3 Interesting Videos For You

The following videos I stumbled across by following a reference to the sailing ship Vega and the humanitarian with the ships volunteer crew does each year. You might want to check them out and follow them on Facebook. I'll post a bit more about them from their Facebook page after introducing the videos.

The first video is of a rope-walk (where they make rope). As fancy synthetics like dyneema and/or spectra are replacing wire, sailboats are once again reminded how much line goes into making sails go. I thought it was an interesting little video.

The next two show how chain (as in anchor chain) is made. The first the hand made way, the second the modern way. Again, enjoy.

The Hand Made Way:

The Machine Made Way:

About Vega:
The following is from their website (www.sailvega.com - fb: www.facebook.com/Historic-Vessel-Vega-125068434229063/). It sounds like they are doing some really great wok.

Every year the 120 years old Norwegian build historic vessel VEGA and her volunteer crew sail about 7,000 miles to collect and deliver between 15 and 20 tons of donated tools, educational and medical supplies. Those supplies are loaded on board in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore then delivered to East Timor and remote islands in Eastern Indonesia. Those supplies help support local level community development, health, and educational services. Supplies are also collected in Australia by VEGA supporters and shipped to Dili on board the yachts in the yearly Darwin to Dili Regatta.
We also provide advanced training for traditional midwives and teaching aids for rural teachers. Every year a fully qualified Indonesian doctor travels with us providing medical services on the remote islands and holding workshops or training seminars for traditional midwives.

Blessed be, 

Joel 

Frank Dye and Bill Brockbank's 1964 Summer Cruise

I suppose it was the "dinghy" and "capsize" in Roger Barnes' video titles that triggered YouTube to recommend the following video (movie really) from Frank Dye. The movie recounts the epic voyage of Bill Brockbank and Frank Dye from northern Scotland to Norway via the Faroes in Frank's Wander, a Wayfarer 16 foot dinghy. I believe that Frank Dye wrote a book about this voyage. And this Wanderer, (the Dyes have owned several of the same name) is now in the British Maritime Museum.  I've written about Frank Dye and his voyaging before. This movie definitely gives a different perspective on what happened to Roger Barnes, while bringing to light how much worse it could have been.
Enjoy this piece of small boat sailing history.
Blessed be,
Joel

Learning From Our Experiences

It has been said that adults learn from their experiences. But I remember a continuing education instructor correcting this as follows: Adults learn from reflecting upon their mistakes.

Last week's "presentation" by Ira Glass related to this. We only become better by doing, and then reflecting (admitting, dare I add?) upon how we've done.

Personally, I've been thankful to learn from reflecting upon my own mistakes as well as listening/reading others reflect on their own. I do think there is something about a healthy community that let's us do this - to share in this way.

So it is with gratitude that I share the following videos from Roger Barnes. He has sailed extensively in his own boat. But it finally happened, he capsized while making a passage at sea. He and Avel Dro are fine. The first video below is a reflection from, I believe, the next morning.

Did you notice what he said regarding acceptance of help? Once you've accepted help (which maybe the most prudent action/choice) you've given up some decision masking ability.

This second video was taken a week or so later, once he was back home. He continues to reflect and learn from his experience.

I found both of these videos great examples of learning and reflecting.

At the same time, I can continue to sense his excitement to keep exploring by am open boat cruiser (or a sail-and-oar boat).

Enjoy and blessed be,
Joel