Pull of the Pacific

[Bergalia]

After a month or more of weather delays British woman Roz Savage has set off to row the Pacific, but not from the Golden Gate Bridge as originally planned, but from Port Saint George in Crescent City, California.
Roz will give a constant account of her journey through her blog, uploading photos, video, and regular dispatches from the open water. She says her aim is to raise awareness of oceanic pollution.

The 10,800km journey begins with a two to three month voyage to Hawaii, then on to the South Pacific island of Tuvalu with a final destination in Australia.

"The first hundred miles will be the toughest," she said. "I'll be battling seasickness, fatigue, and it looks like there may be winds blowing from the southwest and showers."

In 2006, she successfully crossed the Atlantic in her 7m craft,The Brocade.

*(Political note) Let's hope meanwhile there is a change in Australia's government. Should she land down under in the present 'Liberal' climate instead of a heroine's welcome she'll be whisked away as 'an illegal boat person' and incarcerated in one of the Immigration Department's concentration camps and held for up to five years while her 'documents' are checked.

[Landlubber]

Why would anyone want to do such a thing.

[lazeyjack]

you really are lubberly land lubber
why would we all not want to do such a thing?
Most of a I would like to meet her half way)
exchange fish, sample cooking and perhaps share a bed , and then like ships in the night pass on by,

[Poida]

Well Bergalia me mate. A couple of guys did something like that recently from France to England as a goodwill gesture between the two countries.

When they landed they were arrested and whisked off to jail.

It's international now, jail 'em first ask questions later.

Poida

[timgoz]

I'm pretty confident she (being a Brit) will do better than the french fellow who recently attempted a Trans-Atlantic passage. Seeing she has already rowed the Atlantic, oppossed to a short stint on a lake for the other fellow.

Man Landlubber, if everyone was mentally prone to ask your question, half the world would still remain unknown!

Hey Stu, you better call your doctor and make sure you are fit for strenous physical activity before hooking up with this lass.

Tim

[Trevlyns]

Originally Posted by Poida

A couple of guys did something like that recently from France to England as a goodwill gesture between the two countries.

When they landed they were arrested and whisked off to jail.

If it's the same incident, I recall reading that it was a pontoon with several oil barrels lashed together crossing an international shipping lane (the English Channel) with freighters "going at a rate of knots". No safety equipment, a tiny sail and improvised barge boards. That's just plain irresponsible!

Also, Landlubber, "Why would anyone want to do such a thing.". The same reason they climb mountains - just because they're there

[safewalrus]

Now why would anybody want to do such a thing? pretty obvous these days it's probably the only way you can get some peace - several thousand miles out even the 'busybodies' leave you alone! Unless of course you want to be checked on all the time but surely that cancels the whole reason for doing it!

[Trevlyns]

Hey, good to have you back Rus

[charmc]

Landlubber, me boyo, if you don't get, there's no explaining it.

Lazey, I'd take Tim's advice if you're serious. Of course, even with no execution, it's a nice fantasy.

[lazeyjack]

Charlie,
If you are really good I will post a photo of me Russian gal friend, blind you

[Landlubber]

Well I still reckon she would have to be either:
1. A nut case
2. A nut case
3. An extrovert seeking attention

As to discovering the world, just exactly how much was discovered rowing single handed across an ocean (and if so who told anyone about it anyhow!)

Nup, I reckon she just has to be a nut case.
I am all for exploration by boat (I have done over 50,000 miles sailing, lived on boats for over 17 years), so I do understand a lot about life on the water, I love it and the people that play there, it just seems beyond comprehension not to share this with someone else, or at least in a boat big enough to be comfortable in. I have sailed many miles solo too, absolutely love it, but at least the boat was big enough to stand in when you need to. It is not the single handed bit, just the pain level that is involved, all for what. To get your name in the paper, make people talk about you on web sites, i don't know.
And as for "just not getting it", well, sure, some things I just do not want to get. You don't have to jump off a bridge to feel what the water is like when you hit it you know.

Anyhow, let people do whatever they like, as long as they do not expect others to risk their lives picking up the pieces. I am all for lifes dramas, just don't involve others in your exploits, that is all I am on about.

[Frosty]

Landlubber,-its not that you want to do it --it that you want have done it.

There will be times when she will desperately want to throw the towel in. Blistered and bleeding hands ,probably trying to tie her hands to the oars.

I could go on but, -- Your final post does have a point.

This is my second edit,---I can see in the future that this sort of thing will be against the law. I dont know if thats good or bad but I can see it coming. If an aircraft goes down trying to save her --well-- thats the end of it all. We know it can be done --its been done.

But then again you should be able to do what you want. I don't know!!! Ille shut up now.

[charmc]

Originally Posted by Landlubber

Nup, I reckon she just has to be a nut case.
I am all for exploration by boat (I have done over 50,000 miles sailing, lived on boats for over 17 years), so I do understand a lot about life on the water, I love it I have sailed many miles solo too, absolutely love it, but at least the boat was big enough to stand in when you need to. It is not the single handed bit, just the pain level that is involved, all for what. To get your name in the paper, make people talk about you on web sites, i don't know.
And as for "just not getting it", well, sure, some things I just do not want to get. You don't have to jump off a bridge to feel what the water is like when you hit it you know.

Anyhow, let people do whatever they like, as long as they do not expect others to risk their lives picking up the pieces. I am all for lifes dramas, just don't involve others in your exploits, that is all I am on about.

Landlubber,

If you've sailed that much, and some solo, you've put your skill and equipment on the line. I know there is a lot of evidence that some people who do extraordinary feats are in it purely for the publicity, but this trip will be a huge test of physical endurance and moral strength. I don't think a mere publicity hound would have what it takes to complete it.

I have to agree with your last comment, though. The subject of the rights of offshore sailors to cruise and race in harm's way vs the cost to taxpayers and the risk to responders if they call for help has been debated in other threads. I don't know the final answer on this subject (actually, I don't know a hell of a lot about any final answers), but I guess any of us who have ever voyaged beyond the horizon have potentially involved others, if only because there would be SAR efforts launched by the mere fact of non-arrival at a destination.

This subject will probably be a source of discussion when the solo voyages are out of the Solar system.

[charmc]

Originally Posted by lazeyjack

Charlie,
If you are really good I will post a photo of me Russian gal friend, blind you

Always with the threats!

[Landlubber]

Frosty,

Yeah, I am picking up your drift, sort of laying in hospital dying from some stupid disease, wishing I had only just done what I was thinking about doing and not having done it.

I am fortunate in that I have been able to do the things that I wanted to do, when I wanted to do them.

Today it is very difficult for some people to even be allowed to do what they want to, hell, I remember doing over 240kph on my bikes "just because I could", today, the do gooders would have you locked up for doing "such dangerous speeds", even if it was on an open highway with no one there except the crows. If it just saves one life.....what a load of crap! It would be like living in China, all they have for "sport" is table tennis or badminton....****, that must be boring, we are so lucky being able to travel anywhere(almost) we please. I work in China, the people live in such tight quarters they can barely breathe, we have the "choice" of going where we please. Many of us do.
When I was sailing solo, no one knew I was away, so no one would be looking for me, that is how I wanted it to be, when sailing with my wife, I always told her that if I was not there in the morning, forget looking back for me, just get on with her life and enjoy herself. It would be horrible looking all day in the vast ocean for your mate, who would be drowned by then anyhow (I can hardly swim).
No I would love people to be able to follow their dreams, don't get me wrong, it is just that we all have different dreams I guess.

Long live the freedom of the individual (even if I don't agree with what they do sometimes). As a much wiser man once said "such is life" (then they shot him!).