🚀 go-pugleaf

"Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:kwYHn.25165$pv.5138@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> "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?
>
>

# But then if you have an almost unsinkable yacht, then many problems are
resolved, and the structure of her yacht may repay examination.
   Who won the Melbourne Cup?  A horse!