Small Craft Advisory revisited

[RON20406]

In certain sailing circles, the size and pedigree of a vessel has major import. Another school of thought is that it is the competence of the captain rather than the boat that is critical. We all know of the epic voyage of Captain Bligh when he was set adrift in a 23 foot launch vessel by his mutinous crew and of the incredible Roger Taylor (thesimplesailor.com) in his 21 foot junk rigged Corribee that has sailed the ominous waters of high latitudes where larger vessels with heavily manned crews have disdained or avoided completely. Now, Sven Yrvind has left Ireland for Florida in a 16 foot home made sailboat he built himself. His interesting website can be viewed at (Yrvind.com). We all must ask ourselves the same question: Is it the boat or the captain? Is it a floating condo on water or a clean, practical sailing machine with enough amenities to complete the passage? Take a look at these two websites for a look at the purity of the sailing experience. Good luck and good sailing, Ron

 

[Ross]

Unquestionably it is the ability of the captain and crew first. I have been trying to remember the name of the Antarctic explorer that took an open boat from the ice across the southern ocean to South Georgia Island. Got it! Shackleton.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Would I take a 20 foot Flicka out in the ocean? You bet. Would I take a Hunter 23.5, Catalina 22 or 25 to the same place. Heck, no.

But let's not confuse these two issues. Many determined skippers, like Bligh and Shackleton, in their two cases, didn't have much of a choice, did they?

 

[BobM]

I read Endurance a few times. Shackleton and his crew modified that boat significantly for that trip. Bligh had better conditions by far. I also picked up another book about him...which indicated that he was a pretty messed up guy along with being a brilliant man.

Regarding the question...is it the boat or the Captain? To me, the greatest responsibility of a Captain is to AVOID putting his vessel and crew in danger. Building and taking a 16 footer from Ireland to Florida is exactly what it is...a stunt being done by a sailing daredevil. Brave for anyone and he is 72 years old. It seems he has abandoned his trip...although it is a bit of a tough read so I am not sure.

 

[Ross]

In a boat that is reliably self righting, absolutely unsinkable and able to be made watertight when it is called for it could be done. But why would anyone want to?

 

[RON20406]

I read Endurance a few times. Shackleton and his crew modified that boat significantly for that trip. Bligh had better conditions by far. I also picked up another book about him...which indicated that he was a pretty messed up guy along with being a brilliant man.

Regarding the question...is it the boat or the Captain? To me, the greatest responsibility of a Captain is to AVOID putting his vessel and crew in danger. Building and taking a 16 footer from Ireland to Florida is exactly what it is...a stunt being done by a sailing daredevil. Brave for anyone and he is 72 years old. It seems he has abandoned his trip...although it is a bit of a tough read so I am not sure.

Bob, I think it is unfair to label Yrvind's trip as a "stunt being done by a sailing daredevil." If you read about his past exploits, he is a qualified seaman of the first degree who not only understands a vessel from a mechanical/physical perspective, but also how to prudently sail it through challenging conditions. We must remember that we, as human beings, are all hardwired differently and there are some who definitely beat to a different drummer. What is fear to one might be exhilaration to another. And, there are some of us who need more stimulation in our lives than the average person. Yrvind would hardly be described as average and therefore we must refrain from judging him and those like him from a common perspective. It is people like Yrvind who have pushed Mankind and its knowledge to higher levels and we should be thankful that there are still some adventurous, creative souls left in what most would consider a banal and mundane existence. Good luck and good sailing, Ron

 

[Ross]

One thing that I believe absolutely. Many sailors would die today if there were no radios or epirbs and far fewer boats would be abandoned if there was no insurance. Not that radios and epirbs are not necessary but people put themselves in harms way knowing that there is the option of pushing the button. Who would consider an ocean passage today in a Catalina 22 without a radio and an epirb? If the posibility of rescue is a deciding factor then the dicision making process is flawed.

 

[higgs]

A catalina 27 has circumnavigated. http://www.catalinayachts.com/pdf/halfoffame/ACFB0.pdf

 

[BobM]

Actually Yvrind seems to be...

...the epitome of a sailing daredevil. He has done little else with his life I can find. There is nothing wrong with that. I don't doubt that he is a fantastic sailor. I just don't think that makes him a good Captain by the definition that means he is a good leader of a body of men, such as a crew. Someone who sails around the world is a good sailor. Someone who sails around the world and loses nearly his entire crew may be a good sailor...but a lousy Captain.

 

[wufibugs]

Stu points out an important point. When a perilous journey is forced on someone, and their seamanship pulls them through, they are entitled to the accolades. A great seaman who subjects himself or his crew to unnecessary danger, is a daredevil, not a great captain. How would one judge the captain who sets sail despite bad weather warnings, but nevertheless survives the ordeal? I was just finishing the Pardeys' Storm Tactics. It soon becomes apparent that a great seaman sets sail with the a combination of the right equipment, an appropriate craft, and the necessary skills. As Pardey points out, a smaller full keel heavy displacement boat may have signifcant advantages in a severe blow over a mass produced coastal cruiser. Having the good fortune to survive a bad situation does not necessarily mean that good seamanship was involved, and is far from a guarantee the results can be replicated. Great sailors may sometimes invest too much time trying to make the sea and the boat bend to their will, while great seamen use that window of safety assessing when to reef or heave-to. Both may come through a gale or two, but only one will come through the 3rd and fourth.

 

[RON20406]

There are two last points that I believe are worth mentioning from the remarks of the previous respondents that are relevant to this discussion: 1.) this blog was not about being a "good captain" of men but rather illustrating the ambitious voyages made by competent seamen in small boats. 2.) There is an entirely different level of competence and confidence by those who are offshore sailors versus the majority of people who own boats and predominately daysail. One cannot go offshore for any length of time and ,unless very lucky, not encounter bad weather. Finding a weather window to leave is a good idea but once offshore you must face the elements. A VHF radio may or may not save your life when you're 1500 miles offshore unlike sailing in a bay or along the coast. People like Yrvind and Taylor are not only exceptional seamen but certainly exceptional people as well. And, to disparage a person because he doesn't mention how he was or is employed is not relevant to the discussion. We're talking about sailing skills, not what you do for a living or how much you earn. Good luck and good sailing, Ron