 |
|
19-07-2010, 07:49
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Rowayton, CT
Boat: De Kleer Fraser 30
Posts: 218
|
Why Would Anyone Want to Circumnavigate Non-Stop ?
I just don't get it.
Surely sailing around the world to explore new places, meet new people, eat new foods, smell new smells, listen to new sounds etc is infinitely more satisfying than spending months alone at sea so that (if &) when you return you can say "I spent x months alone on a boat in the middle of the ocean, and now I am back again"?
__________________
Work is the curse of the boating classes
Patrick
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 07:55
|
#2
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: California Coast
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 331
Posts: 681
|
Docking is hard...
Some people do it because they are just afraid to dock the boat!
I read about one guy who was not very good at docking. Every time he wanted to stop there were a bunch of gawkers on the dock so rather than embarrass himself he just kept on going.
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 08:04
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: South of St. Louis
Boat: not much yet
Posts: 170
|
Some folks out there are there to keep from having to meet any new people, keep from having to interact with the ones they already have met, and the last thing they are interested is another noisy city or urban area.
Just guessing, but that is the part that attracts me.
A few minutes connection time a day is more than enough people contact to keep me happy!
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 08:18
|
#4
|
Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,405
|
...so they can boast that they did? ...or perhaps do a seminar or two at the local boat show?
Here is the bottom line question...if the Earth was devoid of humans except for him, would he still do it?
__________________
David
Life begins where land ends.
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 08:18
|
#5
|
Registered User

Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cruising Greece
Boat: Cat in the med & Trawler in Florida
Posts: 2,323
|
one things for sure you will have a lot of time to find out who you are!
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 08:22
|
#6
|
cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Probably in an anchorage or a boatyard..
Boat: Ebbtide 33' steel cutter
Posts: 5,030
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by psteele235
Surely sailing around the world to explore new places, meet new people, eat new foods, smell new smells, listen to new sounds etc is infinitely more satisfying than spending months alone at sea so that (if &) when you return you can say "I spent x months alone on a boat in the middle of the ocean, and now I am back again"?
|
Everyone is different. I find after a while the thought landfall can be a major inconvenience.I just did 32 days solo from Caib - Azores. towards the end don´t think i can ever remember being more content, though it was nice to get in and eat fresh food and have a beer. But as KurtVonnegut said...
Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder, 'Why, why, why?' Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand.
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 08:29
|
#7
|
cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Probably in an anchorage or a boatyard..
Boat: Ebbtide 33' steel cutter
Posts: 5,030
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by David M
Here is the bottom line question...if the Earth was devoid of humans except for him, would he still do it?
|
Out there it is.
After a week or two start to come to terms how increadably small and completely insignificant you really are. It is a wonderful feeling.
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 12:03
|
#8
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bahamas/Florida
Boat: Solaris Sunstar 36' catamaran
Posts: 2,686
|
Recommended reading on subject:
The Long Way
by Bernard Moitessier
__________________
Sail Fast Live Slow
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 12:42
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
Posts: 14,191
|
I've read his books but still don't understand his motivation except the shunning responsibility and getting away from people part.
Chichester's books are equally as good.
regards,
__________________
John
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 13:37
|
#10
|
cruiser
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SF Bay Area; Former Annapolis and MA Liveaboard.
Boat: Looking and saving for my next...mid-atlantic coast
Posts: 6,197
|
1) so they don't have to anchor
2) and then sit there chit chatting and posturing with a bunch of yuks.
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 14:06
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Tortola
Posts: 756
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by psteele235
I just don't get it.
Surely sailing around the world to explore new places, meet new people, eat new foods, smell new smells, listen to new sounds etc is infinitely more satisfying than spending months alone at sea so that (if &) when you return you can say "I spent x months alone on a boat in the middle of the ocean, and now I am back again"?
|
Why become a Hermit or a Trappist Monk (or a Nun)? All good luck to those who sail, dont make a fuss, dont blog, dont expect to try and capitalise on it or try to get funding on anticipation of getting around etc, etc. ...and dont moan when things dont go exactly right. My sort of people....Tony
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 14:10
|
#12
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Virginia, USA & Krabi, Thailand
Boat: Wauquiez Pretorien 35
Posts: 2,819
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkiprJohn
I've read his books but still don't understand his motivation except the shunning responsibility and getting away from people part.
Chichester's books are equally as good.
regards,
|
I consider them the most beautiful books ever written about solo sailing, and was going to suggest you reread them especially "Tamata and the Alliance", but then I remembered an old saying about long distance running that goes something like ...
"For those that understand, no explanation is necessary. For those that don't understand, no explanation will suffice."
__________________
Mundis Ex Igne Factus Est
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 14:10
|
#13
|
Armchair Bucketeer
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,012
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by psteele235
I just don't get it.
|
Then don't do it
"You ask me why? I asked why not?"
Maybe someone simply has nothing (they consider) better to do at that point in their lives?
I like the idea (but I am not up to it and maybe also know enough not to try) - and nothing to do with others (although I am sure I would mention it now and again  ) - Solo RTW non-stop kinda reminds me of the time I rode a motorbike to Berlin (a year or 2 after the wall came down) and back in a weekend (a ferry home at each end). I even managed a night (albeit a short one  ) in a hotel and a bit of sightseeing in Berlin (ok. I was lost  ). All in all something of an endurance event (the trick wasn't high speeds - although possibly involved  - it was the high averages).
Why? just seemed like a good idea. and was curious to see if I could do it. Why Berlin? no real reason just fitted in with a start, a middle and an end. and I wasn't after anything about finding my inner child. or summit  and I wsn't up to much else at the time.
Did I enjoy it? sorta. Did I do it again? no! the term PITA still has real meaning  But glad I did it? yes. no ambition to do that again though. overall of no great importance in my life, but I still remember it..........
Sometimes things are just what they are.
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 17:10
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
Posts: 14,191
|
For Doodles,
Yes, I did long distance running but always stopped when I reached the end of 26.2 miles. While running I was able to see the scenery, talk with others if I wished, experience the geography.
Round the world nonstop doesn't do it for me but for Moitessier it seemed his nirvana. He seemed to me to be a troubled man who found sailing to be the answer.
Its just not for me.
kind regards,
__________________
John
|
|
|
19-07-2010, 17:36
|
#15
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Boat: CT 54... for our sins!
Posts: 2,083
|
I'm dying to do it!
But I've still got this deep seated fear that the earth is flat......
|
|
|
 |
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|