"Bob" wrote in message
...
For those who support National Public Radio (NPR) you can hear Fatty
Goodlander describe cruising for 48 years. Just heard the first of
several interviews this morning.


Fatty is a good writer and I've enjoyed reading his articles in that
layman's cruising rag. He comes across as sort of an inept buffoon at times
but he's an accomplished sailor. He's smart enought to realize who his
audience is and he dumbs down his writings to appeal to the typical hard
core magazine article reader/wannabe sailor who believe his every word. Like
the late Tristan Jones much of what Fatty writes must be taken with a grain
of salt.

In some ways Fatty reminds me of Skip Gundlach or rather Skippy reminds me
of Fatty. The biggest difference is Fatty talks down his skill and
successful exploits while Skippy talks up his amateur, bumbling boondoggles.
Opposite ends of the spectrum but both have their camp followers. Those of
us who are accomplished blue water sailors look with respect upon Fatty (and
his seafaring and compliant wife) while we look at Skippy and Sylvia (who
actually runs the show) and have a good chuckle.

Wilbur Hubbard