Arctic Challenge 2003

[PeteSmith]

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]

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]

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]

@Andy Gee - Thank you

[Pete7]

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]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by Chris1573

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

It's gonna get interesting...

[PeteSmith]

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]

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!!!!