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09-06-2009, 12:38
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#16
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Las Brisas Panama AGAIN!
Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE
Posts: 4,507
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Zac Sunderland
His schooling is much more than regular high school can offer, or most any school for that matter.......i2f
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06-07-2009, 08:40
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#17
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CF Adviser Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Posts: 9,845
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Excellent story in today's Los Angeles Times on Zac, now about a week from completing his epic voyage. It details some of the adversities he has faced, and dealt with in a seamanlike manner, as he has pushed on.
From the Times story:
"Sunderland, 17, is more than 100 miles offshore [off Puerto Vallarta, at the time] on the final leg of a 13-month, around-the-world odyssey. He holds course but is interrupted by a jarring thud and what sounds like a gunshot.
"His boat, Intrepid, has launched from a 10-foot wave and its port-side bulkhead has buckled on impact. The deck flexes and chain plates with lines supporting the mast have ripped loose. Wind hisses loudly, menacingly."
To read the entire article, go to:
Southland teen nears the finish of his global sea odyssey - Los Angeles Times
TaoJones
__________________
"Your vision becomes clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks within, awakens."
Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961)
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06-07-2009, 22:57
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#18
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Coos Bay, Oregon
Boat: Valiant 40 (1975)
Posts: 4,073
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I am a fan. Zac and his family has pulled off something special. Kudos to him as he makes his final approach.
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06-07-2009, 23:26
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#19
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Long Range Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,820
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TaoJones
"His boat, Intrepid, has launched from a 10-foot wave and its port-side bulkhead has buckled on impact. The deck flexes and chain plates with lines supporting the mast have ripped loose. Wind hisses loudly, menacingly."
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Shows what fools people are letting this child to sea.
The next girl following in these pathetic footsteps is only 15.
What age after that? 10?
Till it gets down to a 6 year old like the fools who let that 6 year old child pilot kill herself in the USA a few years ago?
These are not coconut run circumnavigations, they go round the 3 stormy capes.
Mark
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07-07-2009, 01:50
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Winter land based UK New Forest. Summer months away. Making the transition from sail to power this year - scary stuff.
Boat: Super Van Craft 1320 Power Yacht
Posts: 2,175
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Mark,
I can understand your concerns. One tends to read about a new record being set and the next day some father pushing his child to go set a new one - and that is always a worry. Plus most people I read about completing solo circumnavigations have not come out of it a better balanced people - even if they do become better sailors.
But let's face it, seventeen years old is not a child and if the stories are right, Zac seems to have a good handle on what he is doing.
My gandfather went off to war when he was two years younger than Zac, and there are plenty of 17 year olds still serving now overseas today.
So if he is old enough to die for his country, pay taxes, even marry or have kids, then surely he's old enough to go sailing?
My view is well done Zac!
Cheers
JOHN
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07-07-2009, 06:06
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#21
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Las Brisas Panama AGAIN!
Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE
Posts: 4,507
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To ad to Swagman's comment. Zac probably has more time at sea than most of us here. He has delivered, fixed, and sailed boats for his whole life. Sure it's not all of that 17 years, but he grew up on a boat cruising...... i2f
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09-07-2009, 12:26
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#22
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bourbonnais, Illinois
Boat: McGregor venture 15 "IMP"
Posts: 506
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I get so jealous when I read Zac's story. I wish that I had the childhood that he had! Still he has an incredible adventure under his belt. Way to go Zac and good luck bringing her in.
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09-07-2009, 14:53
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#23
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,831
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We talk about the youngest alot, I wonder who holds the record as the oldest?
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09-07-2009, 16:55
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#24
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CF Adviser Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Posts: 9,845
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Lucas
We talk about the youngest alot, I wonder who holds the record as the oldest?
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According to Wikipedia, Don, the oldest such circumnavigator is Minoru Saito: Minoru Saito - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Also see:
Edit: Incidentally, Saito-san is currently engaged in his eighth solo circumnavigation, this time doing a "wrong-way" circ. around the Great Capes. His last obstacle was Cape Horn, a couple of months ago, but his vessel was badly damaged and a Chilean commercial fishing vessel came to his aid and towed him some 400 miles to Punta Arenas.
Just recently, a settlement was reached on the fishing company's salvage claim, and Saito-san's insurance company will take care of the cost of repairs to his vessel. Once completed over this winter (Southern Hemisphere, remember), he will leave Punta Arenas, return to the point where he was taken in tow, and resume his voyage from that point.
His website estimates it will take a couple of months to complete the remainder of the voyage (about the last third of the circ.), arriving back in Yokohama around November or December.
TaoJones
__________________
"Your vision becomes clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks within, awakens."
Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961)
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09-07-2009, 22:11
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 8
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I wonder what the smallest size boat one could use to circumnavigate safely? Of course safely is a relative term.. I have heard of some ocean passages on 25' but what about 22' or smaller?
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09-07-2009, 22:46
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Juan Island, WA.
Boat: Mariner 32 ketch- Independence
Posts: 78
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small boats
Jon Guzzwell did it in the 60's in a 20' boat named Trekka.
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10-07-2009, 01:21
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#27
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Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Location: We're technically refugees from our home in Yemen now living in Lebenon
Boat: 1978 CT48
Posts: 5,970
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There was a guy passing through Aden Yemen about 3 weeks ago on a 19 footer....he was heading up the Red Sea and back to Hungary, I think, to complete his.
I read about it in the Yemen Today magazine.
http://yemen-today.com/pages/specialreport.htm
__________________
James
S/V Arctic Lady
I love my boat, I can't afford not to!
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10-07-2009, 01:42
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#28
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Sweden
Boat: Between boats
Posts: 474
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Welcome to Sven Yrvind- the official website
Swedish guy who circumnavigated and rounded Kap Horn against prevailing winds in a 20' boat he built himself in his mother's basement. This was in the 70s and 80s. He's now working on an even smaller boat to go cruising and he's past 70. There's LOTS of interesting reading on the webpage. What characterises his boats is that they have always been extremely seaworthy and in the 70's he set new standars around here for tiny pocket cruisers, exploring new materials and designs, working by himself or with renowned yacht designers. It's recommended readin!
/Hampus
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10-07-2009, 09:28
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#29
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: May 2003
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Boat: Sabre 28-2
Posts: 3,197
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hampus
Welcome to Sven Yrvind- the official website
Swedish guy who circumnavigated and rounded Kap Horn against prevailing winds in a 20' boat he built himself in his mother's basement. This was in the 70s and 80s. He's now working on an even smaller boat to go cruising and he's past 70. There's LOTS of interesting reading on the webpage. What characterises his boats is that they have always been extremely seaworthy and in the 70's he set new standars around here for tiny pocket cruisers, exploring new materials and designs, working by himself or with renowned yacht designers. It's recommended readin!
/Hampus
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The "Italian girl" in the photo was no doubt a real inspiration.  . "Happy days," indeed!
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10-07-2009, 10:34
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#30
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Las Brisas Panama AGAIN!
Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE
Posts: 4,507
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He seems a wee bit partial to rope with knots tied around the ladies waists? Gee I wonder what the meaning of that is?......lololololol...... i2f
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