Roger Taylor, Ming Ming.

[Mark]

I'm a bit of a fan of Roger Taylor and got his book for Xmas.

Anyway, I was half following his entry in the Jester Challenge to Newport RI. Well, I say "following". He did it the Hasler way - his position wasn't tracked and he was 'missing' 'till he turned up again. I'm pretty sure no EPRIRB either.

Anyway I just checked and sure enough he's back to tell everyone where he was:

http://www.thesimplesailor.com/voyages.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It seems he entered an event with destination of Newport RI with the intention of sailing West of Greenland, and that's what he did.

Slightly eccentric, but you gotta respect it.

[Alcyone]

I love reading about that fella. Seems like a real old fashioned pioneer type. Puts what I get up to into real perspective.

[Old_Glow_In_The_Deep]

A legend in his own lifetime thats for sure.

Tough little boats these Newbridge types.

http://corribee.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think people would be hard pressed to recognise Rogers Ming Ming as a Corribee, as she has to be the most extensively modified one on the planet.

http://www.furledsails.com/article.php3?article=779" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://furledsails.com/article.php3?article=780" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[DaveS]

I agree with others - most impressive.

This bit intrigued me:

We lay to Mingming's series drogue for 12 hours and, after that parted through chafe caused by a silly mistake on my part when setting it, another 5 hours under my home-made B & Q sand-bag sea anchor.

[Silkie]

I presume he's modified one of those bags they use to deliver sand or gravel when you buy it by the tonne.

(I also got the book for Christmas.)

[DaveS]

Yes indeed. What interested me was the comparison with the series drogue. Many have argued the great superiority of the latter compared to a "single point" sea anchor. Here we have a direct comparative trial! It would be interesting to know more...

[Mark]

Yes indeed. What interested me was the comparison with the series drogue. Many have argued the great superiority of the latter compared to a "single point" sea anchor. Here we have a direct comparative trial! It would be interesting to know more...

You might be interested in the first article which gives RT's view:
http://www.thesimplesailor.com/articles.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Silkie]

I'm not going to go all of that in too much detail here. That is for the book.

So we'll need to buy the book to get the full SP.

[DaveS]

Ah, thanks for that, some very interesting stuff.

On the specific drogue comparison point, however, he says:


I also had the opportunity, caused by a silly mistake on my part that lost me the JSD, to compare its performance against that of a large single drogue.

I'm not going to go all of that in too much detail here. That is for the book.


Which is fair enough.

(Edit - apologies for the duplicate post - I'd started to read more of the articles, then the defrosting burgers needed attention... )

[sahona]

I had an American parachute, a gravel bag and a 2metre drogue aboard when we set off for Spain. Never used any, needless to say. I think you need to bore a hole in the gravel bag to make it work properly - and then buttonhole stitch it to stop it shredding...

[Mark]

So we'll need to buy the book to get the full SP.

Sorry DaveS and Silkie - didn't read it properly.

[puddock]

I much prefer him now that he has given up all that rock music nonsense.
Great writing and a very inspirational sailor.