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Excellent, but tragic, sailing movie

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/18/2009 : 07:12:26

A couple of months ago people on this forum recommended the documentary "Deep Water" as a DVD to watch. It is the story of Donald Crowhurst and his ill-fated attempt to race single-handed around the globe.

The movie finally made it to the top of our Netflix queue and we watched it a couple of days ago. It is well done and definitely worth watching. Don't expect a movie about sailing technique or dramatic footage of sailing. It is more about the man and his personal dreams and demons.

Nearing the top of the queue now is "Master and Commander" which we have seen before but not in Blu-Ray and a large screen. We're really looking forward to this one!

We cannot direct the winds but we can adjust our sails.

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2009 : 08:32:16

I have been interested in this story for some time now. I have quite a few photographs, some I can't even show as I do not have the rights to them. (The photographer sent me some private collection images for me to work on for a wall picture I wanted.)

The Teignmouth Electron shown at the end of the movie on Caymen Brac, it's final resting place, has gone through a dramatic tragic ending. It seems as if the nearby airport decided to dig a drainage ditch to the sea to prepare for the next hurricane. The backhoe operator either did not know that the boat is still privately owned or he didn't care but he pushed it aside crushing and collapsing it. It is too bad is was never preserved for history.

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brrit
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2009 : 05:45:36

Thanks for sharing the pics Turk. Those are pretty amazing.

The movie really was interesting and pretty depressing. I remember picking up a couple of books about him after watching the movie and just being fascinated by Crowhurst. He had more going on "upstairs" than a lot of other folks though.

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2009 : 06:09:54

You're right. Crowhurst was a "deep" thinker and willing to take risks. Most remember him as the guy that cheated. He placed himself in a no win situation and some say actually did the "noble" thing by taking his life. He was trying to protect his family from his "sin of concealment".

He had the option to call in a mayday, sink the boat and wait for a rescue. That would have covered all his tracks and he would have gone home a hero. He fought with his own character and made the decision to reveal his true route to all and then in his final days, after becoming detached with reality, he calculated a way to free himself from this world and the entire situation.

It is a sad but complex story.

The Vindi globe sailing race around the world was going on as the astronauts were circling the moon. Interesting contrast.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2009 : 07:55:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 It is well done and definitely worth watching. Don't expect a movie about sailing technique or dramatic footage of sailing. It is more about the man and his personal dreams and demons.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The same is pretty much true of the books written about him. The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst, Voyage For Madmen - which talks about all of the competitors, The Longest Race - ditto.

What I found amazing as someone who has a sextant and sorta knows how to use it

, is that he was able to calculate data to validate where he was supposed to be when reporting in. Anyone who knows even basic celestial navigation knows that the math involved is critical and while he was purposefully vague, he was able to be close enough that any errors were dismissed. He kept two identical log books, one that was real and one that wasn't. Outstanding from a navigation point of view. Nowadays, anyone with a laptop could report their position just by dragging a cursor. Of course, modern technology has eliminated even the remote possibility of even attempting this type of scam in say the VOR. Even truckers nowadays have to put aluminum foil over their GPS trackers when they wanna hook up with the girls in truck stops.

The vessel was in bad shape when it left as it was constructed of plywood essentially. That really was the trigger for his mad scheme. He couldn't afford to fail as he was already knee deep or more in financial woes. Sorta like what is happening today! Desperate people do desperate things.

Unfortunately, some who ply the sea are a bit unbalanced. I am not exempt for sure. Those who do it solo for any period of time can be a bit whacked out.... Here's a modern day Crowhurst - http://1000days.net/home/ - seriously out there.

Donna Lange escaped to the sea after killing like eight people in a traffic accident. According to those in the know, she knows nothing about coastal sailing, i.e. anything inshore, standard procedures, navigation rules, etc... But she did round the world on a 28 footer.

Ken Barnes, got divorced and bought a boat with little to no experience. Then tried to solo around the world until the Chilean Navy pulled him off of his dismasted 44 foot ketch with Donna Lange closing in on her 28 footer. Too bad she didn't rescue him. Could have been the ultimate "hook-up" at sea.

Speaking of "hook-ups" at sea. Few people know that Tania Aebi set her 26 footer on a course and actually boarded her "buddy boat" for some AHEM "Quality time"...

Now that's crazy, but understandable.

Thanks for those pics Turk! Pure wildness!

sten

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2009 : 14:47:39

Randy, sounds great but unfortunately my Red Box does not have it yet. Hopefully soon.
Steve A

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