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In the middle of reading "Ocean Crossing Wayfarer" by Frank and Margaret Dye. Josh Colvin told me that after reading this book I would either want to run out and buy a Wayfarer or I would never set foot in one. My thought is I would never sail off the coast of England!!!

We are talking about a 16 foot dinghy sailing from Scotland to Iceland and Norway! He consistently speaks of "Force 7 and 8" winds. You are talking about winds up to 40 kts (46 mph)! I was at sea while in the Navy in winds about that speed in a 365 ft steel Destroyer and was, while not terrified not far from it! I cannot imagine what sailing on the open ocean in gale force winds in The Lusty Slogger (my Sunbird 16) would be like. Not only that but the temperatures are hovering around freezing. Dye's reaction is "Oh my, what a marvelous sail!"

Anyway, he is so nonchalant about the dangers he makes it into a very good read. You should try it.

I belong to the open sailing canoe association, the videos they put up on youtube are not to be believed. They go out in skinny little boats with big sails in all weathers. Mad dogs and Englishmen indeed

Only Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out into the noon day sun. Apparently they also go out in the Midnight Ice Floes as well!

All these stories of feats of daring do are exciting but one must wonder how many never made it to the end of the story and we don't hear their tale.

so many small craft are incredibly seaworthy. as with most things the operator is an important link. usually the weak link is the human component of the system.

going with groups and to an extent racing really helps one improve their skills. besides talking and learning sailing with others allows one to participate in conditions one wouldn't normally try.

i'd like to spend some time sailing with this guy -


https://youtu.be/8Rm1J-g2enk

much is learning one's 'local conditions'. a 'sporting day' on the North Sea is very different than on the Salish Sea!

I am impressed by that man!


https://youtu.be/PNqW8zzPWgQ

The wind is blowing about 40 kts too fast for me!!!!

In late winter 1968 sailing from Vietnam back to Japan we ran into a storm in the Sea of Japan. I would estimate it carried Force 10 or 11 winds. We were taking green water over the bridge deck and it was almost impossible to move around inside the ship. We had been told that a 45 degree lean angle was the point of no return before the ship turned turtle. I was on the bridge watching the inclinometer on the bulkhead hitting 40, 41, 42, 43, 42, 41 40........ The waves actually tore the hatch off the fantail going down into the crews quarters and had to be jury rigged to become watertight again. Everything was wet and it was quite cold. The ship had been built in 1944 and had survived a typhoon which sank several other ships off the coast of the Philippines in 1945. I knew in my heart of hearts the ship was blessed and if I could avoid being swept overboard I would get though this storm! The storm lasted two days, I was 23 when it started and 97 when it was over !!!!

Given my experience on a 365 ft warship I cannot imagine sailing in a small sailboat under those conditions. More power to him that he would do it and do it single handed but I am like Michel stated in an earlier post, give me calm seas and enough wind to move the boat and I am more than happy. I want to go sailing and to me if the boat is moving then I am sailing!

You are right Norman!...I am aware that I can roll/reef my main down to an handkerchief if needed but still, I feel OK if my boat can move up-current in light air! That is all I need to be happy afloat!

Can you imagine 700 miles of this in this boat?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOlCTjKY8Gc

Have finished the Dye book and am starting on "The Sea Takes No Prisoners". This is a tale by another Brit sailing a Wayfarer across the North Atlantic. Unlike Dye this writer questions his own sanity for the undertaking!

I have yet to read any of Dye's books, but I did find that "two blokes up north" tickled something inside me.