Cat mystery at the 'Top End'

[Poida]

Chalmc you are rong, I like spelling rong rong. I was trying to change my settings on this forum when I noticed my points thingy. and somebody asked me if I am an idiot. Only an idiot would have to ask that question, anybody with half a brain cell would know I am.

Anyway Chalmc, I do the cooking at home and the two shows that I mentioned are back to back, so I usually see the end of one and the start of another. How much I see depends on what I am preparing for the evening meal. For example a potato chip sandwich (not sure if you call them potato chips over there) would not take as long as heating up a couple of frozen meat pies and cracking a can of beer (this of course is our gourmet meal and doesn't happen often).

Sometimes my wife insists on a seafood platter. Fortunately I can fill a platter with a can of sardines and two slices of bread. I think the quality of the food is in the preparation, so I open the sardine can for her and top it with a sprig of parsley. Lawn clippings can be substituted if parsley is not available.

I hope that clears that up

Poida

[charmc]

Originally Posted by Poida

Chalmc you are rong, Anyway Chalmc, I do the cooking at home. I hope that clears that up. Poida

OK, Poirdia, I wuz rong aboootcha. Sownds lyke u gotta grate lyffe, myte.

[harlemriverman]

Originally Posted by Bergalia

Saturday 21/4/07 - the story so far:

The crew — Australians aged 56, 63 and 69...”

Picture courtesy of AP

We have freak waves, it seems a more common occurrence towards the Carolinas and further south. Survivors report an enormous wave coming from nowhere and for no perceived reason. It will sweep decks, capsize, and cause considerable damage. Not difficult to image the consequences of three elderly gentlemen basking in the sun and swept from their deck while the boat is under sail....

[Poida]

Harlemriverman. Everything was in it's place on board if such a wave had hit it would have made a mess. Unless there are waves that tidy up after themselves.

Poida

[Bergalia]

Originally Posted by Poida

Unless there are waves that tidy up after themselves.Poida

An escapee from the Hoover Dam perhaps..

[harlemriverman]

Originally Posted by Bergalia

An escapee from the Hoover Dam perhaps..

...constructive interference perhaps...

[charmc]

Originally Posted by Poida

Everything was in it's place on board if such a wave had hit it would have made a mess. Unless there are waves that tidy up after themselves. Poida

Or three cases of Crowhurst-itis?

[Bergalia]

Originally Posted by charmc

Or three cases of Crowhurst-itis?

I think, Charmc, you'd better explain who Donald Crowhurst was for the younger members...A multi-hull man I seem to remember....

[charmc]

Originally Posted by Bergalia

I think, Charmc, you'd better explain who Donald Crowhurst was for the younger members...A multi-hull man I seem to remember....

OK, the short version for the youngsters: Following Francis Chichester's (now Sir Francis) round the world solo voyage in the late 1960's, The Sunday Times announced the Golden Globe Challenge, a race to be the first person to circumnavigate by sail solo and nonstop. The name best known from the event is Robin Knox-Johnston, but to race officials and much of the world, Donald Crowhurst appeared to be leading the race in his innovative trihull until the very final stretch, from Brazil to the start-finish in Britain.

What Donald actually did was make up a brilliant series of position and weather reports, amazingly accurate, which he radioed in (this was 40 years ago, no GPS or weather satellites) at the proper intervals ... all the while sailing in circles in the South Atlantic. Apparently he planned to head back to Merry Olde just before the real fleet leaders, to be declared the winner. But the pressure of the colossal lie overcame him, and his last reports were rambling and semi-coherent. He apparently jumped overboard while underway; sails were set. His boat was found with all gear intact, including his log and journal, which told the story..

[hansp77]

Charmc, not to really disagree,
(as I think you got it quite well, especially the brilliance of his efforts, to navigate in the real world, avoiding sighting, and to succesfully plot and navigate in the imaginary one...)
but as a point of difference-

As I understood it, rather than aiming to head in in front of the rest of the fleet, in first place,
what Crowhurst was actually aiming for (once he realised early on that he was up the metaphorical creek) was a respectable second or third, from which he could succsessfully promote his navigational aids company from and hopefully recover the life and some of the money he had staked investing into the race (his whole life, all his money and a lot of someone elses)... and once Nigel Tetley sunk his boat (by pushing it too hard- believing Crowhurst was hot on his tail)- putting Crowhurst into first place -Crowhurst realised that his fake logs would never stand up to the scrutiny of a first place position (while they might well have done in a second or third).

Either way, I guess it is pretty hard to know exactly what he was thinking at the time. The extracts from his journal he left were totally 'out there'. He had gone absolutely batty. Poor fella.

[Bergalia]

Perfect summing up Charmc. I remember listening to some of his tapes (released via BBC) - but as Hansp77 notes, the man was obviously 'batty'.
Could have had a great career in politics....

[charmc]

Originally Posted by Bergalia

Perfect summing up Charmc. I remember listening to some of his tapes (released via BBC) - but as Hansp77 notes, the man was obviously 'batty'.
Could have had a great career in politics....

Charismatic, convinced wealthy corporations to spend money on him, lied frequently and convincingly ... why Bergalia, what ever makes you think he'd have done well in politics??

[charmc]

Originally Posted by hansp77

As I understood it, rather than aiming to head in in front of the rest of the fleet, in first place,
what Crowhurst was actually aiming for (once he realised early on that he was up the metaphorical creek) was a respectable second or third, and once Nigel Tetley sunk his boat (by pushing it too hard- believing Crowhurst was hot on his tail)- putting Crowhurst into first place -Crowhurst realised that his fake logs would never stand up to the scrutiny of a first place position (while they might well have done in a second or third).

Thanks, hansp77, I had forgotten that part. I seem to recall now also that what started him thinking the crazy thoughts was that he really didn't know how to prepare a boat for the race, and realized that he wasn't ready. He mentioned that he might have to withdraw to one of his sponsors, who reminded him he had signed a contract stating that he would reimburse the sponsors if he withdrew.... so he probably wouldn't survive the Southern Ocean, but he'd be bankrupt if he quit. Rather than face up to his situation, he took a voyage to La-la Land.

[charmc]

He inspired others, apparently...
http://www.answers.com/topic/rosie-ruiz