🚀 go-pugleaf

"Erik Vastmasd" <erik.vastm@sd.invalid> wrote in message
news:859f1mFb15U1@mid.individual.net...
> I caught a glimpse of "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> on Sat, 15 May
> 2010 21:13:35 GMT, writing in aus.science:
>
> >She denies this appellation, as bestowed by PM, but does she qualify?
> >  Having sailed alone around the world, or, at least been away for some
> >seven months, and arriving back from opposite direction to which she
> >started - some accolades seem due.
>
> At 16 years of age I see her journey as a tremendous feat and I
> certainly admire her for her application to the task, in learning new
> skills that enabled her to sail without external assistance.
>
> Skills to repair her motor, navigate over such a distance, we usually
> rely on sign posts and I bet she never saw too many sign posts. ;-)
>
> She would have often been experiencing loss of sleep, hunger because
> sometimes she would have been unable to prepare meals, often wet
> through. Suffering from loneliness.
>
> Her Mum & Dad were criticised for allowing her to go, but she must have
> been so determined and dedicated to the task, they weren't able to stop
> her.
>
> >  Hero?  Heroine, is the more apt title, if title there be, but while a
> >mixed group of teens may not object to being collectively called "guys",
> >they might object to being called "gals".  Hence, hero, not heroine,
raises
> >no cry of discrimination.  Most actresses nowadays are actors.
> >  Someone who is idolised by others is deemed a hero, so maybe she will
be
> >heroic, like it or not, in the eyes of others.
> >   Yet, if you sail alone, having made adequate preparation, and reacted
to
> >emergencies as they arose, then a long ocean trip can be mainly a big
yawn -
> >so where's the heroics?
> >   On the other hand, the open ocean can catch you unawares, especially
if
> >asleep at night, so some heroism is demanded to undertake the trip in the
> >first place.
>
> I don't think of her as a heroine but that doesn't reduce my respect for
> what she has achieved.
>
> I think of a hero or heroine as someone who isn't in danger but place
> themselves in danger risking self sacrifice in order to rescue or assist
> others, that is heroism IMHO.
>
> >Again, can a person in almost constant contact (electronically) with
> >family and friends, be deemed to have travelled alone?  Certainly,
> >single-handed, in a physical sense.  But not cut-off completely.
>
> I consider that she has been alone although if need be she could have
> called for assistance.
>
> > Did Joshua Slocum, years ago, have radio, or other contact?
> > Or Alain Bombard, French doctor, who traversed the Atlantic in open
> >inflated life-raft, living off raw fish, plankton, and rain water? He
proved
> >that shipwrecked mariners could survive, with minimum of fishing tackle,
> >etc - with a touch of beri-beri the only likely malnutrition.
>
> If Jessica Watson had not used the available electronic aids people
> would have criticised her, her parents and the State Government.
>
> >So, how about the oldest person to circumnavigate?  Any centenarians
> >volunteering?
>
> I could be interested it is only 25 years away. :-)
> -- 
>
>  Erik

# A hero is someone admired for courage, and thus deeds, not necessarily for
saving others; perhaps more for killing them.
   Certainly, a person who steps outside the normal range of human activity.
An exemplar.
    "Loss of sleep"?  Yes, it might be difficult to sleep if alone on the
ocean, with no one to keep watch.
    What do you do?  Sleep "with one eye open", assuming weather seems
peaceful; or forego sleep if seas are rough?  Put out a sea-anchor, with
minimum sails, and lash the tiller/wheel; hoping you are outside normal
shipping lanes.
     Returned servicemen may suffer nightmares for years, as result of
wartime stress.  Maybe a lone sailor might suffer similarly; but it depends
on mental attitude, perhaps.  If easy-going, and "at home" with Mother
Nature, then less problem?