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deckofficer · 09-01-2012, 23:18

I also can only say modern day sailors are inspirational for me starting with

Robin Graham around 1968, read in Nat Geo
Tania Aebi around 1985
Jessica Watson
Laura Dekker, who I constantly gush about on the forum.

The exception to modern day
Captain Bligh

And non-sailor
Amelia Earhart by reading books about her in elementary school, inspired me to get my pilots license.

Talbot · 10-01-2012, 01:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Factor

As well as the first modern circumnav in a cat.

David Lewis is not only inspirational for his first modern circumnavigation in a Prout plywood catamaran, but also for his attempts to show the metodology used by early polynesian navigators.

His single handed race to the US in that prototype catamaran reveals a number of lessons that have characterised modern catamaran design.

The books are a good read as well!

pressuredrop · 10-01-2012, 04:37

ok ill bite (in no perticular order)

hans klarr
bernard
lin and larry,
peer tangvald
hal and margeret roth
eric and susan hiscock
james baldwin (and everyone he has interviewed):
kris larson - a law unto himself
trevor robertson - ice man of iron bark
alberto torroba - one with the ocean

S/V Alchemy · 10-01-2012, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by minaret

Nice to see someone had the balls to put Bligh on their list. That man got a bad rap. Most people know nothing of his connection to Cook, just the open boat voyage connected to the mutiny. Bligh was sailing master of the Resolution on Cooks third voyage. He ended up Vice Admiral of the Blue, but people still call him "Breadfruit Bligh".

George Vancouver also served with distinction under Cook and came to a pretty neglected end, if less notorious. He charted vast amounts of the North American West Coast and was "first contact" with many different native nations. He handled himself exceptionally well in difficult and dangerous situations.

George Vancouver - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

His career ended in the slander and favouritism so rife in English society at that period, and he died young and broken.

S/V Alchemy · 10-01-2012, 11:51

I would also give a shout out to Vito Dumas, who accomplished first, single-handing in the Southern Ocean in a small boat, what others from more popular countries better known for sailing would accomplish later.

Because he did it during World War II, and because he was from Argentina, his story is not well known, but it should be. He's in the same league for me as Moitessier, Chichester and even Shackleton.

Fbram · 13-01-2012, 10:10

I would add to mine Amyr Klink.... If not for the rowing, for the Poles navigation.
Specially impressed with his endurance under storms

In 1989, he sailed from Brazil to the Antarctic, completing his first solo wintering there, and then directly proceeded to the Arctic Circle before returning home after a total of 642 days.
In a 2003 expedition, he took only 78 days to complete the first non-stop, solo circumnavigation of Antarctica (a continent he has visited dozens of times).

impi · 13-01-2012, 10:32

Sailoirs the press never gave the time of day to because they never became members of any recognised yachting fraternity ...

Guys like ARTHUR HOLGATE who built his yacht ANTARES (32-33 m length) steel hull and sailed it out of Cape Town Harbour against the Harbour Masters consent ... sailed it in a wild storm single handedly to the USA ...

I was fortunate enough as a kid to sail on his boat ... a truly amazing yachtsman and certainly one of the "best non recognised sailors" South Africa ever produced !

tropicalescape · 13-01-2012, 10:45

no order:Cook,Dana,Bliegh,JFK,Edward Teach,Mann,The guy that sailed Atom,Chester Nimitz,Slocum,Lowell Micalove....DVC

Capt Phil · 13-01-2012, 10:48

Kudos to all who listed their favorites... what an impressive list! Inspirational and accomplished, all of them. Thanks to who ever started this post... Capt Phil

Astrid · 13-01-2012, 10:53

Felix Graf von Luckner?

goboatingnow · 13-01-2012, 11:03

Magellan
Cook
Bougainville
Bligh
Shackleton
Moitessier
Knox Johnson
Smeetons
Dashews
Peter Blake
MacArthur
Deckker

zeehag · 13-01-2012, 11:05

phillip s egan--taught me sailing on a historic treasure of a gaff rigged sloop
wiley michael egan-founded great lakes shipping co, and founded half of chicago
boatman61--he is cool and makes me laugh
patrick hughes-schooner captain and good friend
i2f john--deargods i hope he is ok
patrick schulte--bumfuzzles..lol...i think they had balls despite others' opinions
tom blackaller--he was truly a sportsman and an excellent sailor
mebbe others, but i dont remember now....