MarkMT 68 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 https://www.avauntmagazine.com/adventure/sir-robin-knox-johnston Some thoughts that might resonate... Do you feel that the information overload of this era – the daily updates and the live imagery depreciates the power of modern adventure? No! What depreciates the power of modern adventure is the increasing interference by health and safety. It’s totally out of control. Ran [sir Ranulph Fiennes] and I underwent a BBC risk assessment for a programme, and they decided we couldn’t light a Primus stove without being supervised: that Sir Ran and Sir Robin couldn’t be trusted to light a cooker! I mean, how many decades have we been doing this? This is the sort of nonsense that’s interfering with adventure. I’ve just had a load of stuff through from this French race I’m doing in November [The Route du Rhum, a 3,500-mile transatlantic single-handed yacht race that takes places every four years) and they say I’ve got to take seasickness pills. I don’t need bloody seasickness pills! I was out sailing with my grandchildren in the harbour here, they were all in lifejackets and I wasn’t wearing one, and the patrol came up and said, “You should be wearing a lifejacket. It’s the law.” And I said “No it isn’t. The reason I’m not wearing a lifejacket is that if one of them falls in, I want to be able to swim after them. A lifejacket would be a hindrance.” “Well our advice is that you should wear one.” And I said, “So what qualifications have you got?” He said, “I’ve got my Boatman’s Licence.” And I said, “Well I’ve got a class one Masters’ Certificate, and I don’t need advice from a ruddy boatman. So f*ck off.” It was only because he was officious that he upset me. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I salute that man! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin McCready 83 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Feet of Clay 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 And I would also add, that if the dude did not recognise Knox-Johntson, he probably knew very little about Boating. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Toltec 7 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 No bullshit just do the job one of my most admired sailors.A World Of My Own one of the first books I ever read and have read it a few times since then Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,211 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Yep, top man. You have to admire him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ex Babe 5 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Feet of Clay Perhaps Or perhaps someone with a lifetime of practical experience making an informed decision for himself based on the prevailing circumstances not wanting to be told by some muppet to do something 'just because'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 291 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I think he got caught DIC recently Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 291 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 "I was over in Cowes working on the boat one weekend and I remember hearing another reporter saying: “There’s old Robin – thinks he’s going to sail single-handed, nonstop around the world.” I said, “Well I’m going to try.” “It can’t be done and in any case you couldn’t do it,” he said. And I remember thinking, ‘You don’t know me. You’ve no idea of my background.’ I said, “Are you a schoolteacher or something?” “No, why?” “Because you’d be bloody depressing for your students if you were.” “You can’t say that!” he said. “I just f**king did,” I said, and went back to work." Love it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin McCready 83 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Motorbike. I know very well who he is. He's been one of my heroes for a long time and one of the reasons I got into sailing. I think I've read all his books. He's done lots of good for many many people, as Gerry Hughes describes in this great interview. http://www.bslzone.co.uk/watch/close-2-gerry-hughes-part-2/ But all that doesn't mean he can do no wrong. Hero worship is for kids. His drink driving is evil. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/crime/round-the-world-sailor-sir-robin-knox-johnston-banned-for-drink-driving-1-7668367 His safety plan based on the belief that he, without a lifejacket, could swim after someone who fell into the water and rescue them is absurd. Have you seen the tides that rip around those waters? Unfortunately, all humans are flawed. To pretend otherwise is silly. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Against the law - yes but evil, Kevin - really? It wasn't that long ago that those levels were legal - was his driving evil then? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin McCready 83 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Scottie, If he'd killed a loved one of yours ...? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,566 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Thread drift alert - why isn't the drink drive limit zero??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin McCready 83 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Scottie. LOL. Manage your own emotions, like a big boy. You're all grown up now I presume? This one is for you. https://kmccready.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/dog-controls-angry-human/ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 no anger here dude! Just wondered why you think its evil. By your same arguement, speeding, red light running, failing to correctly indicate when entering or exiting a roundabout would be evil as someone doing any of those things could kill a loved one of mine. In fact driving a car generally could kill someone unfortunately. Like your discussion on dog vs human - or is it human vs dog! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 shouldn't confuse legality with morality prostitution is legal... and many moral things illegal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin McCready 83 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Ok. Fair enough. I was using the word evil to convey my strong reaction to drink drivers. I actually don't believe in evil despite the utility of the word. https://kmccready.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/evil/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin McCready 83 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 BTW Scottie. Conflating drink driving with failing to use a blinker etc is a bit silly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 indeed - unless of course someone gets killed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tuffyluffy 76 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Thread drift alert - why isn't the drink drive limit zero??? So you can have a pint and drive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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