Sunken Dream

[moctrams]

Consider the 30' sailboat "Molly Brown" that sailed around the world after going bankrupt. The boat was seized when he returned to Annapolis. The boat is a derelict in southern MD.

http://neuseriversailors.com/reviews/molly_brown.html

[kerrydeare]

... I am going to challenging you. Tania Anbi is heralded in the sailing world for her singled handed circumnavigation. As I recall, in her book she sail sail unable to navigate with celestial sights and calculations. She contacted freighters she saw at sea and ask for her lat/long. She learned celestial navigation along the way ...

John, first off I no longer accept challenges so I cannot accommodate you on this.

However I will note that I've met Tania several times and discussed her "methods" with her more than once. She spent well over two weeks sailing the 675 NM from NY to Bermuda, and most of that time she was scared out of her wits. The main reason she was not also drowned is that the weather was benign during the entire passage. If she is "heralded" as you suggest, trace it to her publicists and editors.

Eventually she learned the small amount of addition and subtraction needed to reduce a noon sight and finally bumped into Bermuda (albeit softly) having as you stated flagged down a few professionals along the way to ask directions. You omitted mentioning that she also carried a radio direction finder. Having myself used such a device enroute to Bermuda, I can certify that the Gibbs Hill RDF beacon is (or at least was) one of the strongest available. In other words, just "point the pointy end" and go.

Most folks I know who were around then and familiar with this "stunt" felt strongly it was ill-advised. If I add up the many "no no" items in her arsenal, it still looks that way to me. What knowledgeable folks did not agree upon was who was mostly culpable: Tania, or her off-the-wall father.

Added Note: Although Tania closely resembles a New York Alley Cat on first meeting, she really is a very nice person just trying to make a living (like the rest of us).

[John Stone]

What an interesting thread. I had to break it off as I was down at the marina working on the Far Reach. But, I am home now and though varnishing I decided to offer a couple more thoughts.

I have not seen the video. I saw it on the national news and read a short story on-line. There are a likely host of reasons why the skipper said it wasn't his fault. Baring a huge ego--some people will never admit they are wrong--or legal issues, I suspect he simply has so little experience he does not realize how much there is to know to be a competent skipper. It's like your kids saying "its not my fault" when clearly it was their fault. Someday, they'll wake up and realize it is so. But, until then, they will argue with you .... I am not a fan of the expression "you don't know what you don't know." I hate it in fact. But, I know a lot of people don't really think hard about what they are doing. They seem to get surprised all the time. I think it is a serious flaw but it is just so common. People have to learn that they better figure out what they don't know so then they can get to work determining learning priorities and avoid disaster. Some of us learn that sooner rather than later. Some people never learn it.

That's the great thing about sailing--you never learn it all. You just enjoy learning as much as you can and enjoy getting more efficient and more skilled all the time. That's why I think it's such a great sport. The more you learn the more reward it is. Like golf I guess or flying....

But let me talk out of the other side of my mouth. The basics of sailing are really not that hard. It's the higher levels that require a lot of time and effort. I think ocean sailing is pretty straight forward. If you have good judgement and a calm personality you can pull off ocean passages without too much trouble. Many many people have done it. Oh sure there can be some drama...that's the thing I don't like. I pride myself on having as little drama as possible and that takes experience...no doubt about it. Plenty of people have read a book and sailed to Bermuda or wherever. Read a little about Evans Starzinger and Beth Leonard. They had done very little sailing. I think Starzinger had a little dinghy sailing experience. They didn't spend months or years learning the ropes. They read some. They picked the boat. They outfitted it and took off. They knew very little when they made their first voyage and they got schwacked hard on the way to Bermuda and lived to tell the tale. The Smeeton's knew almost nothing about sailing when they took off on Tzu Hang in 1947(?). They made all kinds of mistakes and figured it out as they went. More people learn that way than I think people know. It's a steep learning curve.

And so that takes us to the experts. There are sailors out there with all kids of certifications. They went to all the big schools and have all kinds of experience racing, crewing, and skippering the big go-fast boats. But they never pile their boats up on a reef in the Indian Ocean that's on the chart, right? They never collide with other ships when they have GPS, radar, AIS, and a full watch section? They never drag their anchor through a crowded anchorage and t-bone another boat? They don't do these things because they are experts.

So, sure, this young couple were unprepared. They got in over their head. They are lucky no one got hurt. They lived to tell the tale. And they want to go try again. So I say, "right on." If people want to give them money, fine. But this time do it right. If they don't want to work now, it's their choice. It might come back to haunt them. Being poor is not fun and it is not romantic...not for long anyway. I bet they just need to figure it out for themselves. But, who knows what opportunity they may stumble on to. They may find their calling some where along the way. Who are we to say.

Regarding the "go-fund-me." I agree. I think it's weird. It's not my way. I could not afford the boat I wanted. I didn't even take out a loan or sell my home. I saved my money, made a plan, completed 26 years of active duty, sailing whenever I could, and then spent six years rebuilding the Far Reach to get the boat I wanted. I worked for it. So, I get it. But, my way is not the only way. There seems to be a lot of crazy stuff going on with the go-fund-me approach. But, so what. We don't have to contribute. I'm not going to. And complaining isn’t going to change it anyway.

A sea story: Back in 2001, I was the Chief Instructor (the Director of Warfighting) at The Basic School where we teach all newly commissioned 2ndLt's the basics of officership around an infantry centric six month long syllabus. I had been in nearly 20 years by then. I was not so sure the youngsters were made of the right stuff. They wanted to ask "why" to everything. They seemed too touchy-feely. They were too darn informal. They thought they knew the answer to everything. Lots of the "old timers" thought they would not be able to cross Red Beach at Iwo Jima like the Greatest Generation. They thought we were doomed. But, then I saw them in action in Iraq in 2003-2006. Wow. We were wrong. They were tough, disciplined, and fearless. I was humbled by their courage, sacrifice, and professionalism. I think they could have crossed Red Beach at Iwo Jima and maybe been smarter about it than the Greatest Generation. And now, I am retired and teach a seminar one night a week at Camp Lejeune for senior captains and majors. They are different than my generation. They are all about technology and have different ideas on the way ahead. I try to temper them a little but it's their fight now. And, I trust them. We are in good hands.

So my ramble is almost over. And here is the point. I am slowly coming around. The next generation has a different approach. I don't think they think "go-fund-me" is a big deal. They are not all like that though, just like we were/are not all one way. But, I am not stressed about it any more. I still do stuff my way. I say let 'em do it their way. They'll figure it out. One day, they might even wake up and decide to ask us for our opinion. Until then, I don’t have time to worry about em...I’m too busy working away planing my next voyage to freedom.

[Carl Thunberg]

There are two separate and distinct issues here. Sailing experience and financial management. My hangup is the financial management. Their whole motivation for doing it wasn't adventure. It was a way to avoid working for a living. I have major issues with the complete lack of a work ethic.

[Jerry Hammernik]

A little off topic perhaps but while reading this thread it occurred to me that one of life's great pleasures is sitting in the cockpit or below decks on a boat under sail and discussing issues great and small with friends. I think I'd enjoy the heck out of crossing big water on a crew with John and Roberto and learning new things and bouncing ideas around. Life has few greater pleasures.

This board gives me a glimpse into that without the gentle rolling of the boat or the beauty of the sunset.

Technology sometimes gets in the way, but in this case it's widened my circle of friends far beyond what would be possible without modern tech.

[Bill Goldsmith]

Technology sometimes gets in the way, but in this case it's widened my circle of friends far beyond what would be possible without modern tech.

Well said!

[John Stone]

Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the kind words. That would make for a great passage. We’ll have to figure out how to pull that off one day!

[Capt Hook]

Update, in case you haven't seen it.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/Couple-who ... _165898742

[Capt Hook]

Maybe this works better.

http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/ ... ncart_2box

[Sea Hunt Video]

Interesting developments. Hopefully, this time around they get some sailing lessons, navigation class, etc.

Here is another interesting quote from a man who knows something about getting knocked down and getting back up again.

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”
Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa.