[RTB]

His abilities are unquestionable but the boat, well, let's hope she's as strong as he is!

No doubt, he has faith in the boat. His words - 60% boat, 20% sailor, and 20% luck. Anyone disagree?

Ralph

 

[miatapaul]

No doubt, he has faith in the boat. His words - 60% boat, 20% sailor, and 20% luck. Anyone disagree?

Ralph

Well when the boat breaks down is he saying he only has a 20% chance not counting on luck
?

 

[RTB]

Well when the boat breaks down is he saying he only has a 20% chance not counting on luck
?

Ooooo.... Good one. I wonder if the Dr. ever thought of that?

 

[JonEisberg]

No doubt, he has faith in the boat. His words - 60% boat, 20% sailor, and 20% luck. Anyone disagree?

Ralph

I'd probably be a bit more inclined to go with 33.333% for each...

Looks like Donna Lange is gearing up for another go-around next year, this time a non-stopper on her Southern Cross 28:

Sail Twice Around

But I believe she already has a singular accomplishment that will NEVER be matched by anyone:

Only Woman to Circumnavigate Solo, who has a daughter named PTARMIGAN...

)

 

[Omatako]

Well when the boat breaks down is he saying he only has a 20% chance not counting on luck
?

I think it's tighter than that.

20% sailor plus 60% boat is a good survival ratio of 80% but the two go hand in hand.

The 20% sailor is no doubt dependent on him having a functional boat. If the boat goes to the bottom, there is no further requirement for a sailor and the whole 80% disappears - then the 20% luck becomes 100% luck.

But do I agree with the ratios? No, not really. A good sailor can make a bad boat work but a bad sailor can't necessarily make a good boat work. I reckon the ratios are reversed.

 

[killarney_sailor]

But do I agree with the ratios? No, not really. A good sailor can make a bad boat work but a bad sailor can't necessarily make a good boat work. I reckon the ratios are reversed.

I think Chichester found that Gypsy Moth IV was not nearly as good a boat as hoped but he still managed to make it around the world. I think he stopped in Australia to get work done on the boat so he could finish the trip.

 

[davidpm]

There is a lot more to than just being a good sailor. In this case he better be a great electrician also. Fiberglass guy, rigger carpenter too might come in handy.

 

[RTB]

After reading that blog again, I got it wrong. It was the project manager that gave those numbers.

"So in just 1,200 miles and with some 29,000 miles to go I have had once again some major problems. Optimistically I assure myself that these breakages are good for we will get them right. I carry spares for almost everything and I added two more manual winches in anticipation of the above problems. But still I have to say that there is a vast difference between a day sailor or an occasional off shore cruiser to what It is I am planning for – a non-stop global circumnavigation during which I cannot put into port, receive any help, spare parts etc. I must be totally independent. Hence I have to say that I don’t think many who manufacture the gear and work in the trade really get it. Just not enough reliability in the system.

Steve Pettengill, my project manager, may have it right when he says its 60% the boat, 20% the sailor and 20% luck. I am inclined to agree."

No doubt the boat is huge on a non-stop, unassisted trip. Look at Abby Sunderland's attempt end with a dismasting, while Jessica Watson gets rolled while strapped in inside, and completes hers.

Ralph

 

[JonEisberg]

After reading that blog again, I got it wrong. It was the project manager that gave those numbers.

"So in just 1,200 miles and with some 29,000 miles to go I have had once again some major problems. Optimistically I assure myself that these breakages are good for we will get them right. I carry spares for almost everything and I added two more manual winches in anticipation of the above problems. But still I have to say that there is a vast difference between a day sailor or an occasional off shore cruiser to what It is I am planning for - a non-stop global circumnavigation during which I cannot put into port, receive any help, spare parts etc. I must be totally independent. Hence I have to say that I don't think many who manufacture the gear and work in the trade really get it. Just not enough reliability in the system.

Steve Pettengill, my project manager, may have it right when he says its 60% the boat, 20% the sailor and 20% luck. I am inclined to agree."

Ralph

Well, if anyone should know, it's Steve Pettengill... But I still think he's way understating the role of the sailor, as his personal effort keeping his B&R rig standing en route to a 2nd place finish in one of the Around Alone races years ago was truly the stuff of legend...

Wow, KIWI SPIRIT is an energy hog, alright, and her dependence on those hydrogenerators is a frightening prospect, seems to me:

From St. Augustine to round Bermuda took six days. Alarm rang every hour and my first job was to clean the two hydro generators from masses of sargassum that was clogging then up. No sooner would I lower the first and start on the second it would often clog again. I just could not generate the power I needed. The batteries steadily declined from 100% when leaving St. Augustine to 20% rounding Bermuda. This meant no hot water, no refrigeration, freezer sealed shut but still the battery power dropped. Rounding Bermuda that all began to change, less sargassum and power has started to build again.

Sargassum, Water Ballast and an Uncomfortable Night | Dr. Stanley Paris ? Kiwi Spirit, a custom designed 63-foot yacht

In addition, seems awfully early in the trip to have his autopilot acting up... And, TEN DAYS without a hot shower, while aboard a $Multi-million 63-footer ??? Small price to pay for going "Green", I suppose... )

Not to mention, he hasn't exactly been heading in the right direction, of late... I wonder why he's not on port tack, instead? Illustrative of the issue with his water ballast pump, I suppose?

Hope things start turning around for him, soon...

 

[christian.hess]

I think Chichester found that Gypsy Moth IV was not nearly as good a boat as hoped but he still managed to make it around the world. I think he stopped in Australia to get work done on the boat so he could finish the trip.

BINGO I remember that boat and book so well...seemed that half the book was complaints or mods he would do AGAIN to the famed gypsy moth 4

having said that he made it happen

 

[christian.hess]

Well, if anyone should know, it's Steve Pettengill... But I still think he's way understating the role of the sailor, as his personal effort keeping his B&R rig standing en route to a 2nd place finish in one of the Around Alone races years ago was truly the stuff of legend...

Wow, KIWI SPIRIT is an energy hog, alright, and her dependence on those hydrogenerators is a frightening prospect, seems to me:

In addition, seems awfully early in the trip to have his autopilot acting up... And, TEN DAYS without a hot shower, while aboard a $Multi-million 63-footer ??? Small price to pay for going "Green", I suppose... )

Not to mention, he hasn't exactly been heading in the right direction, of late... I wonder why he's not on port tack, instead? Illustrative of the issue with his water ballast pump, I suppose?

Hope things start turning around for him, soon...

I just dont get it...really 63 footer multimillion dollar investment and he has the same issues joe blow aka us have or WORSE when shaking off on a new cruise and or boat

seems to me when people get excessive its like the Gods slapping such superfluosness

hot water, shower refrigeration whats next a barista in a bar ready to serve you a macchiato while you sail around the world?

come on!

 

[killarney_sailor]

Seems to me that it is 100% the boat, 100% the sailor, and 100% luck. You need all of them in place, If any of the three are not there you have problems.

 

[krisscross]

One way or another, it still is an awesome adventure and incredible rush. I DO hope he pulls it off.

 

[casey1999]

The more important question to me: Why the heck would anyone want to sail 27000nm non-stop? I just don't get that.

A lot of non-sailor friends wonder why people sail boats at all. They wonder why we spend so much money and time maintaining our boat and sailing them when we could be at home watching TV on the couch. Whether someone goes out for a Sunday afternoon day sail, sails on an AC racer, or sails non-stop around the world- it is what satisfies them and it is all good.

 

[JonEisberg]

I just dont get it...really 63 footer multimillion dollar investment and he has the same issues joe blow aka us have or WORSE when shaking off on a new cruise and or boat

One difference I'm seeing between him, and guys like you and me...

Few of us have "Shore Support Teams" that we can email, or ring up on the satphone, to instruct us how to troubleshoot a water pump...

)

 

[christian.hess]

ja wouldnt that be just delightful? jajajajajaja

"shore team my espresso machine stopped working please ship overnight air and parachute drop by the am please"

roger that

JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA

 

[JonEisberg]

ja wouldnt that be just delightful? jajajajajaja

"shore team my espresso machine stopped working please ship overnight air and parachute drop by the am please"

roger that

JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA

Not all that far-fetched, actually...

Pictured below is the galley on a Trintella 50 I used to deliver (photo by Billy Black)... Above the stove is a single-cup cappucino machine from Miele. Amazing thing to have aboard, it always got a very heavy workout on our trips... Pretty silly and indulgent to have to furl the jib when hard on the breeze to reduce the heel sufficiently to brew a cappucino, but with twin Reckmann electric furlers up forward, all it took was the push of a button... )

The thing used these specialized cannisters from Nespresso. Probably easy to find nowadays, but back then they weren't very easy to find, and the owner had to order them in bulk from some specialized coffee supplier...

One year before heading south from Annapolis, we discovered the onboard coffee supply had run dangerously low... Well, to be honest, there might have been enough to get us to Charleston, but the only flavor left was unappealing to both of us, our favorites were definitely gone...

Fortunately, we had a lengthy weather window before us... So, we actually delayed our departure until the following day, so the owner could have a fresh supply overnighted via FedEx Priority AM delivery...

Damn, I miss running that boat, for that gentleman... No expense, or indulgence, was ever spared. ) A wonderful client, I ran a succession of his boats for over 25 years, but he now has a Hinckley Talaria jet boat that makes the trip north and south by truck...

 

[Omatako]

A lot of non-sailor friends wonder why people sail boats at all. They wonder why we spend so much money and time maintaining our boat and sailing them when we could be at home watching TV on the couch. Whether someone goes out for a Sunday afternoon day sail, sails on an AC racer, or sails non-stop around the world- it is what satisfies them and it is all good.

Yep I get that - but I've spent 5 weeks at sea alone on a tough sail east-bound across the Indian Ocean and I said then that only if my life depended on it would I ever do that again.

So I had to ask the question . . . .

This fellow is obviously headed for Southern Ocean territory - eeehh , that's a tough call. If half his systems are down after 1200nm in the Atlantic, he's in for some stick.

And even the best support team in the business ain't gonna be of any value down there. Ask Abby Whatsherface - despite her pro support team and $¼m rescue effort, her a$$ (but not her boat) was saved by a smelly old fishing boat.

But that event does highlight the value of a high-profile voyage. The Australian government sent a passenger jet with a team of specialists 2300nm to see what they could do (From a passenger jet? Geez, I could have told them for just $20k ). When I got into trouble 800nm from Australia they told my wife "Sorry but he's out of our area - we can't help him, he's on his own".

 

[christian.hess]

Not all that far-fetched, actually...

Pictured below is the galley on a Trintella 50 I used to deliver (photo by Billy Black)... Above the stove is a single-cup cappucino machine from Miele. Amazing thing to have aboard, it always got a very heavy workout on our trips... Pretty silly and indulgent to have to furl the jib when hard on the breeze to reduce the heel sufficiently to brew a cappucino, but with twin Reckmann electric furlers up forward, all it took was the push of a button... )

The thing used these specialized cannisters from Nespresso. Probably easy to find nowadays, but back then they weren't very easy to find, and the owner had to order them in bulk from some specialized coffee supplier...

One year before heading south from Annapolis, we discovered the onboard coffee supply had run dangerously low... Well, to be honest, there might have been enough to get us to Charleston, but the only flavor left was unappealing to both of us, our favorites were definitely gone...

Fortunately, we had a lengthy weather window before us... So, we actually delayed our departure until the following day, so the owner could have a fresh supply overnighted via FedEx Priority AM delivery...

Damn, I miss running that boat, for that gentleman... No expense, or indulgence, was ever spared. ) A wonderful client, I ran a succession of his boats for over 25 years, but he now has a Hinckley Talaria jet boat that makes the trip north and south by truck...

if hes looking for a galley chef tell him to call me

I can do the mile high club cuisine and wrenching for him for cheap compared to others

just let him know jajajaja

ps. I was also a barista back in san fran...so I could do better than miele

jajajaja

 

[christian.hess]

Yep I get that - but I've spent 5 weeks at sea alone on a tough sail east-bound across the Indian Ocean and I said then that only if my life depended on it would I ever do that again.

So I had to ask the question . . . .

This fellow is obviously headed for Southern Ocean territory - eeehh , that's a tough call. If half his systems are down after 1200nm in the Atlantic, he's in for some stick.

And even the best support team in the business ain't gonna be of any value down there. Ask Abby Whatsherface - despite her pro support team and $¼m rescue effort, her a$$ (but not her boat) was saved by a smelly old fishing boat.

But that event does highlight the value of a high-profile voyage. The Australian government sent a passenger jet with a team of specialists 2300nm to see what they could do (From a passenger jet? Geez, I could have told them for just $20k ). When I got into trouble 800nm from Australia they told my wife "Sorry but he's out of our area - we can't help him, he's on his own".

shore teams are great for weather and relays and programming future stops and maintenance etc

other than that yes you are always alone

however getting a huge pump thrown at you from a chopper because your shore team made it happen and you couldnt cause you were bailing water is one if many scenarios where they are useful for a reason just like they are for vendee racers, transats, etc...