Chichester's human side

[rbgarr]

http://www.boats.com/boat-content/2010/02/driving-miss-gipsy-moth-iv-2/

Gotta love the built-in tap. :D

[Ian McColgin]

I have loved Chichester's book every time I've read and then reread it. I understand and take in good spirits his various rants about things that did not work as he wanted them to, sounding like an older fellow (which he was) carping about his well loved wife. I loved the taps. I really loved reading between the lines of how he figured out just how far the roll-almost-over went - especially the reeking vitamines. I never thought it dry - just stiff upper lip restrained with that classic understatement that the English reserve for when they are really really boasting.

[JimConlin]

I hope that Gypsy Moth IV is put back at Greenwich. There should be at least one authentic vessel there.

[peter radclyffe]

i still have the letter he sent me, one of my first inspirations for this life of grime

[Chris.]

Have you also read The Lonely Sea and the Sky? It's his autobiography, published in 1964, and covers his early exploits in timber-getting, sheep farming and property development in New Zealand, farming in Australia, flying solo his Gypsy Moth (converted to a seaplane!) around the Pacific and his amazing navigation feats. Covers only up to G-M III and the 1960 trans-Atlantic but is a great read. He had a very, very big life.
And it is also very clear that he was very human - not attempts made to hide foibles and weaknesses. Might be out of print now, but probably in the 2nd hand section of the internet someplace.

[peter radclyffe]

yes as a bookworm, i read it when i was at school

[jonboy]

Reading the book a couple of years ago I was astounded by how bad the boat was straight out of the yard...leaked like a sieve topsides so he had three months of wet bunks, handled appallingly...when she was thrown over off Hobart was nothing secured ? the aforementioned problems with the auto steering and continual problems with the tiller controls..the need to add extra keel....? in a brand new , freshly designed boat from a top yard...
Astonishing.

[sailboy3]

I believe the beer system was actually pressurized.

[Presuming Ed]

And as anyone will now agree, with them both restored and sailing, (see Cutty Sark thread..) Lively Lady is a much better boat than Gipsy Moth IV.

Judging by write ups in CB, neither could be considered great designs.

[RodSBT]

"Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk."

Considering how bad his boat was, this is understandable. :D

[Chris.]

Posted by ACB:
I very distinctly remember my father, who had sailed a good deal in the twenties and thirties on fishing boats and small yachts, following Chichester's adventures and then noticing a newspaper story about some greengrocer whom the British press were constantly holding up to ridicule for presuming to try to copy the great man.

The vicious campaign against Alec Rose is forgotten now but it was very real at the time. He was cruelly made out to be a laughing stock.

Robin Knox-Johnston was not treated any better in the first solo around world race. Suhaili was judged by most as being unsuitable, not a winning chance etc by so many he could not secure any sponsorship, barring (IIRC) a very minor donation from Woolworths an a few dozen cans of beer from one of the English breweries.
The organizers also thought it so unlikely that he would do any good at all they did not supply him with a radio - unlike other higher profile competitors. He later said this was a boon! - hard to accept sailing around the globe for 300+ days (?) without radio contact considering the amount of stuff on board current circumnavigation attempts.
He and Suhaili were probably better prepared and more suitable for the race than any of the others, except Moitessier of course.
So like Alec Rose, he was a low-profile sailor who did not see the need the need for self-promotion.
But recent recognition makes up for all that of course.