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David_Old_Jersey · 30-06-2008, 23:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therapy

It is a symbol of defiance against nannies and rule-freaks.

That as well

dcstrng · 01-07-2008, 03:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therapy

The Jester Challenge is a rallying point for those who despair of the creeping regulation and the over-commercialisation that now pervades...

As another armchair fan; that is exactly what appeals to me... seemed like a thoughtful group, no crackpots, just regular sailors whe didn't think they needed an aircraft carrier to cross an ocean...

Good grief, couples and solo sailors put to sea all the time in vessels large and small; sailing hither, thither and yon and no one questions it or thinks it's unusual, why not a group with a collective finish and an agreed-upon start time... why it is even an issue is more than a mild curiosity to me...

However, I expect it is just as you say, it seems to spurn the nanny-esque regulation and mega-bucks that threatens to swamp what was for a brief while a rather basic, utilitarian (albeit solitary) passtime...

dana-tenacity · 01-07-2008, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pblais

Sometimes fools do anything they please. At that point they are welcome to it. The other side is well meaning people don't let fools kill themselves when it can be prevented or saved. It somehow goes with being a full human being.

It comes down to letting people kill themselves or having to put up with the concept that because you think you can do something you really can do it. In all respects we have proven what can be done in sailing. All the great sailing challenges were over 100 years ago. There is nothing significant left to prove. Pretending to do something new is no longer required. To go ahead and do it any way is one thing but to expect sanction or permission to do so beforehand is beyond acceptability and well into arrogance.

And telling someone they can't do it because you don't approve is further into arrogance.

Southern Star · 09-07-2008, 05:32

Sorry for the delay in responding, but I had missed this thread earlier. I think that in assessing the spirit of this 'challenge', one should consider the name that it has been given and what it implies. The original 'Jester', as many of you will recall, was a 25 foot lap-strake, wooden folkboat converted to a junk rig by Blondie Hasler, the man generally credited with inventing the modern windvane self-steering gear. Blondie deliberately carried a radio that was only capable of receiving and not sending - he believed that it was inappropriate to call for outside assistance and that, if it came to it, the skipper should go down with his ship.

I'm with David Old Jersey on this one - simply because we have set up an expensive maritime rescue network should not mean that NO ONE is entitled to go to sea without equipment etc. that the government deems necessary. In any event, much of this was unavailable even 30 years ago and can hardly be called 'necessary'.

In Canada we have invested huge amounts in a public health care system, but we do not (fortunately) pass laws that specify a mandatory diet, that prohibit you from drinking more than 2 alcoholic beverages a day, from smoking and from engaging in any activity that increases the risk of injury over that of of the most sedentary couch-potatoe. Yes, all of these activities/habits cause health problems/injuries that cost society substantially; nevertheless, weighed against the cost to society of such a huge intrusion on our freedoms, even if only to act foolishly.....

Frankly, I think that this 'challenge' is a terrific idea and suspect that most vessels will be both well maintained and sailed despite the lack of a plethora of rules and regulations.

Brad

David_Old_Jersey · 19-07-2008, 06:49

The Jester concept appears to inspired some folks in the good old US of A for a similar style of longer distance / deep water "Challenge" for smaller boats.

"The Scoot" - Beaufort, NC to the Bahamas, from April 2010. Around 650 nm.

The Scoot...???

Albeit with a few less "rules" than even the Jester

(sub 30 foot and singlehanded not strictly a requirement - albeit most of the earlier sign ups appear to be).

**boatman61** · 21-05-2010, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by conachair

As is probably obvious I am a fan of this event. I think digging deeper maybe for me the appeal is that there is no contest, there is no show. Though maybe you were refering to us lot watching. Surfing various forums and the net I think most if not all the skippers llike to do this sort of thing anyway, jester is just a focus. (ming ming's site here Introduction to the junk-rigged Corribee Mingming ). The contest is to sail as best you can, the show is the ocean. Digging deep again maybe I see jester as being a metophor of the things which led me towards sailing in the first place, reading the likes of Slocum and Moitessier. Being at sea just for the joy of it and listening to your boat and doing what needs to be done.

Exactly... you'll be hard pressed to find results/coverage of the Event in the World Media because of the pure lack of COMMERCIALISM... no ones making MONEY... so why cover it.. unless there's an INCIDENT... Then they'll all jump on the REGULATION bandwagon to try and get a foothold so they can PROFIT from future events...
But... if that happened I can assure you these guys would just go elsewhere and start a new Event with a new name... you may suppress a PEOPLE... you'll NEVER suppress a SPIRIT....

Stillraining · 21-05-2010, 09:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pblais

Watching the risk as an armchair follower is a lot different than actually doing it. I suppose the appeal comes for the lack of standard. The contest is to watch to see which participants were prepared and which were not becomes the show. To set up the maze and see how many rats can make it to the finish line. I suppose as armchair sports go it's got a little bit of appeal. No hideous deaths but always the possibility is clearly enough for the armchair crowd. It's too bad it plays so poorly on television. Dreadfully long too.

I'm not much for watching sporting events.

We don't watch NASCAR car to see who wins...we watch it to see who crashes...

..It will always be so.

Carry on

Puddlefish · 22-05-2010, 06:52

I have kind of a general life theory that everyone agrees on everything, they just draw the line at different points. Everyone gets to make their own decision on where to draw the line based on their very different life experiences. I can argue for moderation or for risk taking in any given situation. Everyone strikes their own balance between the two.

**boatman61** · 22-05-2010, 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puddlefish

I have kind of a general life theory that everyone agrees on everything, they just draw the line at different points. Everyone gets to make their own decision on where to draw the line based on their very different life experiences. I can argue for moderation or for risk taking in any given situation. Everyone strikes their own balance between the two.

Nicely put 'Puddle'.... the hassle starts when folks start drawing THEIR lines for everyone else....

**boatman61** · 22-05-2010, 07:24

An example of the sort of guy thats attracted to things like "The Jester Challenge"....

http://www.jesterinfo.org/

Looking at the Entry List 4 are out to WIN... the rest are there just to do it.. winning is secondary... they'd all love too... but thats not their Motivation...

rover88 · 22-05-2010, 08:53

According to the (US) National Safety Council, one person dies every day from using a bathtub or shower in the USA. What infuriates me is that the government has ignored these alarming statistics and failed to regulate bathing in the United States. Given the indisputable evidence that bathing is deadly, should we not demand that our government enact a complete ban of bathtubs and showers and put an end to this scourge