Can anyone tell me why this has been ignored?

[Kiltmadoc]

You can say what you want about the guy being a hippie or whatever, but to my eyes, this would count as the biggest BFS in the history of sailing:

What Reid Stowe Found Waiting for Him When He Returned From 1,152 Days on the Open Sea -- New York Magazine

his own website: 1000days.net - Home

I understand that the crowd over at sailing anarchy didn't like him. Well, if they dont like him, then they should quit whining and try to repeat his feat. Some of the comments about his being a mooch on the system seem totally off: he was completely self-sufficient in his own boat, with his own food, and his own fishing gear, and his own water cachment system for 1152 freaking days! He didnt have any coast guard or any other government help, he stayed out of people's way, he blogged as he went. Seems to me that NASA could learn a thing or tow about the psychological mettle that this guy has in order to pull this off.

Furthermore, he is currently sitting on a year's worth of food, and using a mooring/slip that someone has been kind enough to lend him. Seems to me that he's being as responsible as one could be given that his gear has worn out. I would think that doyle sails would be interested in seeing how their cloth held up and how it failed over the 1152 days. That would be valuable information for future designs etc.

OK, I'll take comments now.....

[PCP]

Perhaps because he is an American an the average American can care less about sailing?

There are several Europeans that have recently made odd and incredible sailing feats (well, for me it is an oddity to stay all that time without human contact, leaving his family and young kid at home) like circumnavigating in a 19ft boat or circumnavigating non stop in a 22ft boat and were welcomed as heroes in Europe, made the front page of Nautical magazines and were in all nautical boat shows. The guy that had circumnavigated in a mini racing class boat has even managed to get a budget from the next Vendee Globe.

But even if they have done this incredible feats recently I never saw anything on this forum about them. So why should it be different just because the guy is American?

Regards

Paulo

[mdbee]

I believe that Charlie Manson has been in solitary confinement longer. Not that I am comparing Reid with him of course. I don't think he has every committed murder for example...

You can look up the previous posts on Reid. There were a bunch of thoughts on him back when he started his "epic voyage." I think the general consensus was that he was a bit of a nut case. I remember him making it back, perhaps God really does, look out for children and fools.

Wow that sounded a bit harsh. I wonder though, did anyone miss him while he was gone?

Maybe if he doesn't abandon his "family" and sail off, he may grow up a bit, maybe.

[YeahJohn]

Did you see the catamaran he made and sailed across the south pacific in the 70's? This guy trust his own equipment, maybe even to much trust in his own equipment. Most guys like this sail off and eventually a few crazy trips in, never return. I am highly impressed at his ability to survive at sea and to resist small islands in the south pacific where he could anchor up and live for the rest of his life.

[Barquito]

Would this voyage have been accepted more if the man was well funded, with a more 'media friendly' personality? What if Russell Coutts or Ellen MacArthur had done the same thing? (without all the kooky things, like sailing in heart shapes, etc.)

[tommays]

Other than abandoning his responsibilities to his First wife and six children he's a swell fellow

[PCP]

Originally Posted by tommays

Other than abandoning his responsibilities to his First wife and six children he's a swell fellow

Off course that shows only that the guy is irresponsible and that takes not away the merit of what he had accomplished, whatever it was it is not an easy thing at least for a "normal" guy.

Regards

Paulo

[travlineasy]

The story in New York Magazine was an interesting read. Unfortunately, the right-wing press had already prejudged him as a "nut case," which is something they seem to do best. It was an incredible feat, but there was no blood and guts, women crying, horrendous damage, etc.., which would have brought out every politician in the area and the pier wouldn't have been big enough to hold all the TV vans. The difference is that in other nations, good news gets equal coverage by the media. Here in the U.S. it's just gloom and doom!

Thanks for the link to the story,

Gary

[travlineasy]

Originally Posted by tommays

Other than abandoning his responsibilities to his First wife and six children he's a swell fellow

WOW! That sounds like most of the politicians I've run across. Also sounds like an ex-son-in-law, and several guys I went to school with. One stalwart politician began running around on his wife while she was dying of cancer. Now there's an accomplishment, but the press, or the general public didn't seem to think it was a big deal.

No matter what is posted here, this guy did something that no one else has ever accomplished. And, he lived to tell about it.

Cheers,

Gary

[PalmettoSailor]

Let's face it there are more than a few frustrated never-done-nothin's over at SA.

They'd no doubt have ripped Bernard Moitessier a new one if SA existed back then.

I guess its hard on some folks ego when a nutjob goes and does something they would never dream of.