From YouTube:
We had a wonderfull day on the 3rd of september 2009 in Holland.
Winds exceeding over more than 44 knots. Conditions: Sun, rain and thunder, and mostly Storm, storm, STORM!It was a perfect day with me and Ruben Len10 doing a Stormsjees 3 tour along the coast, which started out of the blue. First spot was Wijk aan Zee for a real hard trashing on Ruben, then off to Scheveningen to do some more. Also there was Eddy Lansink doing his thing to, and very well indeed!
So here’s some extreme footage of Eddy. Get flabbergasted! it’s Absurd !
Maybe the biggest Jump in the world so far.. or is it?….
I agree.
Flag dip to Mr. Boat Blog.
Filed under: Experience, Leadership, life, maritime, sailing, tall ships | Tags: sailing, Senator Edward Kennedy
Just over a month ago I wrote a post about the loss of an American sailing icon, Walter Cronkite, and tonight it’s sad to think about the loss of another, Senator Edward Kennedy.
The above photo was taken in 2004 aboard the schooner Aurora in Newport, RI when I was executive director of the American Sail Training Association. We arranged a morning sail for a youth group from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center and invited our local Congressman Patrick Kennedy to experience sail training first hand. Without advance notice Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy showed up at the dock too. He came aboard to meet the young people and share his enthusiasm and passion for sailing. As we departed the harbor, he sailed passed us at the helm of his beautiful schooner Mya.
Over the years I had several occasions to meet with the Senator and every time impressed me more. They say this about all great leaders, but when you were in his presence you really felt that he was totally focused on you and what you had to say. Of course, our brief meetings were always about tall ships and sailing, topics that were very important to him. As a student of leadership, I often reflect back on my very short, yet impactful experiences with the Senator and am grateful that I had the opportunity to spend time with him.
[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7dB1XPPBYk]
YouTube – Swiss Made
One of the highlights of my career as executive director of the American Sail Training Association was sailing on the Schooner Adirondack in NY Harbor for several hours with Walter Cronkite, his girlfriend, Rick Scarano and the crew. It was a real thrill to spend time with an American icon and passionate sailor. I love this photo that I took of him at the helm in his USCGC EAGLE hat. He truly loved sailing and the sea. It was an honor and privilege to sail with him.
Here’s a link to my original post on the ASTA blog. (Sailing with an American Icon)
Filed under: FotoFriday, sailing | Tags: Boston Globe, sailing, The Big Picture, Volvo Ocean Race
Today’s Boston Globe’s Big Picture blog has an amazing series of photos from the Volvo Ocean Race which recently made a port stop in Beantown. The above photo by Oskar Kihlborg show navigator Jules Salters’ (UK) son Fred ready to tie daddy’s boat to the dock as he arrives in Boston harbor. Check out all of the great photos. From the Boston Globe:
The 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race has arrived in Boston Harbor. Boston is the 6th port city for the eight teams which will race around the globe for nine months over 37,000 nautical miles split into 10 legs. The ships they sail are Volvo Open 70 class racing yachts, 21.5 meters (70.5 feet) long, manned by a crew of 11. While the ships are in port, they hold in-port races as well as hosting events and entertainment for local residents. Tomorrow (Saturday, May 9th), the fleet will hold its in-port race in Boston Harbor, and later, on May 16th, they will depart for leg 7 of the race, to Galway, Ireland, concluding the race in St. Petersburg, Russia in late June. Oskar Kihlborg, team photographer for Ericsson Racing with nearly 15 years experience as a sailing photographer has been kind enough to share the following photos with us.
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Filed under: Environment, Leadership, life, Oceans, sailing, storytelling, tall ships | Tags: Earth Day, Messing About In Sailboats, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
While most people, including the Mello family, are celebrating Earth Day, today also marks the 40th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s completion of the first-ever single-handed solo non-stop circumnavigation.
Celebratory in it’s success yet profoundly revelatory in how man impacts our planet, there is no better way to raise awareness of the Earth’s challenges than sailing round it in a small boat. Johnston was the first to do this 30,000 mile trip and 313 days at sea in a 32 ft teak ketch. To put this feat in its proper perspective, solo non stop circumnavigation is often referred to as the Mount Everest of sailing; only thing is over 1,500 people have made it to the top of the world while less than 100 have sailed around it alone without stopping.
This “holiday” came to my attention via Twitter and the concept seems to have been launched by the great Messing About In Sailboats blog which is not to be confused with the equally great Messing About In Ships podcast.
I’m sure there are going to be lots of great posts with videos and old newspaper clippings and amazing sea stories so check back at Messing About In Sailboats to see how they aggregate this stuff. If you’re on Twitter, make sure you follow the hash tag #RKJ today. (Since you’re over there, might as well follow me, too. ;-)
Since I used to be the executive director of the American Sail Training Association, I guess my affinity for Sir Robin probably comes from his incredible support of and influence over the tall ships / sail training industry as chairman of the Sail Training Association (UK). That organization has since split in two becoming Tall Ships Youth Trust and Sail Training International. Although his time at STA preceded mine at ASTA, I had the great fortune of meeting him on several occasions and he is definitely a “larger than life figure.”
Last year, Jenny and I went to the New Bedford Whaling Museum to see a special screening of Deep Water. While the movie may be “about” Donald Crowhurst, it’s really about Sir Robin Knox Johnston and all his fellow competitors. It’s an incredible story of the stresses and strains of the long distance solo sailor and you’ll come away even more impressed by the remarkable men and women who participate in this sport. (Make sure you also read NY Times – Study of Solo Sailor Stress and How Humans Cope) If you read this blog but have not watched Deep Water yet, get right over to Netflix and order it, you won’t be disappointed.
[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDs67LfPYPU]
YouTube – Deep Water – New Trailer!
Finally, ScuttButt tweeted some good advice for today everyday:
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Filed under: life, sailing, storytelling | Tags: Maurice Sendak, movie trailer, Where the Wild Things Are
Wow! This going to be an exciting adventure! Can’t wait! (Make sure you pop out to watch)
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Filed under: Messing About In Ships, podcast, sailing, social media | Tags: BlueMapia.com, Captain John Konrad, gCaptain.com, maritime, Messing About In Ships, Nick Jaffe, podcast
Download MP3: Messing About In Ships Episode 35 March 19, 2009
(61 minutes)
This week I interview Nick Jaffe (Twitter @bigoceans) about his solo sailing adventures and sponsorship challenge from the social media / online crusing guide BlueMapia. Please register (for free) for BlueMapia and plot a few points of interest on their online cruising guide to help raise some sponsorship for the remainder of Nick’s adventure
Music: So Far Down by David Usher
Subscribe Via iTunes HERE
Shownotes @ Messing About In Ships blog
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Filed under: life, maritime art, maritime heritage, Messing About In Ships, podcast, sailing, tall ships | Tags: Captain Kim Carver, Great Big Sea, Jacktar magazine, maritime heritage, Messing About In Ships, Pirates, podcast, The Dandy Warhols, Vendee Globe, Women of Maritime calendar
(49 minutes)
Download MP3: Messing About In Ships podcast episode 31
Subscribe Via iTunes HERE
Shownotes @ Messing About In Ships blog
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