A Vote Against Single Handling

I don't mind people doing stupid things on their own if they don't affect others. What I do mind though is them encouraging others or people using them as examples in encouraging others. There are many sailing websites where when you argue for a proper boat and proper training others will point to examples of those with small boats and no training who lived to tell the tale. They never have comments from those who died at sea. Encouraging others to take such approaches is just not responsible.

Same with single handed crossing of oceans in 40' Nordhavn's or 42' Kadey Krogens and just because one person did it, doesn't make it safe or wise for others.

Why would you try a northern east to west crossing at all. That goes against all logic. East to west is ALWAYS a southern route. Hell even Columbus did a southern route. Northern route you're fighting the remnants of the Gulf Stream, and you've got the Arctic current coming down banging into it. Southern route, down thru Verdes and Canarys, then break west for Carib/Bahamas.

I see your self-righteous judgement has returned. Just because someone does something that you are afraid to do doesn't make it stupid.

This man was a former military paratrooper; they jump out of perfectly good aircraft. Obviously, he enjoyed taking chances that you wouldn't even consider. "Stupid" guys like him are the reason you are not speaking German or Japanese now.

While I'm not happy about his demise, I am glad that he and his kind exist. They offer so much more than your judgement.

I never called him stupid. I called what he did that led to his death a "stupid thing". Very different. I imagine everyone here has at some point done something that was, in retrospect, stupid. I didn't insult his past. In fact, I said I had no problems with him choosing to do this, but my problem is encouraging others to do so. Go spend some time on some sailing forums and just watch the encouragement or dangerous, poorly thought out plans. Then read about the rescues, about the children whose lives are put at risk, and then the sailors who after rescue start a gofundme account to buy another boat.

If experienced persons want to do things like this and don't involve others, then fine. However, I think responsible boating communities need to call it out for the danger it represents and discourage others.

I vote with Judy against single handling crossings and against inappropriate vessels. If that is self-righteous, then so be it, but then I won't have to live with encouraging someone to do something like that which then leads to their death. I will continue to speak out against unsafe boating.

Doing it truly alone is very risky I agree. But Transatlantic rowing is more popular than I knew. Every year in December teams numbering from 1 to 4 set out from La Gomera in the Canary Islands and row to Antigua almost exactly 3000 miles. The Atlantic Challenge is sponsored by Whisky maker Talisker and this year featured 34 teams and 121 rowers. The winning 4 man (actually 2 men and two women) set a record of 41 days. The winning 3 person team, all women, did it in just under 43 days. Two person teams and singles are still out there. There are shadow boats in support but organizers admit that the rowers get quite spread out and that and weather conditions (20 foot waves at one point this year) make assistance and/or rescue 'challenging'. Last year the slowest single rower took 96 days. This is the 8th year for the Challenge which is growing in popularity. I gather boats must pass strict construction guidelines and inspection.
They have now started a Pacific Challenge from California to Hawaii, about 2600 miles but with more challenging waters and currents, The fastest crossing so far is 62 days.
I had no idea.

I don’t mind people challenging themselves into dangerous situation as long as they don’t endanger others especially rescuers and don’t trigger massive SAR costs. That’s not just sailing or rowing the oceans but other things like mountain climbing etc.

did anybody see the coverage of the “traffic jams” of climbers on Everest last year? Many had no business being up there

Freedom to fail. Success would be impossible without it. He lived life on his own terms. Good for him. Many spend their later years planted on a recliner. To each his own.

More people die hiking in National Parks than single handed ocean crossings.

Yes and more people die in cars than in elevators. To make a statement like that have ANY meaning you need to put it in context. Something like "Per day spent in a national park versus on the ocean alone there are X fatilities in one and Y in the other.

So a large number of people engaged in an activity responsible for many deaths is less significant to you than a few people engaged in an activity responsible for very few deaths. Got it.