Sunken Dream

[Bob Ohler]

Folks, I am sorry. This couple was not ready to sail. The sadder part is the number of people now funding them on Go Fund Me.

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/02/1 ... -trip.html

[Bill Goldsmith]

I saw this over on the Liveaboard Sailboat group on Facebook. Bottom line they started out with almost no points in John Vigor's black box. This happened at night in fog and they ran aground in what is apparently a treacherous pass with significant current. It's unseamanlike to sail in limited visibility in unfamiliar waters. Wait until daylight and the fog clears. As a human being I feel sorry for them but as a captain I just shake my head and wonder.

[tjr818]

They had to sell everything they had to buy a $5000 boat. If that is true they probably do need a Go Fund Me page, think clothes, food, shelter . . . .

[Carl Thunberg]

Let me get this right. They're 24 and 26, and tired of working???? That statement alone says a lot.

[mgphl52]

There's no such thing as "Go Fund Me" for common sense...

[Nebe]

They had tons of sailing experience! They watched every episode of Sailing LaVagabond and SV Delos

[Sea Hunt Video]

While I agree that this couple probably should not have undertaken this adventure without more training, experience, etc., I am reluctant to be too critical of them. Their "mistake" was apparently misjudging the position of a shifting sandbar that locals were familiar with but they were not.

They are young. Fortunately, no lives were lost, including a dog. They have a full life ahead of them. Hopefully, they will take this experience and these events as opportunities for learning and will be better persons (and sailors ) going forward.

For those of us near, at or past 70 I am confident that many of us did some things in our youth that we look back on (assuming we have memories ) and wonder "how the hell did I get through that " I, for one, "enjoyed" a misspent youth. I did things that I should not have done and did not make any preparations, give any thought, or take any care about. I was young and indestructible (at least in my mind ). Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection comes to mind. Somehow I survived situations I never should have survived.

I think these two may well have the same spirit as I hope many of us did in our "misspent youths". The last line of the article is telling. Mr. Walsh said “You only have one life. Why spend it doing what you don’t love. Money isn’t everything!” I came to sailing very late in life. I am still a ""tadpole" by any objective standard. My world was diving. I spent a lot of money chasing sharks all over the world (except no Great Whites ). There were a few dangerous dives but that's what makes it fun. I loved it then; I love it now. Now, I have no money but a lot memories and some great photos and videos.

I have no idea how to participate in a "fund me" account but I would do so if I could. This couple is fortunate to have eachother and family and friends. They will be OK. Over time they will acquire clothes, food, "common sense" and sailing experience.

[mgphl52]

A "Go Fund Me" account should not be a replacement for personal responsibility or common sense. It seems we have a lot of folks that now that think they can attempt anything and if they document their failure others will graciously contribute... (I'm trying very hard to NOT be political...)

[Joe CD MS 300]

So instead of getting jobs they are looking for other people to bail them out for being knuckleheads. They probably never heard of personal responsibility.

[JD-MDR]

How can I get a go fund me account? I can't even count how many times I've lost everything. Even my personality is gone. I doubt I will ever get married or have a dog. For some reason I keep trying. I have dreams of sailing east across the northwest passage to one of the CD rondevous. By the time I am ready I will probably be too old.

[tjr818]

Well said Sea Hunt.

[Sea Hunt Video]

How can I get a go fund me account? I can't even count how many times I've lost everything. Even my personality is gone. I doubt I will ever get married or have a dog. For some reason I keep trying. I have dreams of sailing east across the northwest passage to one of the CD rendezvous. By the time I am ready I will probably be too old.

When I asked about participating in a go fund website it was to contribute a small amount of money to this couples efforts to resume their journey. I would NEVER get a go fund account for myself. I have lived my life totally self-sufficient financially. If I could not afford it and pay cash I did not buy it. Today, for better or worse (possibly worse ) the world is different. I have no problem with someone establishing a go fund website. If people want to contribute it is their business - the same way I contribute to Red Cross, Wounded Warriors, Save The Children, etc. They are choices.

I do hope this couple learns from this experience and takes some sailing classes, maintenance classes, navigation, etc. There are a lot of first time "sailors" like this couple who sell all, buy a boat and set sail. Their journeys, triumphs and failures are never reported. To be honest, if I had come to sailing in my 20s or 30s I may well have been one of them. Back then my uncle (a/k/a "Uncle Sam") had other plans for my useless soul.

[mashenden]

Foolish and lucky are probably the best descriptions for them, and this includes the morons sending them money.

I am sure all will learn from their mistakes, and be better people as a result.

[Chrisa006]

I wasn't going to comment on this but I will Take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for doing it.
When we started giving trophies for showing up we set a precedent. We enabled people to not work hard, and taught the hard worker why both. The Go Fund Me page for certain things is the same.
It is decisions not conditions that get people where they are. The mirror will show you the one responsible for the good and the bad!! Step up to it...

[moctrams]

I don’t about the rest of you, but my wife and I took a USCG course and studied “Sail Power” book and finally saved enough money to buy a 1974 Cal 29 that had a lot of cosmetic problems. We learned to repair/replace items and really had the boat in pristine shape; both looks, systems and capabilities. We sailed that boat all over the Chesapeake Bay ~~~ safely. We used the charts and when confronted with a problem either navigation, water depth, shoals etc. we stopped the boat and only continued when it was safe to continue. We sailed in fair weather and storms. We knew when to shorten sail or take the sails down and motor. I have graduated to Cape Dory 30 cutter that can take me anywhere in the world. Being a sailor is a growing process and no one should be so cavalier as to buy a boat and just “go out” sailing.