"There have been many solo around-the-world races since then, and they > continue to this day, under various names (usually a corporate sponsor's > name) (ex: the BOC Challenge). There have been many, many successful > single-handed round the world sailing voyages. Tania Aebi did it as a > teenager, and wrote (sort of) a very nice book called "Maiden Voyage." Hal > Roth did at least one solo. And how about Chichester? Don Street? And of > course there's the famous original solo sailor, Joshua Slocum.... Yes, solo circumnavigations are pretty commonplace, even by teenagers, but going 6-9 months without a landfall and without talking to another human being, whew! The BOC challenges and others have a lot of high-tech options such as reliable radio anod radar, e-mail, etc. Talk about sensory privation in the Golden Globe race! Blue water, waves, and only the occasional flying fish on deck to talk to....how does that effect one? > But Moitessier was a solo sailor for many years thereafter, and from what I > have read was highly regarded and well-liked in the cruising community. > A guru and cruising icon yes, but a bit of a weird fish probably before the GG race anyway. Saw his old _Joshua_ in Richmond, CA, up for sale, battered, rusting, and very low-tech elegant a few years ago. > > >Another (whose name I don't > >recall) slowly went mad and apparently just stepped off the rear of his > trimaram; >his boat was found with his very weird logs undecipherable > (thought he was God or >something). > > Crowhurst? > Yes, Donald Crowhurst. A border genius, but a wild character. Thought he'd sail around down around South America, cook his logs, and sail back to win the prize. Something weird brain-wise happened and only his logs remain. > I really do agree that the stories of these and other solo sailors are > highly relevant to our discussion and very interesting reading. It's a bit off topic, and one paddewiser has postied belittling comments about, and situatiouns we'll probably never be in (Doug, want to do a kayak circumnavigation?) but I think interesting. These guys on the GG were really pushing the envelope of human psychology... Those of us who go out for a few days and find the usual urban setting, a bit disturbing after being out, well...? > So -- I've added nothing to this discussion (sorry), but just wanted to > comment on the sailing references - an area I have a little knowledge of, at > least. I have thought about chiming in with some of my own thoughts here, > but . . . hey, I barely know you guys. :) You've added much. Thanks, Mark. -Nick > > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Apr 20 2000 - 18:07:25 PDT
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