Congratulations to Ellen for setting a new World Record. This person
bettered the previous record by a margin of about 2%, a true accomplishment
by almost any measure.

To the thinking person, this accomplishment raises several issues. First is
the issue of sportmanship. Athletes are routinely penalized for
unsportmanslike conduct and can suffer lifetime disbarment for other
actions. Take Pete Rose for example, just for betting. Ellen has put herself
and others at risk, potentially violated international law and treaties -
where are the sanctions?

Secondly is the potential issue of fraud. If a woman took first place in
men's weightlifting in the Olympics, or outran the men in the 100 meter dash
you can bet she'd have a cotton swab jammed in her mouth a for chromosome
testing. If Ellen's feat is so grand and so remarkable even for a man, let
alone a woman, any credible sports sanctioning institute would be testing
away.

Thirdly is the regard of sailing as a sport. The heavy reliance on
equipment, sponsorship (she was sailing a billboard if you failed to notice)
and possibly use of stimulants overweighs physical performance. This simply
says sailing is not a true sport. As the good Captain has maintained sailing
for most of you is an escape. Ellens escapade falls into the realm of
entertainment and is a commercial enterprise. Proper sailing is a lifestyle,
not an event. The few here who execute it with any grace are Captain Neal,
Simple Simon and to a lesser degree, Joe.

To prove this to yourselves, beyond a trace of doubt, ask yourself this
question:

"Would the oceans of the world be a better place to sail if it had 1000
Captains Neals on it or 1000 Ellens on it?"

In your heart you know he's right!

Gilligan

"Gilligan" wrote in message

Although I can understand your point of view on this subject... I do have to
take to task a couple of points on an otherwise brilliant post.

Proper sailing is a lifestyle,
not an event.

My sailing lifestyle is often described as "an event".... is it not an
event when the good Captain finally leaves his mooring?

The few here who execute it with any grace are Captain Neal,
Simple Simon and to a lesser degree, Joe.

Fastened to a dock or a mooring and making daysails? I believe Bobsprit
should have been included.

To prove this to yourselves, beyond a trace of doubt, ask yourself this
question:
"Would the oceans of the world be a better place to sail if it had 1000
Captains Neals on it or 1000 Ellens on it?"

That would be like choosing between 1000 Single hand solo racers loaded with
hi-tech electronics and teams to route and provide support as well as liase
with shipping enroute to avoid collision.... or 1000 vessels laid to a
mooroing making one trip per year to a set of islands that consitutes a one
day passage.
Kinda of toss up wouldn't you say?

In your heart you know he's right!

I know he has an opinion..... right or wrong. I think he has done more to
promote Ellen by his position on the topic.... while my position on Ellen's
recent voyage is that I can hardly consider a highly sponsored vessel,
loaded with every imaginable electronic gadget and supported by a team of
people with access to satellites coverage, live photo/video coverage and
global weather patterns updating the vessel every 1/2 hour... as a truly
Solo endeavour.

CM

Gilligan wrote:
Congratulations to Ellen for setting a new World Record. This person
bettered the previous record by a margin of about 2%, a true accomplishment
by almost any measure.

To the thinking person, this accomplishment raises several issues. First is
the issue of sportmanship. Athletes are routinely penalized for
unsportmanslike conduct and can suffer lifetime disbarment for other
actions. Take Pete Rose for example, just for betting. Ellen has put herself
and others at risk, potentially violated international law and treaties -
where are the sanctions?


To some extent, I agree. Imagine a 110' catamaran moving 20 knots
running you down. Even if the skipper is not asleep, or too dazed from
sleep deprivation, it's a difficult craft for one person to maneuver...
impossible for one person to maneuver smartly.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that singlehand racing should be
outlawed, but I think that it needs to be far better hedged. The
liability of singlehand racing event skippers & their sponsors needs to
be spelled out clearly beforehand... maybe they should post a couple
million bond to potentially indemnify their victims.

IMHO doublehand racing is just as big a challenge and far more seamlike.

Secondly is the potential issue of fraud. If a woman took first place in
men's weightlifting in the Olympics, or outran the men in the 100 meter dash
you can bet she'd have a cotton swab jammed in her mouth a for chromosome
testing. If Ellen's feat is so grand and so remarkable even for a man, let
alone a woman, any credible sports sanctioning institute would be testing
away.


You're just saying that because you want to ask her out. Don't be shy now!


Thirdly is the regard of sailing as a sport. The heavy reliance on
equipment, sponsorship (she was sailing a billboard if you failed to notice)
and possibly use of stimulants overweighs physical performance. This simply
says sailing is not a true sport.

Bull****.

If racing cars is a sport, then how can "reliance on equipment" rule out
sailing as a sport?

As for drugs, how many of the Pats & Eagles are on steroids, do you think?

Not even the Olympics follow the Olympic ideal any more.

... As the good Captain has maintained sailing
for most of you is an escape.

That's because he needs an escape more than most.

... Ellens escapade falls into the realm of
entertainment and is a commercial enterprise.

Agreed.

... Proper sailing is a lifestyle

Bull****.

Hanging around on boats, bragging & drinking beer, *can* be a lifestyle
if you're immature enough to admire that. But it's not sailing.


... The few here who execute it with any grace are Captain Neal,
Simple Simon and to a lesser degree, Joe.


heh heh I guess since Joe really does sail, he is less of a "sailor" by
your definition. Glad you left me off that list!

To prove this to yourselves, beyond a trace of doubt, ask yourself this
question:

"Would the oceans of the world be a better place to sail if it had 1000
Captains Neals on it or 1000 Ellens on it?"


Depends on your definition of "better." Less crowded? The Crapton,
definitely, huddling on his mooring.

DSK

Gilly,

I'm afraid I would have to say that the oceans of the world would be a
better place with 1000 Ellens rather than 1000 Neals.

Ellen uses modern, up to date Equip. & Tech. She didn't use
questionable Hong Kong Sails. She had better weather information and
contact with a home base.

Ellen is probably a superior sailor than 90% of us on this group and at
least a equal to the rest

Let's face it Gilly, She has more than proved herself with action rather
than words. Her sex doesn't diminish her achievements. She has earned
her place in sailing history with deeds

Ole Thom

Of course I am correct with respect to Rule 5 and little Ellen
being in violation of it for a period of time exceeding three
months.

That's the core of the issue and anybody, so far, who has
tried to introduce other issues or deny the core issue is
in denial based on personal ignorance or prejudice and
arguing impotently.

It is heartening to see this group has at least one other
subscriber who does not allow his ignorance or prejudice
to interfere with his clear thinking.

I, however, am not as generous as you. I will never
congratulate Ellen on her so-called record. Records
have to be garnered according to the rules. Records,
such as Ellen's, are ill-gotten because they are illegal
by definition as explained in my recent post elsewhere.

There is no other sport or avocation I can think of
where a record is established in blatant violation
of the rules of that sport or avocation.

Ellen has continuously and blatantly violated
Rule 5 of the COLREGS. Her record is invalid because
it was garnered illegally. That the sport of sailboat
racing condones illegal activity and calls it record-
breaking does not bode well for the morals of those
engaged therein.

CN

"Gilligan" wrote in message ink.net...
Congratulations to Ellen for setting a new World Record. This person
bettered the previous record by a margin of about 2%, a true accomplishment
by almost any measure.

To the thinking person, this accomplishment raises several issues. First is
the issue of sportmanship. Athletes are routinely penalized for
unsportmanslike conduct and can suffer lifetime disbarment for other
actions. Take Pete Rose for example, just for betting. Ellen has put herself
and others at risk, potentially violated international law and treaties -
where are the sanctions?

Secondly is the potential issue of fraud. If a woman took first place in
men's weightlifting in the Olympics, or outran the men in the 100 meter dash
you can bet she'd have a cotton swab jammed in her mouth a for chromosome
testing. If Ellen's feat is so grand and so remarkable even for a man, let
alone a woman, any credible sports sanctioning institute would be testing
away.

Thirdly is the regard of sailing as a sport. The heavy reliance on
equipment, sponsorship (she was sailing a billboard if you failed to notice)
and possibly use of stimulants overweighs physical performance. This simply
says sailing is not a true sport. As the good Captain has maintained sailing
for most of you is an escape. Ellens escapade falls into the realm of
entertainment and is a commercial enterprise. Proper sailing is a lifestyle,
not an event. The few here who execute it with any grace are Captain Neal,
Simple Simon and to a lesser degree, Joe.

To prove this to yourselves, beyond a trace of doubt, ask yourself this
question:

"Would the oceans of the world be a better place to sail if it had 1000
Captains Neals on it or 1000 Ellens on it?"

In your heart you know he's right!

Gilligan

"DSK" wrote in message

Hanging around on boats, bragging & drinking beer, *can* be a lifestyle if
you're immature enough to admire that. But it's not sailing.

I believe that should read ... "if you're too old to party & sail anymore so
you had to buy a stinkpot"
Otherwise Doug.... if you're on a sailboat, sailing, bragging and drinking
beer.. you're still sailing and not on a trawler.


CM

Thom Stewart wrote:
Let's face it Gilly, She has more than proved herself with action rather
than words. Her sex doesn't diminish her achievements. She has earned
her place in sailing history with deeds


Now that was well said.

DSK

OK Crappy,

Guess I'll have to ask you for YOUR explanation of proper look-out by
sight and hearing at all times?

Ole Thom

My definition does not matter as the definition of a proper lookout is
defined by Rule 5, itself.

Why can't people understand plain English anymore?

Here's your lesson for today. Study it hard and
please forego the spirits.

Rule 5
Look-out
"Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper
look-out by sight as well as by hearing as well
as by all available means appropriate in the
prevailing circumstances and conditions so
as to make a full appraisal of the situation
and of the risk of collision."

Be so kind as to allow me to re-state it so even
someone who likes pilothouses might understand.

"A proper look-out is defined by every vessel
at all times maintaining a look-out by sight as
well as by hearing as well as by all available
means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances
and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of
the situation and of the risk of collision."

I hope this helps.

CN




"Thom Stewart" wrote in message ...
OK Crappy,

Guess I'll have to ask you for YOUR explanation of proper look-out by
sight and hearing at all times?

Ole Thom

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
"A proper look-out is defined by every vessel
at all times maintaining a look-out by sight as
well as by hearing as well as by all available
means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances
and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of
the situation and of the risk of collision."

So what if you are sailing on a lake and nobody else is on the lake....
would you have to keep a "proper look-out?.... and what would a "proper
look-out" be in those conditions?

CM