Bart Senior wrote:
Most of the crews are from GB aren't they?

Sure, but then it's a British enterprise.

... These people are mostly
35-45 range are they not?


Take a look at the web site. A lot of 20-30s in there, including women.
Some older, too.

It's expensive, you can't expect teenagers to pony up tens of thousands
of dollars to sail around the world.



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.

Well, don't take offense but you're not Chay Blythe! Going upwind... the
"wrong way"... is a big part of the challenge of this event.


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.


Sure... but this isn't intended as a beginner sailing/racing course, or
even as a beginner ocean sailing course; any more than the guided "Climb
Mt Everest For $50K (or whatever it costs)" are instructional.



What are the rest of them doing? Freezing while keeping watch?
Doing the occassional sail change?

Probably yes; from what I've seen at least the Challenge crews don't
have to huddle along the windward rail. If the boats are actively racing
then you need two trimmers (or trimmer & grinder) and this is a pretty
active role, as well as helming.




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.


Of course. You say that like it's a bad thing. You're not turning
Socialist, are you Bart

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.


That would work well for voyaging but not racing IMHO; unless of course
the crew size is limited. All else being equal, more crew = faster.

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


It's a capitalistic society. Having money is the main qualification for
almost anything!

Bus seriously, it sounds like your objection to Blythe's operation is
that it's not what you'd like... going the wrong way, charging money,
big crews, etc etc.

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.


But, by the time one bought a boat and equipped it for going around the
world and then acquired the skills to do it oneself, one would have
spent far more in unrecoverable expenses... not to mention a lot more
time lost off work. Blythe's operation is a way for people to take up a
very demanding task... be shepherded through it (possibly even baby-sat,
at least a little bit)... and then take up their normal lives again. Is
that entirely a bad thing? It's certainly more efficient than expecting
all those people to buy their own boats.

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 definitely agree, but again: that's not the point of Blythe's enterprise.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King