OzOne wrote

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 "Bart Senior" wrote
I like the boats. Nice design. It is amazing he finds mid-life crisis
novices to pay him the big fees, when they could find cheaper ways
around the world.

Mid life crisis starts young these days in the US?

Most of the crews are from GB aren't they? These people are mostly
35-45 range are they not?

Tell me Bart, how would you go about racing around the world the wrong
way and saving dollars doing it?

I'd go the right way--downwind. And I wouldn't do it racing. I'm
not sure I'd call what Blythe is doing "racing".

There are lots of boats looking for crew. I'd start checking ads in
Latitude 38, and perhaps post one myself, find a boat and go. If
you want to race, then I'd recommend people starting with fleet racing.

When you consider the watches are only 1 hour long, it is light duty
watchkeeping.

Who told you that?
Helming is in one hour stints.

Correct. One hour stints at the helm.

What are the rest of them doing? Freezing while keeping watch?
Doing the occassional sail change? Of course these boats don't have
roller furling. The reason is they have got to find something for these
huge crews to do.

Can you tell me how you'd organise rest periods with one hour watches?

I wouldn't want such a big crew to start with. Big crews mean more
money for Chay Blythe. That is the purpose of big crews.

Depending on the size of the vessel, an optimal crew size would be
around six, five crew, including skipper, and a cook. 2 on 8 off,
with hands call on deck for sail changes. This gives plenty of crew
rest for a distant voyage. One person helming and standing watch.
If conditions were colder and rougher, pehaps 1 on and 4 off.

My understanding is Blythe takes people with relatively little experience.
The prinicipal qualification being--they have money.

If I was going to give advice to someone looking to make their life
more adventuresome, I tell them how to do it while keeping the bank
account intact. Or it they want to spend $35k+, these people could
buy a boat and at least be able to resell it at some point.

Why should sailing be expensive? It doesn't have to be. In fact
a do-it-your-sefler can find economical ways to live an
adventuresome life afloat.

I understand that some people need to be lead around like sheep.
I've also taught many students that are loners who find themselves at
a point in their life where they have worked hard and life feels like
it has passed them by to a certain extent--like Neal was saying in
the other thread. They search for meaning in life and need some
great adventure--just for something to talk about when they return
to the "real" world of work and business. Some turn to sailing, in
part to find a circle of friends to do things with. I think it is rooted
in loneliness.

I'll give Chay Blythe credit for giving these people a huge boost to
their self confidence. When you enter life and death situations, and
learn to rely on others while they rely on you, you do things you
might not otherwise do. It helps one find meaning in life. How could
it not? Offshore sailing like Dougs recent adventure has, I'm sure,
created crew bonds and memories for him that will last forever.

I think a more confident person could develop skills and set off
without guidance and handholding, and find even greater meaning
in the experience. What do you think?

Bart Senior