration when I was a kid as well. A great adventure!

[thomm225]

My avatar is of Robin Lee Graham.

His 2nd boat was a Luders 33.

His second book is really interesting. He was totally lost somewhat when he returned after his 5 year circumnavigation. He was given a new car but had never driven. He was on the trip from around age 16-21.

He ended up moving to Montana I believe and building a cabin for Patti, their baby, and himself to live in. It was quite the adventure as well.

In the movie they show a Ranger 23 at one point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpU_7JHV-1g

[fretsonthesea]

I believe the boat in the movie was a Ranger 23. I have believed that since I was a kid, so, my first monohull was a Ranger 23 and my second was a Ranger 26. Please don't break my heart with accurate info!
I have both National Geographic mags and the book and a kids book version of his journey. I was obsessed!

Oops.. I didn't see it was already mentioned that it was in the movie. So glad it was a Ranger!

[Tayana42]

If I recall the real Dove was a Luders 24.


S/V B'Shert