RIB International - Atlantic Crossing Article

[Mike B]

What no comments yet ?

[Dirk Diggler]

I doubt if many of the members have managed to get a copy yet!

[Mike B]

May be ?

For the last issue South Wales seemed to be the one of the last areas to get it (excluding IOM).

Won't go into too much detail (don't want to spoilt it) but with my very limited knowledge it appears to be a much more accurate view than the Grylls PR launch.

No mention of AP's trip though I guess the mag must have gone to print.

[MarkWildey]

I think the article posed the questions that have been bounced around here before. It was unfortunate that Eddy, sorry Bear, wasn’t asked them.

That fuel management system they have onboard seems dammed complicated but I guess with that many tanks you need something.

In my view the comment that this boat was the most expensive and also purpose built for the task was a good one given that Alan and previous people were using off the shelf designs.

I would still go if asked though !

Cheers

Mark

[John Kennett]

For those still waiting with bated breath until their copy drops through the letterbox, I'll explain what Mike's referring to.

In the latest RIB International there is an article about the "Trans Atlantic Artic Expedition". Rather than stick to the press release, Hugo Montgomery-Swan muses over the various other trans-Atlantic RIB voyages by Enda O'Coineen, Alan Priddy, Bryan Peterson and "Arek the Pole" and wonders how Bear's crossing will be a first.

He also asks Bear about the reference to the Arctic, when they'll be barely going within 200 miles of the Arctic -- the answer is apparently "the boat will be seen and photographed amongst the ice flows [sic] that drift down from the Arctic into the North Atlantic Ocean"!

In common with everyone else, Hugo then goes on to wish the team the best of luck in what will doubtless be a gruelling voyage.

John

[Mike B]

Thanks John.

A much better synopsis than I could ever do.

[jamest28]

[John Kennett]

?

Is there something you wanted to say?

John

[Richard B]

John, are you trying to stir it now that Mr Fuller has retired to his own play-pen?

(Uh-oh, I think I'm gonna get banned!!)

[Mike Garside]

I was on the verge of cancelling my sub to RIB International but this piece by Hugo was amongst, in my opinion, the best stuff he has written.

It was neither sycophantic nor carping. It challenged the claims made by the Grylls expedition team but did not rubbish their plans. It gave due regard to the others that have paved the way but wished the newcomers well. And the critical eye cast over the RIB was clearly knowledgable.

All in all, the feature was a professional piece of journalism.

Having said that, the mostly critical content about Bear G. on that mountain forum to which JK posted a link and, of course, all the stuff here about the expedition on that other thread, it does seem to me that the PR promotion of this young adventurer has achieved a substantial amount of negative response.

Not surprising - the public invariably sees through hype. And it does appear to me that too much effort has gone into producing in Grylls an instant hero. One that somehow lacks the authenticity of Pete Goss or Ellen Macarthur.

If this expedition results in anything less than success there will be some who say that the lad got his come-uppance. I, for one, will find it hard not to clock into the expedition web site pretty regularly.

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally posted by Richard B
John, are you trying to stir it now that Mr Fuller has retired to his own play-pen?

(Uh-oh, I think I'm gonna get banned!!)

Yeh, ban the bugger, make him spend a few days on the darkside for making such a statement.

Oh, just a quick reminder, you forgot to switch the light off last time you left "the" play-pen!!

[Jelly]

I must aggree with Mike G on this, puts the case quite neutrally ( if thats a word)
Few other articles where also interesting, if this trend continues, who knows might even not need to buy the other boating mags, to get more information.
As a thought reviews of older lower end spec boats, how have the warn, even a parkers guide to S/H boats - now thats going to be interesting, show room, A1, good, tired, sha**ed
Jelly