Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 20-02-2014, 19:34   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Annapolis, MD USA
Boat: Mariner (N.H.), Sloop, 36
Posts: 77
Send a message via Skype™ to Tory Salvia
Pardey Biography - As Long as It's Fun

Cruising World Magazine Senior Editor, Herb McCormick has hit a home run with his new biography of Lin and Larry Pardey including "warts and all". Check out the Wall Street Journal book review by Angus Phillips.

The book is a fast read that you just can't put down. Even if you are familiar with the Pardey's books and videos, you'll be captivated by the back story of their cruising life from their first meeting in California through their struggles to gain and keep their independent life style and their marriage while building their engineless wooden boats and adopting sailing strategies that many label eccentric. McCormick chronicles the years of their two circumnavigations as well as the many years in between which led them to select a protected cove in New Zealand as their home base and their final destination. Highly recommend.

__________________
Tory Salvia
"Sparkle Plenty"
1980 Mariner 36 (N.H.)
Tory Salvia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-02-2014, 20:43   #2
Registered User
 
Normanby's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 312
Re: Pardey Biography - As Long as It's Fun

Read it a couple of weeks ago, thoroughly enjoyed it.
One thing stood out for me, the mantra "go small, go simple, go now" is all well and good, but the Pardeys never went anywhere until they were 100% ready for any and all possible contingencies.
In other words, one can't go "now" until the boat has EVERY possible safety item, and the crew know everything they need to know about sailing.
No refitting along the way, not where safety equipment is concerned. And no learning as you go.

Also, while boat building, Lynn was doing the money-making while Larry was doing the boat work. So to emulate them i'd need to find a woman to go to work for me, while i do the boat work.

I suppose what i'm getting at is that when i read their books i sometimes feel that i'm a little inadequate because i'm still struggling to get 'out there'.
But when i read their biography i realise that there are a few little details that made it possible for them to get out there that many of us can't emulate.
I can go simple and small, but one can't go "now" without a very well prepared boat and a sizeable cruising kitty.

Having aired that little niggle, i still admire the Pardeys enormously.
Normanby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-02-2014, 20:58   #3
Registered User
 
u4ea32's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Los Angeles and Maine
Boat: Olson 40
Posts: 330
Re: Pardey Biography - As Long as It's Fun

I dunno about the premise that you can ever be fully prepared for all life -- and sailing -- can throw at you. You must learn as you go. That is simply life.

You need very little life saving stuff, until you need it. You need very little money, until you need it.

I have had lots of fantastic sailing adventures for almost no money. True, some times huge stacks of bills have been consumed, but these boats and trips were FAR less fun than the cheap trips. I know many -- perhaps most -- cruisers who live on a tiny fraction of the amount my kids spend frivolously in a month. One friend took off for years, several trans Atlantics, seasons in the med, cap horn, throughout the south pacific, for MUCH less than $10,000, including the boat.
u4ea32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-02-2014, 14:26   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Oregon
Boat: 57' Laurent Giles Yawl
Posts: 755
Re: Pardey Biography - As Long as It's Fun

I'm about three quarters through the book and really enjoying it.

I do not see in this book that you have to be prepared for everything. That's just their 'table stakes' for seamanship, which I think is very common, more so among cruisers who started in the 70's. I think you also have to remember that their second boat is a work of art, and it's not necessary to go to that length.

I learned something very different about the Pardeys: they thought far ahead, but remained very flexible and never got too attached to their plans. That is something I try to do in my own life, and it's interesting to see how this strategy has turned out for folks who are decades ahead of me in life and share a few passions and values.

I'm now reading "The Wisdom of Insecurity" (Alan Watts), which is mentioned the biography as one that was influential to the Pardey's. I'm enjoying it.
__________________
our blog
msponer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
fun, pardey

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:18.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.