Around-in-Ten

Yankee Girl

The Around-in-Ten saga may be coming to an end. Steve who owns and runs the web site has announced that most likely he will not continue to sponsor the site through lack of interest. His reasons are very sound. He does not think the expenditure and effort on his part warrants continuing, because of the waning interest and negligible use of forum. It looks as though Steve is determined to close the site, but he would be prepared to pass the whole lot on to a new owner who would be responsible for maintaining and developing what has been started. If there are any takers, I suggest they get in touch with him.


In response to Steve’s recent announcement about the likely closure, I replied to the Around-in-Ten Forum with the following post:

Hi Steve,


We can all sympathise with you wanting to close the Around in Ten web site. The costs are not to be sniffed at, and you did all that hard work to make the site attractive and useful, besides having to maintain and develop it. I certainly appreciate your efforts. You’ve built a resource for those interested in small offshore yachts and you’ve been a fine facilitator. Thank you for giving advance notice that you will be closing the site, because there will be a number of people who may want to copy things to their computers for personal use. I shall be sad to see the site go.


A race such as the Around in Ten is never likely to be sponsored by a newspaper or even a generous philanthropist, for the very reason that it is too risky, because lives may be lost. This would reflect badly on a sponsor. On the other hand, if someone with a viable boat were to throw the gauntlet down for challengers to race around the world in a ten foot boat, there might be a chance it could take off, just as was the case when Blondie Hasler challenged others to race him across the Atlantic. Officialdom will not want to be involved with such a race because of the risks; therefore a prestigious yacht club would not want to be involved with organising it. The burden is heavy for the organisers of the Woodville Challenge Rowing races, but for a round the world race in ten foot sailboats, the burden on the organisers would be greater.


However, I’m convinced that a brave sailor will achieve a global circumnavigation in a ten foot, and his or her name will go down in history.


Bill

http://bills-log.blogspot.com


Note


The above statement is a personal assessment, and it does not take into account the immense effort and expenditure of those who originally intended to participate in the Race. Not one of them was able to make it to the start line, for various valid reasons. I take my hat off to them for trying, while others have benefited from their input.


Links


Around-in-Ten

http://www.aroundinten.com/


Bills-log, Around-in-Ten

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2009/11/around-in-ten.html


Small Boat Circumnavigators

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2009/11/small-boat-circumnavigators.html


Alone against the Atlantic

http://www.marlinbree.com/alone_against_the_atlantic_33621.htm


Alone Against the Atlantic – Book from Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Alone-Against-Atlantic-Marlin-Bree/dp/0898935067


Ten Feet across the Pacific

http://www.sailingbreezes.com/Sailing_Breezes_Current/Articles/Nov05/yankeegirl1.htm


Marlin Bree

http://www.marlinbree.com/broken_seas_38771.htm