Solo Circumnavigation

[kcmarcet]

I read Watsons book a couple of years ago. It was good reading, I managed to read it all in about 3 days, what I find pretty amazing about her trip is that she did it at 16, a lot of teenagers are emotionally unstable to begin with, throw in the loneliness of being at sea for an extended amount of time, I'm surprised she didn't suffer some kind of mental break down out there.

[Blue Crab]

The age thing is something but too many electronics ruin those achievements for me. Guzzwell on Trekka gets my vote. He built the 21' boat. Cotton sails and sextant. A real navigator. Add the sidebar of being with the Smeetons on their Cape Horn misadventure, and you have a genuine hero. Newer folks should skip the Bumfuzzles and read the real adventurers.

Maybe I'm over-thinking it but why would you want to sail around the world non-stop? To set a record? Who cares?

[foolishsailor]

Originally Posted by roverhi

What about Vito Dumas??

+1 my absolute favorite!!!

Circumnavigating during a world war! Now thats crazy!

[mbianka]

Anyone who did a circumnavigation with a GPS gets an asterisk in my book. If they had a Sat Phone they get two!

I still regard Slocum as the guy who reached the top first but, Mossitier, Knox Johnson and others who followed also get a tip of my hat.

[barnakiel]

I have read Serge's book too. It was a fantastic read and he did a fantastic job sailing such a minute boat.

b.

[jongleur]

Blue Crab said:

why would you want to sail around the world non-stop? To set a record? Who cares?

Seconded!

My nav teacher met someone
who was most of the way around the world
and when asked their motivation, they said
they wanted to be the first to sail around the
world and not write a book about it. (smiley here)

[Jimbo485]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I have read Serge's book too. It was a fantastic read and he did a fantastic job sailing such a minute boat.

b.

Serge is a great bloke. He built a 60 footer and went around again with crew. He says the first circum was easier and more fun because the boat was simpler.

Something for the newbies and wannabes to think about......

[kcmarcet]

Originally Posted by jongleur

Blue Crab said:

why would you want to sail around the world non-stop? To set a record? Who cares?

Seconded!

My nav teacher met someone
who was most of the way around the world
and when asked their motivation, they said
they wanted to be the first to sail around the
world and not write a book about it. (smiley here)

Yeah really, I mean unless your trying to set a record somehow, who cares. even setting a record, there is always going to be someone out there that's eventually going to break your record.

[barnakiel]

I think the whole circumnavigation thing is grossly overrated. After all, today it is a very easy thing.

The point is, it all changes dramatically when it is a single-handed circumnavigation.

And, even then, it is probably a piece of cake compared to say being a single parent.

b.

[El Pinguino]

I don't know about the first four on that list or Perham but the remainder had *****a lot***** of shore support during their voyages. I doubt if they would have commenced their voyages if they hadn't.

[barnakiel]

Plenty of shore support no sin in my book.

Your shore support is on the shore but it is you out there on the turbulent water.

I believe it is equally hard with shore support, possibly even harder - because of all the involved obligations and links that so many of us can luckily leave behind sailing to our own schedules and our own budgets.

b.

[Capt Rottnest]

Originally Posted by kcmarcet

I read Watsons book a couple of years ago. It was good reading, I managed to read it all in about 3 days, what I find pretty amazing about her trip is that she did it at 16, a lot of teenagers are emotionally unstable to begin with, throw in the loneliness of being at sea for an extended amount of time, I'm surprised she didn't suffer some kind of mental break down out there.

I imagine she was all day, every day yapping on her ham radio. I've not read her book, read a few of those non stop sailing books & prefer the older, pre GPS era cruising books. Much more interesting for some reason.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by foolishsailor

+1 my absolute favorite!!!

Circumnavigating during a world war! Now thats crazy!

You'd be amazed at what some folk have done to dodge the 'Draft'...

[kcmarcet]

Originally Posted by Capt Rottnest

I imagine she was all day, every day yapping on her ham radio. I've not read her book, read a few of those non stop sailing books & prefer the older, pre GPS era cruising books. Much more interesting for some reason.

I don't remember there being much in the book about being on the radio all the time, I do remember there were times when she was scheduled to radio in for weather info and to check in with here land support. I do remember there was some blogging, and she had school work to keep up with. There was some fishing, and of course there was checking and maintaining the sailing vessel.

I am on vacation next week, maybe I will re-read her book, or maybe another story of a sailing adventure, there is little point in reading a how to sail book as I have no boat.

[Blue Crab]

Trekka Around the World Guzzwell