[miatapaul]

My only question is "Why Not?" He obviously has the funds, and he is obviously in good health, and he purchased a boat that is not only quite comfortable, but very seaworthy. So, Why Not? If I were in his position, I damned sure would do it, but I'm crazy as a $hit house rat, so that may explain it.

All the best,

Gary

Well I don't think many are thinking he is too old, more that he made a strange choice for a solo. It already proved on his first attempt that it may not be a good platform for a Solo.

 

[casey1999]

My only question is "Why Not?" He obviously has the funds, and he is obviously in good health, and he purchased a boat that is not only quite comfortable, but very seaworthy. So, Why Not? If I were in his position, I damned sure would do it, but I'm crazy as a $hit house rat, so that may explain it.

All the best,

Gary

If a man had the funds, and the health (very important), how about being the first man to circumnavigate the planet non-stop, with a all female crew made up of 10 hot women? Looks like a record to me, and one any man could be proud of.

 

[miatapaul]

If a man had the funds, and the health (very important), how about being the first man to circumnavigate the planet non-stop, with a all female crew made up of 10 hot women? Looks like a record to me, and one any man could be proud of.

I am saving up now!

 

[krisscross]

If a man had the funds, and the health (very important), how about being the first man to circumnavigate the planet non-stop, with a all female crew made up of 10 hot women? Looks like a record to me, and one any man could be proud of.

Eventually it will be a fight for the title of the oldest man to circumnavigate the planet non-stop, with a all female crew made up of 10 hot women... and live. In that race a very fast boat might actually come in handy for a number of important reasons.

 

[casey1999]

Eventually it will be a fight for the title of the oldest man to circumnavigate the planet non-stop, with a all female crew made up of 10 hot women... and live. In that race a very fast boat might actually come in handy for a number of important reasons.

Thinking about this further, it probably would not be a pleasure race. Think about it, 10 model material women, and just imagine when they all start fighting with each other, especially when they get the time of the month all in sync. I think I'll just sticking with single handing.

 

[JonEisberg]

Stick a fork in him, he's done... Coincidentally, very close to the same area his first attempt was aborted, as well... too bad, gotta give him credit for his attitude in the face of this disappointment...

Not the greatest endorsement for North 3Di sails, it would appear... Although, I can't help but wonder if there might have been a bit of 'operator error' that contributed to this failure, as well...

Note to Self: No matter how much money you might ever acquire, never, EVER buy a boat the size of which the mainsail is beyond your capability to at least attempt to effect a repair at sea...

Not to mention, never, ever attempt a voyage FOR WHICH THE SOLE PURPOSE IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SOME RECORD... The guy has spent millions building his vision of The Ultimate Globe Girdler... No reason he couldn't put into Cape Town, have the main repaired, and resume his circumnavigation... But no, this clearly is not about sailing around the world, but rather about making it into The Record Book... Once that is taken off the table, what's the point? Apparently the achievement and satisfaction of a solo circumnavigation alone is not sufficient, for him...

I'll bet Dodge Morgan would have kept going... So, I'm glad 'the Record' remains his...

)

Once again my attempt to complete a solo circumnavigation has come to an end. On Xmas Eve the top quarter of the mail sail separated along a seam from the rest of the sail. This is not repairable by me at sea and given the gales I can expect before I round the tip of South Africa it is once again not advisable to continue. This is of course is a big disappointment to me and too many who have wished me well. But that is life. I have never let difficulties get in my way of trying something worthwhile. I am always aware that failure can occur but I have never let the fear of failure deter or prevent me from trying. To do so would be to accept mediocrity and that I will never do.

To all who wished me well, family, friends, colleagues and school children I am sorry to disappoint you yet once again and wish you all well in following your dreams.

Now I head for Cape Town, South Africa where once again repairs will be undertaken and later a crew will bring Kiwi Spirit, such a wonderful boat, back to the United States.

I am 680 miles from Cape Town and expect to be there in about five days going quite slow to conserve a limited fuel supply.

Kindest regards and best wishes for the holiday season.

Game Over ? Headed for Cape Town Again | Dr. Stanley Paris ? Kiwi Spirit, a custom designed 63-foot yacht

 

[outbound]

You gotta admit this guy had a dream,did his best to actuate his dream and has great courage. I applaud him. There are too few people like him.

 

[JonEisberg]

You gotta admit this guy had a dream,did his best to actuate his dream and has great courage. I applaud him. There are too few people like him.

Fair enough, and on a certain level I have a huge amount of respect for the guy... But what is most striking to me about this whole venture, is how little it apparently has to do with SAILING, and more about his personal quest for some sort of recognition... Frankly, these days I think we need more people who - having the "Dream" of sailing around the world - might be willing to do so in relative obscurity, and purely for their own pleasure and satisfaction in the accomplishment... Paris reminds me more of those 'mountaineers' paying big bucks to be guided to the summit of Everest, but will never climb another mountain again... )

Hell, he could still lay claim to being the first to do a "Green" solo circumnavigation, without the aid of any fossil fuels whatsoever, no? Although, anyone else catch the irony that one of his primary concerns in getting his vaunted Green Machine into Cape Town without his main is "conserving his fuel"? )

Obviously, the guy is hugely disappointed, and his attitude in the face of that is admirable... But what I can't understand, is why not after the repair is made in Cape Town, at least sail KIWI SPIRIT back home HIMSELF, or with crew to assist? He's looking at one of the great ocean passages on the planet, Cape Town to the Caribbean, with the possibility of stopping in St Helena along the way, one of the more intriguing places one can possibly sail to on earth, then the balance of the season to be spent in the Caribbean... Hell, it's not like he hasn't already budgeted the time to do so, and yet it sounds as if a delivery crew will be bringing the boat back home? I just don't get it...

Nope, this one was never about the Sailing, or the "Dream" of sailing around the world...

 

[donjuanluis]

Interesting that with all the money in the game, and support team, no to have a spare main sail. They took care of many little details, but forgot the important ones.

 

[JonEisberg]

Interesting that with all the money in the game, and support team, no to have a spare main sail. They took care of many little details, but forgot the important ones.

Yup, unfathomable, to say the least...

However, I reckon that to be the chance he took, going with a boat of that size... I seriously doubt I'd be able to bend on a replacement full-battened main of that size (approx 1300 sq ft) by myself, at sea... That thing has to weigh 200 pounds, at least...

And, certainly not at age 74...

On his first attempt, his Code 0 flogged itself to death one night, as he was for some reason unable to furl it... Too much boat, too little muscle, not a great combination, especially for a solo sailor...

Unless you're French, I suppose...

)

 

[outbound]

How much do you think that boat will go for now that it's used -

 

[JonEisberg]

How much do you think that boat will go for now that it's used -

$500K more than the FREE RANGE CHICKEN, would be my rough guess..

Wouldn't surprise me at all if KIWI SPIRIT comes on the market in another year or two... Certainly wouldn't be the first time another of these Ultimate Dream Boats goes from CRUISING WORLD's Cover Story/Yacht Style Features to the brokerage pages after a few seasons...

 

[casey1999]

I thought I was reading post from the first attempt concerning the boat failures. Unbelieveable the second attempt had sail failures. Now reading Stanley's blog it says the rudder was found defective. Also says he may build a smaller boat and design based on leasons learned from first build.

 

[JonEisberg]

I thought I was reading post from the first attempt concerning the boat failures. Unbelieveable the second attempt had sail failures. Now reading Stanley's blog it says the rudder was found defective. Also says he may build a smaller boat and design based on leasons learned from first build.

Yeah, downsizing to 56-58 feet will make all the difference to an 80 year old, alright...

KIWI SPIRIT may be on the market even sooner than I thought... Which do you suppose is more or less likely: Lyman-Morse getting the build for the next one, or Wouter Verbraak returning as the navigator when TEAM VESTAS WIND rejoins the VOR?