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Day 553
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Sailing South Soon.

Jun 15

Written by:
6/15/2010 8:08 AM  RssIcon

“Abby dismasted and safe. She is still a better sailor than you. She is probably more mature as well. You are too quick to judge her and her parents. Good Luck.” Anonymous Iridium Message

I got a good chuckle out of that message. First and most importantly I was ecstatic to learn Abby was safe in her boat. I understand she has since been picked up by a French vessel and will not continue her challenge for the record books. Does anyone know what happened to her boat? Often the Coast Guard will scuttle such boats as hazards to shipping, but it may be far enough South to be left alone for a potential salvage operation.

It doesn’t take much to be a better sailor than me. I am slow and conservative, but so far I’ve managed to arrive at my destination. I think the message must be from a friend otherwise they couldn’t imagine just how immature I really am. Despite these admonishing words and others I’ve received, I stand by my last post.

If I didn’t understand the thrill of long distance voyaging I wouldn’t now be floating in my own boat in the South Pacific. I also draw no arbitrary restrictions for who may or may not be able to complete a solo circumnavigation. Each combination of sailor and vessel should be evaluated on a case by case basis. That said, I still think it beyond stupidity to encourage increasingly younger children to head to sea alone. What good can come of it? How young a circumnavigator do you want to see?

On another note, I am sitting in paradise, but unable to look at it all. Two days ago I went hiking up a dry river bed to explore the island of Tahuata. Breaking off the main trail I started working my way up the valley wall when a small tree branch managed to poke me in the eye. It was tiny, but sharp and put a good laceration across my iris. A Doctor on another boat examined the eye and said it was nothing to worry about as long as I wrapped it up and didn’t use it for at least 2 – 3 days.

The eye is an incredibly painful place to get hurt and I am only now able to move it without being really bothered. I think after a good sleep tonight I’ll be able to move South a bay or two and take on a few provisions. I am hoping to make way soon to the Tuamotu Island Chain. Rangiroa is about 500 miles away and Tahiti still lies another 400 miles beyond Rangiroa. My time in the beautiful Marquesas is coming to an end.

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6 comment(s) so far...


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Re: Sailing South Soon.

Hey, Lee,
Absurd indeed, but understandable since it's a touchy issue, and the competitive nature of us land lubbers and civilizations seem to always ignite and fuel fights out of nothing. As we all grow up trained to chase illusive symbolic game wins and lifetime success, supporting home teams and unfounded wars raised in foreign lands, we tend to vent our emotions in a snap and justify such by demonizing others not in our culture or just eating habits. In the end most of us (so trained type A) will just be rewarded with heart attacks and die holding a trophy and a big bank note, on our super-sized coffin-like beds, in our protective quarter-acre mansions on the hills, all alone...
Too bad you still have to suffer nonsense from lands, but that's what happens when becoming a celebrity-like figure these days. :) Don't let the Moitessier factor kicks in and turn off all communications. Give us a chance!

By Weide on   6/16/2010 4:18 AM
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Re: Sailing South Soon.

Abby Sunderland & Rescue Compensation

Re: Abby - On June 12th, 2010 Sailor (anonymous) says:
Yes, I think the book should do well: "How My Psycho Fundamentalist Parents Sent Me Out To My Death - A Love Story"
I just hope she waits 'til she's eighteen to publish it, so her jackass father doesn't get a dime. Let's hope family services pays a visit to these "breeders" - they certainly can't be called parents.
Mike P.
Lollipop
Yes, some people are stewed over this!

By Sandra on   6/16/2010 6:55 AM
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Re: Sailing South Soon.

So, this girl gets a boat practically given to her to sail the world for her own fame and glory and you are actually sailing for your own peace of soul and you have also turned your voyage into a charitable cause as well. I think it is obvious who is more mature (and less reckless).

Oh, and put some vaseline in your eye if it bothers you still, I had eye surgery a while back and I had to slather that stuff in and as weird as it was, it really took the discomfort away.

By Davo on   6/16/2010 11:57 AM
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Re: Sailing South Soon.

Lee - Always remember that those os us who follow your adventures and others should be slow to comment. After all we are following these adventures because we don't have the courage to follow our own dreams. Keep living yours. We should appreciate the fact that you allow us to share it at some small level.

By Cheryl on   6/17/2010 3:42 PM
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Re: Sailing South Soon.

Lee,

Pay no attention to this person, who doesn't even value their own opinion enough to sign their name. And you are NOT "too quick to judge." Considering how many hours you've spent at sea on the fair days with nothing to do but think, I'm sure you have given your judgement plenty of thought.

I've thought about Abby (and Jessica too), and I suspect that her family sent her off believing that she would succeed. Personally I avoided following her story and having an opinion on the controversy with her age and record setting. Instead, I quietly hoped for her a great experience, and in the end this experience might be better than the one she had planned for herself.

In some ways I imagine "sailing" as a living thing that should be respected. I imagine it to look like a foggy puff on calm water with a square rigger and a lobster boat and a sloop like mine. But the puff also has a wise face, a divine face. Its a woman's face with lots of laugh lines and lots of worry lines. And she has a heart and when we sail for records or wear leather gloves to avoid blisters or listen to music while we are underway, I think we break that heart just a little.

Sincerely,
Teresa

By SailingSimplicity on   6/17/2010 7:50 PM
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Re: Sailing South Soon.

There is a cool piece of popular music called "rangiroa" down there. I remember i liked it, but could not find it anywhere. Let me know if you figure anything out.

By hugh elmore on   6/18/2010 8:26 AM

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