Arctic Challenge 2003

PeteSmith · 15 February 2007, 12:18

I know this is a bit behind the times but Im reading Bear Grylls's book "The Frozen Ocean" about the Arnold & Son Trans Atlantic expedition in a RIB.

Not a bad book - although I felt they made some bad judgment calls.

The thing that caught my attention was that they seemed they had lots of problems with water getting into their waterproof clothing. They were wearing Musto drysuits under a load of other Muston clothes / oilskins and they were still getting wet.

They did go through storms however as a diver Ive never had my drysuit leak when on or near the surface (apart from the cuff dump), so are Musto dysuits that bad at their job compared to Diving drysuits?

Mugshot · 15 February 2007, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteSmith

apart from the cuff dump

I expect its really obvious, sorry if it is, but what is a cuff dump?

Andy Gee · 15 February 2007, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mugshot

I expect its really obvious, sorry if it is, but what is a cuff dump?

A Cuff dump is a one way (out) air release valve-to release the air trapped in the suit. Most dry suits are fitted with them.
HTH

Mugshot · 15 February 2007, 12:43

@Andy Gee - Thank you

Pete7 · 15 February 2007, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteSmith

They did go through storms however as a diver Ive never had my drysuit leak when on or near the surface (apart from the cuff dump), so are Musto dysuits that bad at their job compared to Diving drysuits?

Gryllis did come on Ribnet asking for advice, shame he didn't listen. Are the musto suits the breathable drysuit dinghy type yachties wear? Certainly only problems I have had diving with drysuits have been the normal cuff seal problems. So he obviously thoroughly test all the kit before leaving then

John Kennett · 15 February 2007, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteSmith

so are Musto dysuits that bad at their job compared to Diving drysuits?

No, they're excellent and I haven't readf the book, but I would be very surprised if the suits actually leaked. Alan Priddy has used Musto HPX drysuits during his exploits and swears by them.

My guess is that the layers they wore over the drysuits stopped the fabric breathing -- that would get you wet.

John

Chris · 15 February 2007, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteSmith

Not a bad book - although I felt they made some bad judgment calls.

I have just read this book and seeing as they were the first to actually succeed makes we wonder why you think they made bad judgment calls? I guess its easy to comment when sat in the comfort of your arm chair with the benefit of hindsight, I think considering the conditions they were in and the fact they made it in one piece suggests they made the right decisions?

Chris

prairie tuber · 15 February 2007, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1573

... seeing as they were the first to actually succeed...
Chris

It's gonna get interesting...

PeteSmith · 16 February 2007, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1573

I have just read this book and seeing as they were the first to actually succeed makes we wonder why you think they made bad judgment calls? I guess its easy to comment when sat in the comfort of your arm chair with the benefit of hindsight, I think considering the conditions they were in and the fact they made it in one piece suggests they made the right decisions?

Chris

Hats off to them that they did it, its not a journey that I would want to make,
My point is they shouldnt have been out in those conditions to begin with!

Their safety margins seem to tight for my liking.

They left Greenland knowing that their weather window was closing in and that they were definately going to hit the very bad weather at some point on the voyage to Iceland (the other option was to stay in Greenland till better weather appeared - This could have been several weeks and they didnt want to wait that long...) So they went anyway even knowing that they hadnt faired that well in the storms they had already encountered in the Labrador Straight.

OK, they were unlucky and the weather window closed sooner than expected and Bear writes in his book that he was on the phone to the UK base to tell them to inform the Icelandic emergency services that they may be needed.

Luckily they didnt need them, however did Bear stop to think that if they had to send a "Mayday" they would be putting the rescue services at risk in Storm Conditions just because they were desparate to complete the challenge - Remember this journey was about crossing the Atlantic in a RIB NOT about crossing it in the fastest time!

So yes it is easy to judge after the event from the comfort of your armchair, however basic Voyage planning seemed to have been thrown out the window ie Weather, Ability of Crew & Boat etc

Pete
><(((º>

Alan Priddy · 21 February 2007, 18:04

I have done this trip twice. Once in an open 7.4 metre Rib and once in the 10 metre Cabin boat. The first time it was a tough crossing but that was back in 1997 when wet weather gear was really just starting to be developed.
In 2003 when Bear crossed, we left 2 days ahead of him and left weather messages for all his stops. Having been in the same area at the same time and read his book, I cannot help feel that in his view he never let the truth get in the way of a good story!
Not withstanding the differences we had, he is not a bad bloke but I hate to think what would have happened if he had encountered bad weather.
Alan P.

Just catching up with a few things while I take a three week break from sailing around the world again. www.livelylady.net
Oh how I miss the scream of the turbo!!!!

Andre · 21 February 2007, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Priddy

Just catching up with a few things while I take a three week break from sailing around the world again. www.livelylady.net
Oh how I miss the scream of the turbo!!!!

Alan, nice to have you back.

The Jackeens · 21 February 2007, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

Alan, nice to have you back.

Hear hear.

And good luck on the next phase of the trip.

Kathleen & Paul

Bob Brown · 28 May 2012, 05:50

I'm Bob Brown and I am reading Bear's book right now. I know exactly what he went through because in 2009 I made the same trip except about twice as long. I left from Florida and finished in Germany in a 21 foot open fishing boat. I am enjoying his book and think I have a unique view of what his team faced. On our voyage, my brother Ralph and I made it to Greenland on vapors also. Our big engine was burning too much fuel so we drove 180 miles in on a 9.9 hp kicker.

Was there ever a documentary made of Bear's trip?

Alan Priddy · 28 May 2012, 06:49

Bob. Bear purchased my book "Beating the Big One" which was a trip we did in 1997 and copied everything we did. He claimed he was the "First" which clearly he wasnt. we challenged him to a race which he turned down so we left the day before him and put WELCOME signs up every where he went + we put out actual weather reports so he could say that the waves were big when they were not. Thee was a documentry but I dont think it had much of a viewing. Alan P

Bob Brown · 28 May 2012, 16:08

Alan, I did not know that. I am glad to know that you wrote a book, I will be ordering it today if it is on Amazon. I am reading about Bears stay in Iceland right now. In my book, Wounded Hero Voyage I,I think I accurately stated the conditions and kept it as real as I could.

Hysucat · 05 June 2012, 22:32

Apparently rehashing old threads are only allowed if you are selling books or trying to establish if a Bear does indeed (talk)sh*t in the woods.

I will have to go look on Amazon. Do you perhaps have the ISBN numbers handy?

Bob Brown · 06 June 2012, 02:01

Yes, I'm trying to sell books. But had recently found out about Bear's trip and I was looking for his documentary (still haven't found it)

the USBN is 9781463725273

I am currently uploading a better edited version with more pictures and text. It might not be active yet, as it goes inactive while re-reloading.

You can see a lot of my videos from the trip if you go to my web page www.RobertBrownBooks.com and click the link: Wounded Hero Voyage I (just under the 3 book picture heading) and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Hysucat · 06 June 2012, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Brown

Yes, I'm trying to sell books. But had recently found out about Bear's trip and I was looking for his documentary (still haven't found it)

the USBN is 9781463725273

I am currently uploading a better edited version with more pictures and text. It might not be active yet, as it goes inactive while re-reloading.

You can see a lot of my videos from the trip if you go to my web page www.RobertBrownBooks.com and click the link: Wounded Hero Voyage I (just under the 3 book picture heading) and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

That is so unbelievably cool the trip that whole trip. I will most certainly go look for your book and view some of the videos online.

Aries · 06 June 2012, 13:16

That video on the web site from the helicopter is great - love the commentary.