14 year old crossing Atlantic in 28' sailboat

[eric3a]

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[BK]

eric3a, have you seen the winner of the largest wave ridden last year? He was towed in and estimates are at 60feet. It was at Cortes Bank near the California -Mexico border about 50 miles offshore. He won $50,000 and the photographer got $10,000.
You can spent the money on curing your nightmares of ridding 60 foot waves.
Where do you ride big waves? Hawaii or Mavericks? Tow in?
There is a large window picture, 10X 10 ft, of the wave in Jack's Surf shop at the corner of PCH and Main in Huntington Beach, Ca.

[baldbaby2000]

That Tide 28 looks better now than when first seen here ... probably because I now noticed how close a Mac clone it really is. Only difference is a couple feet in length and that 1,000 pound bulbed keel.

I think the bulb keel is probably the biggest advantage this boat has over the Mac. I'm thinking of adding yet more lead to my daggerboard. Can anyone comment on how well the Tide 28 sails: speed, controllability, etc?

BB

[eric3a]

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[AWKIII]

The record for the youngest person to sail around the world unassisted is held by a kid named Jesse Martin of Australia.

He was 17 when he started and 18 when he finished. Did it aboard a 31 or 34 footer named Lionheart that was built like a brick outhouse.

It is an incredible story. A local newspaper picked up the tab. They had cameras installed onboard and the footage was put together for the movie.

Just watched it again for the umpteenth time last week. Well worth the price of admission.

[Lease]

Yes, it was a good effort.

Sadly, and as these things always seem to these days, the guy has tried to parlay that one achievement into a whole franchise. I don't blame them for it, but it just seems to cheapen the whole thing.

BTW Eric, there was a shark attack (non-fatal) at Bells this week.

[eric3a]

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[BK]

eric3a, I am only a summer surfer these days. The water today in california was 59 degrees. My friends use 7MM wetsuits with hoods, booties and gloves just to surf. It looks like they are going out diving instead of surfing.
I was out twice in 15 footers and learned I am not a big wave rider even though I bought a big wave 12 foot gun.
I was at the inductions for the Surfers Hall of fame for big wave ridder Greg Noll this summer and Corky Carrol had a story of being out in huge waves at Waiamea in Hawaii with Greg. He said Greg paddled up to him and asked if he was scared. Corky, trying to act brave, said no. Greg says "only a fool would'nt be scared."
Have you ever surfed Jobos in PR. I spent some time there one summer. Rincon is good but usually crowded.

[eric3a]

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[delevi]

That Tide 28 looks better now than when first seen here ... probably because I now noticed how close a Mac clone it really is.

Exactly what I was thinking. Interesting that it motors with keel down. Seems like the sail area is less than on the Mac. They also say on their web site that "The hull was not designed to plane so not to compromise sailing performance." Watching the video with it powering at 18 knots, it sure was planing. Am I missing something?

Daniel,

How much more lead are you thinking about adding? I believe the principle of diminishing returns kicks in, the higher up the keel you go with added weight. You might consider having a 200 lb bulb made and bolt on the bottom of the keel. Now that would be cool.

[baldbaby2000]

How much more lead are you thinking about adding? I believe the principle of diminishing returns kicks in, the higher up the keel you go with added weight. You might consider having a 200 lb bulb made and bolt on the bottom of the keel. Now that would be cool.

I have 55 lbs now and am thinking of going another 20 or so. I think the existing lead fills about the bottom 10 inches of the daggerboard so I think there's still advantage to adding more. A bulb would be nice but melting lead and pouring it in (or mix with resin as some have suggested) is so easy to do. I did add a steel pipe lengthwise for support too but that's also easy.

55 lbs doesn't sound like much but at the bottom of the daggerboard it makes a difference.

Dan

[BK]

eric3a, you will like Costa Rica. We stopped on each side for the day while on cruises. We hired a car and driver on both sides to take us to a surfing beach but it was blown out so no surfing. There were surf shops there to rent boards. Would like to spend more time there one day. Its like Hawaii 30 years ago there and I hear the young women like older rich Americans.

We also hired a driver on Barbados to go to a surfing beach but you need your own board there as none was available for rent.

I have been looking at the 9' Morry Bi-sect board. Have you seen these? They come apart in the middle so you can take it traveling. About $1100.

[eric3a]

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[Sloop John B]

So now I know something about surfing. Great. I’ll save the notes for when I’m reincarnated.

Back to the subject. Are you adventurous or callous when your 14 year old sets sail for Portugal?

It depends. Hey, if the kid is a complete dork, load him up with beef jerky, get him a compass, and shove him off the pier.

And what if he makes it. That’s not so bad. Sign up as his agent for the book and make up some good stuff. Hallucinations allow for about anything. Hopefully enough for a movie offer.

[waternwaves]

Does anyone here really think that a 14 year old has better or enough experience, judgment, skills, strength, wisdom and knowledge to handle the emergency conditions required.


Maybe we should have 14 yr olds as surgeons, soldiers, priests, teachers, voters, congressmen, senators, lawyers and such.

or maybe all this hype is just about someone who might get lucky enough not to have a major issue in the crossing.

or maybe it is just about ego.