This Is How Abandoned Vessels Result...

[Trim50]

http://projectbluesphere.com/index.asp

I almost had a little accident yesterday. I heard a noise and looked to the stern of the boat. I couldn't believe my eyes. My "self-leveling" radar mount was broken again and trying to pull down my rig. I grabbed the proper tools and scurried up the stern pulpit delicately balancing myself on the top of the pulpit and the back stay. After a quick inspection I noticed that the stainless tube failed again at another hole. "it just cant take the load"!

I was putting a little pressure on a gear hammock with my leg when it broke and I went tumbling off of the back of Namaste. I broke one of my Bamboo solar panel mounts but managed to grab the rail before I went tumbling into the sea to watch Namaste motor off without me. It was a nice day for a swim and the current would have been with me but I don't know that I would have made it the twenty miles to Vavau? After gathering my thoughts and counting my blessings, I climbed back onboard and finished taking the dome off of the mount.

[Pelagic]

Takes a few “near” disasters to get the ratings up and attract more sponsors, which is exactly what he needs.

If he knows what he’s doing…Great! If not…. Then some people will learn from his mistakes.



Many “single handed sailors on a budget” use the pity me ploy, to get sponsors.



My favourite was Bernard Motessier who had this stock letter: “Hello, I am a single handed sailor, sailing around the world on a budget. I have been using your (product) during my voyage and find it to be the best on the market. Unfortunately my funds are not enough to purchase at retail price. Do you by any chance have “seconds or cosmetic rejects” in stock, that you would be willing to sell me at an attractive price?”

Usually this worked wonders and the manufacturer would usually send him gratis, about 2 years supply of their best product, that he would then use and trade with his buddies.

His most negative reaction was from a Company that made these really crunchie and filling biscuits that Bernard loved. Upon receiving his stock letter asking for seconds, they replied:



“We manufacture dog biscuits and they are not meant for human consumption!”

[Trim50]

Yep.

Hard to keep sponsors when you decide to change objective mid-way through the effort. Nonetheless, I understand where he's coming from and still follow his blog with interest in a different perspective of cruising the world.

[delatbabel]

Stick a ****ing harness on, dorkbrain.

Time and time again it has been proven that the best way to survive a man overboard incident is not to go overboard. A worldwide survey of cruising yachties taken over many years shows that in all MOB incidents recorded to date, 100% of the people who did not go overboard survived the incident. A smaller percentage of the people who did go overboard managed to survive the MOB incident.

[Auzzee]

I confess to being one of the many who only wear a harness in 'weather' or at night. On a fine day with light breeze I rarely clip on....But, I still don't lean on the rail for a pee...no matter what the weather.

David.

[Trim50]

Originally Posted by delatbabel

A worldwide survey of cruising yachties taken over many years shows that in all MOB incidents recorded to date, 100% of the people who did not go overboard survived the incident. A smaller percentage of the people who did go overboard managed to survive the MOB incident.

Yes, and I've heard that 95% of those MOB deaths are men found with their pant flys open.

[imagine2frolic]

I started single-handing on S.F. Bay, because my wife at times couldn't go sailing, or friends would stand me up. I wore a harness when ever I got out of the cockpit while others were with me. I wore one all the time when I was alone, even sitting safely in the cockpit.

When I single-handed from S.F. to Cabo during the 93-94 Baja Haha I got into some sloppy weather. I had left Magdelena Bay, and there was some steep troughs. Everytime I came out of the trough the wind would traumatize the rigging. I went on top to lower the main when the autopilot decided to fall off. While grabbing the sail it filled with air, and pushed me over. The boat fell off the wave, and yanked me back on board via my harness.

I can remember thinking, How will I get back onboard with all this foulweather clothing, and my boots full of water. I remeber thinking the ocean looked black, and cold it being late at night. Next thing I knew I was sitting on top of the traveller with extreme pain in my back. My harness is my dearest FRIEND..........