I have just finished Ann Miller's 170pp. book "Out
of the Blue", story of her 2years aboard a Vega cruising the Atlantic, 1984 to
1986. She is from Scotland and was 24 at start of her trip. I was
able to obtain the book through inter-library loan here in Michigan City IN
though it came from the San Mateo CA library.
Ann is on a very tight budget so must work at
various ports to fund her trip and keep her Vega, "Rupert" in good
condition. Her's is a purely single-handed voyage. She has many
interesting reflections on the Vega and on single-handed sailing. Some of her
more interesting experiences are:
Collides head-on into broadside of a freighter is
mid-ocean traveling at 15kt. while sleeping despite 20 to 40min horizon
surveys. Pictures included show minimal damage. Her rig stayed
in tack though her stem fitting was taken out. She was able to stabilize
the mast with a spare halyard and limp to port.
Is entertained by schools of Dophin and Whales, the
latter of which cause some alarm.
Sails through much gale type conditions, force 8 to
10, though which the Vega performs admirably. In one case however she
allows her boat to become broadside to the waves when a rogue wave knocks her
down ploughing the mast underwater. She had battens made for large side
window but did not deploy them. Ther port window blew out under heavy
water pressure and filled the boat to 4" above floor. "Was slow to right
itself", according to Anne. Spent next 48hrs fighting same gale but made
it to port. In another gale her sails blew out but Vega handled weather
well. Not so an neighboring 42' dutch boat which capsized.
An writes very well, especially for +-28year
old(in 1988) with seemedly not to much academic background, though with an
excess of emotion that perhaps the fairer sex is more prone.
Also, you really come to know her Vega, Rupert,
very well as well as herself.
Steve Wallace
V.710, "Windhover"
Michigan City IN
of the Blue", story of her 2years aboard a Vega cruising the Atlantic, 1984 to
1986. She is from Scotland and was 24 at start of her trip. I was
able to obtain the book through inter-library loan here in Michigan City IN
though it came from the San Mateo CA library.
Ann is on a very tight budget so must work at
various ports to fund her trip and keep her Vega, "Rupert" in good
condition. Her's is a purely single-handed voyage. She has many
interesting reflections on the Vega and on single-handed sailing. Some of her
more interesting experiences are:
Collides head-on into broadside of a freighter is
mid-ocean traveling at 15kt. while sleeping despite 20 to 40min horizon
surveys. Pictures included show minimal damage. Her rig stayed
in tack though her stem fitting was taken out. She was able to stabilize
the mast with a spare halyard and limp to port.
Is entertained by schools of Dophin and Whales, the
latter of which cause some alarm.
Sails through much gale type conditions, force 8 to
10, though which the Vega performs admirably. In one case however she
allows her boat to become broadside to the waves when a rogue wave knocks her
down ploughing the mast underwater. She had battens made for large side
window but did not deploy them. Ther port window blew out under heavy
water pressure and filled the boat to 4" above floor. "Was slow to right
itself", according to Anne. Spent next 48hrs fighting same gale but made
it to port. In another gale her sails blew out but Vega handled weather
well. Not so an neighboring 42' dutch boat which capsized.
An writes very well, especially for +-28year
old(in 1988) with seemedly not to much academic background, though with an
excess of emotion that perhaps the fairer sex is more prone.
Also, you really come to know her Vega, Rupert,
very well as well as herself.
Steve Wallace
V.710, "Windhover"
Michigan City IN