[Rhodes22-list] Oceans going Rhodes

Fri, 27 Sep 2002 11:38:01 -0400

All,

Dick Van Pham is not some sorry weekend sailor...he had previously sailed this
same 26-foot boat to Chile and back from Los Angeles, according to today's NY
Times.

Joshua Slocum happily sailed around the world alone in 1895 on the Spray (about
35-39 foot if I recall) which he built himself by hand, without even drawings to
go by. No radio, no GPS, a wind-up alarm clock for a chronometer, and one spider
for company.

I admit, the details on the de-masting and exactly why the engine failed and
could not be re-started are in short supply, but the guy is obviously a real
sailor.

Looks like he just may not have had money necessary for all the things we would
consider necessities for a weekend outing.  I would guess he didn't have any of
these things when he sailed to and from Chile either.

Kip

Wally Buck wrote:

> Catalina is not a difficult cruise in normal conditions and there is usually
> plenty of boats around. I used to sail in the area back in the 70s and I
> don't remember ever being out of site of land. This does show the importance
> of having sound judgement as well as the proper equipment. Another thing I
> don't get; his mast was snapped but there is no mention of any big stormss.
> It is hard to figure out what really happened from the brief details in the
> press.
>
> Wally
>
> >From: "Bill Effros" <bill@effros.com>
> >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Oceans going Rhodes
> >Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 08:38:54 -0400
> >
> >Is this the same list that just a few weeks ago didn't see much of a
> >problem
> >taking a 22 foot boat more than 50 miles across the gulf stream to the
> >Bahamas during hurricane season?
> >
> >Bill Effros
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Bill Berner" <dblbld@attglobal.net>
> >To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:43 AM
> >Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Oceans going Rhodes
> >
> >
> >I second Steve.
> >
> >Heading 25 miles off shore, not coastal mind you, without being sure
> >your radio and engine are sound is irresponsible foolhardy to say the
> >least.
> >
> >At least he didn't have anyone with him.  It's one thing to be a jerk
> >alone, another when you are responsible for others.
> >
> >BB
> >
> >Bill Berner
> >191 South Broadway
> >Hastings on Hudson, NY  10706
> >
> >v 914 478 2896
> >f 914 478 3856
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: rhodes22-list-bounces@rhodes22.org
> >[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces@rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Steve Alm
> >Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2002 5:16 AM
> >To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Oceans going Rhodes
> >
> >I realize the guy was "just" going out to Catalina, but where was his
> >radio
> >backup? EPIRB?  Notification of others, Etc.?  His survival skills have
> >been
> >proven.  Now, let's talk about his contingency planning...(but then, who
> >needs a plan when you can float to Cost Rica on birds and rainwater,
> >right?)
> >
> >How do you suppose he killed the birds?  Clunking them over the head
> >with
> >his hand-held?  Snaring them with his antenna cable?  Whittling his
> >paddle
> >down to make a spear?  Catching rainwater in his...lifeboat?  HELLO?
> >Really!!??  How wise is it to venture out into the Pacific ocean,
> >infamous
> >for its confused seas, alone, in a smallish boat without SOME kind of
> >safety
> >net?
> >
> >Great survivalist.  Clever bird hunter.  Short on brains!!!!  Surely,
> >this
> >could have been prevented.  I hope the movie proves that he was just
> >that
> >damn good a sailor and simply got unlucky.
> >
> >Slim
> >
> >P.S.  The subject line says: Ocean going Rhodes.  Please tell me this
> >wasn't
> >really a Rhodie.  Was it a Rhodes?  I didn't hear that part.
> >
> >On 9/25/02 8:09 PM, "Robert Quinn" <rjquinn@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >
> > > I heard the story this morning on the news and we watched the video of
> >the
> > > fellow and the boat today - obviously this fellow's survival skills
> >are top
> > > notch to say the least.  Books and movies to follow!
> > >
> > > Heck two weeks of AF survival school and I wondered whether we'd make
> >it.
> > > At least I had company and we pulled each other along.  To do it by
> >yourself
> > > is for 3 months you have to be a very special person.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________
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