I admire the fact that there are apparently so many people in the USA who are not ashamed of engaging in rock-bottom-cost sailing. Not only do they enjoy it tremendously, they even achieve some remarkable feats with poly-tarp sails and boxy constructions. Notable examples to be seen on the WWW are entrants in the Texas 200 and the Everglades Challenge.
Gernot, in no way was I denigrating the "backyard boaters"; I have been one myself, building among other things a "Chesapeake Bay style" dory some years ago.
There is not one word of your posting that I disagree with, but I could not but help finding this guy's attempts at sailing his boat (not building it) amusing.
Didn't think you were denigrating him, he himself seemed to be amused by his antics.
The relation of boat to skipper reminded me of a story of a container-ship skipper (90 kg) who decided to try Gedser-Warnemünde, 25 nautical miles across the Baltic in an Optimist (he failed after braoching 9 miles from destination). As opposed to the other guy's simplistic boat, the opti had been turned into a high-tech craft with electric bailer and illuminated compass.
Unfortunately the page and the video texts are in German only, see: http://segelreporter.com/panorama/4047/ .
Seconding Pete's point about the PFD. No radio, flares, etc, either. Minimalistic sailing is a lovely idea, but safety often means the minimum is actually quite a lot (on the sea or large lake at least).
These are the sort of people you usually see in the newspaper either being rescued (or worse)!
62816inBerlin
Sat, 06/06/2015 - 10:46
Permalink
Minimalistic sailing
I admire the fact that there are apparently so many people in the USA who are not ashamed of engaging in rock-bottom-cost sailing. Not only do they enjoy it tremendously, they even achieve some remarkable feats with poly-tarp sails and boxy constructions. Notable examples to be seen on the WWW are entrants in the Texas 200 and the Everglades Challenge.
dictate
Sat, 06/06/2015 - 15:34
Permalink
Minimalistic sailing
Gernot, in no way was I denigrating the "backyard boaters"; I have been one myself, building among other things a "Chesapeake Bay style" dory some years ago.
There is not one word of your posting that I disagree with, but I could not but help finding this guy's attempts at sailing his boat (not building it) amusing.
mirrorpete
Sun, 06/07/2015 - 02:04
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Too minimalist
He is too minimalist; he is not wearing a pfd, a personal floatation device- i.e. life jacket.
PuffinInTegel
Sat, 06/06/2015 - 22:13
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Agreed
Didn't think you were denigrating him, he himself seemed to be amused by his antics.
The relation of boat to skipper reminded me of a story of a container-ship skipper (90 kg) who decided to try Gedser-Warnemünde, 25 nautical miles across the Baltic in an Optimist (he failed after braoching 9 miles from destination). As opposed to the other guy's simplistic boat, the opti had been turned into a high-tech craft with electric bailer and illuminated compass.
Unfortunately the page and the video texts are in German only, see: http://segelreporter.com/panorama/4047/ .
beermatt
Sun, 08/09/2015 - 20:20
Permalink
Too minimalistic
Seconding Pete's point about the PFD. No radio, flares, etc, either. Minimalistic sailing is a lovely idea, but safety often means the minimum is actually quite a lot (on the sea or large lake at least).
These are the sort of people you usually see in the newspaper either being rescued (or worse)!