Tillman the explorer

[Northernguy59]

I have been interested in this mans life and all his adventures for some time. I didnt relize he was a writer and has several adventure travel books to his credit. Has anyone read them? Also I read on a web site that one of our regular formites crewed with him on one of his pilot cutters. Wonder if this man could comment on Tillman? Anyone else know anything else about the man?

Thanks, Dale

[Tristan]

I have been interested in this mans life and all his adventures for some time. I didnt relize he was a writer and has several adventure travel books to his credit. Has anyone read them? Also I read on a web site that one of our regular formites crewed with him on one of his pilot cutters. Wonder if this man could comment on Tillman? Anyone else know anything else about the man?

Thanks, Dale

If you mean "Mostly Mischief," "Ice With Everything," "Mischief among the Penguins," and "In Mischief's Wake," yes, read them, enjoyed them. He struck me as a real "damn the torpedos, full speed ahead," sort of Englishman, ex. India service as I recall, an old Empire man. Crewing for him might have been a terrible experience, as he seemed to expect his crew to enjoy the same masochistic, bucket of sea water over the head each morning (as they approched Iceland or into the Southern Ocean), terrible bitter treks across glaciers, etc. etc. Fun to read though. He, his crew, and his Pilot Cutter went down off Argentina as I recall. Fitting way for the crusty old fellow to go, tough on the crew and ship though.

[Ian McColgin]

I gave (after reading them myself) the one volume compilation of Tillman's books.

Superb!

And I recall that we have a member who crewed for the irracible old cuss. If I remember rightly, no one - or maybe one - crewed for him twice.

I'll get the quote wrong about his ad for crew - the unpaid, uncomfortable small chance of survival ad - so I'll hope another corrospondant has it more at his or her (maybe just his, can't imagine any of our women being aboe to stand this version of mysoginistic muscular Christianity) finger tips.

All superficially harsh remarks aside, I've great admiration for Tillman, both for his Himmalyan exploits before WWII and his sailing-mountaineering in the Mischief's.

[J P]

"No Pay, No Prospects, Not Much Pleasure".

The subtle humor is great. I thoroughly enjoyed his books.

If you haven't already, look here:

http://www.tilman.tv/

(Note spelling "Tilman" - one "L") There are some interesting links from that site and the video trailer is worth a watch. FWIW the book and DVD advertised on that site have been something of a moving target for several years, in my experience. I'm waiting until I hear of someone actually having copy in hand.

[Dave Lesser]

This site also has some interesting information about Tilman, including some spectacular photos:

http://www.comlay.net/tilman/index.html

http://static.flickr.com/47/137662577_46ed7e6e7f.jpg

[Dick Wynne]

Fitting way for the crusty old fellow to go, tough on the crew and ship though.
Indeed. The ship was in fact an old Dutch harbour tug bought by 24 year-old Simon Richardson and converted to sail. Richardson had previously sailed with Tilman who, now pushing 80, had finally given up skippering his own boat and signed on as crew for his protege. The boat departed UK, called at Montevideo en route to the Antarctic, and was never heard from again. The full story, or as much as can be known, can be read in J R L Anderson's Tilman biography High Mountains and Cold Seas, and in a book by Dorothy Richardson, mother of Simon, The Quest of Simon Richardson. I believe at least one former Tilman crew member declined to crew on his expedition due to doubts about the boat's stability as a sailing vessel. Not the only tug-to-sail conversion around though, here is a much larger example: Empire Sandy
(http://www.empiresandy.com/NauticalWebPageFinal/NAESPage1ad.html)

[John Gearing]

I read Tilman's books some years ago and enjoyed them greatly. IIRC one of his chief requirements for crew was the ability to make a plum duff to Tilman's liking! Also, that when he could no longer handle the atltitude of big unclimbed peaks, he decided that it would be interesting to tackle lower peaks that were unclimbed because they were so hard to get to. He used the old pilot schooners he bought to take him to these mountains 'beyond the beyond'. Reminded me a little bit of Tristan Jones and his "World's Vertical Sailing Record" wherein he endeavored to sail the same boat on both the Dead Sea and Lake Titicaca. Similar approach: if you can't compete with the big boys, stake out another way to win and go for it.

Anyone have a plum duff recipe to share??

[Jeremy Burnett]

One of the great Englishmen of the 20th century.Decorated in both World wars,African pioneer,mountaineer,explorer,navigator etc.Outstandingly well read,great writer,entertaining speaker.I never sailed with him so someone else will have to comment on Tilman as Skipper.

[shamus]

That same forumite gets a good review from Tilman, especially in the matter of duffs. For another book with some info on Tilman I recommend Eric Shipton's book "Upon that Mountain". The copy I have was published in 1929, so I don't know if it's readily available, but its a good read. Mountaineering in stout boots and tweeds, more or less.

[Northernguy59]

bump