Blind sailor crosses Pacific Ocean

[Brian D]

Departed San Diego for Japan and arrived in 2 months. He was not alone though. 2 months... that's pretty good sailing.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/blind-sailor-successfully-completes-non-stop-pacific-voyage

 

[Leeward Rail]

For some reason I see this as not that big of a deal.
With modern fueling gear, audio prompts on computers and GPS,a sighted person handling navigation and extra help in traffic...

Feeling wind on his face to help steer ?
I thought we all do that.
Its more an example of modern technology than anything else.

The whole "first" thing is a bit of a joke.
Given enough qualifiers almost anyone can be first at something.

Sail a rebuilt boat with basic gear, and defend against south american boarders with tacks on your deck and then I'll be impressed. Or maybe be a YouTube sailor without begging for cash ? A blind guy doing a med moor without any assistance ? A BVI charter cat actually being sailed most of the time ? I dunno.sigh

 

[Brian D]

To him it was an accomplishment. To the average joe, this is news worthy. Don't want to take away from him. A lot of sighted-sailors can't even do this. So yeah, I do agree with you, but put on his shoes for awhile.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Don't get me wrong. I think he is worthy of congratulations and should be very proud.

News worthy ? Not so much imo but mainstream news finds almost anything newsworthy.

 

[shemandr]

Well, I haven't done it. So kudos. I was just reading in a fishing magazine that there is a paddle board event crossing from Bahamas to Florida. It's charitable. Good for them. I couldn't couldn't stand on one when I tried it. I could have if my hamstring didn't cramp. But it did.

 

[topcat0399]

Absolutely an accomplishment.

But I have to wonder....was it thousands of miles of

"left a little right a little left a little right a Little left a left a little left little right a little left a little right little...."

steer smaller damn you!

 

[shemandr]

... or like the GPS voice in your car. "Recalculating ...recalculating ... "

 

[PotomacDaysailer]

... or like the GPS voice in your car. "Recalculating ...recalculating ... "

I firmly believe that they're programmed to sound slightly more exasperated each time they say "recalculating".

 

[Brian D]

It would be cool if GPS would insult you if you did not follow the directions. "I said turn left you son a camel flea!"