TinCan Tri

Joyon & IDEC have nothing on this dude's ride:



Hulls & Ama's made out of huge alu I-beam's...while the actual beams are out of tubular trusses.

The young chap expects to finish anyday now and immediately set off on an arond the world solo cruise.

Stay tuned folks, this is sure to entertain <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

His Blog:
TinCan

Entertain? Sounds and looks more like an accident waiting to happen. One would think it prudent to at least give the craft some serious testing first.
10 out of 10 points for doing it.
10 out of 10 points for trying something different.
0 points for not testing his creation (if I got it right).

Just read up on his other Esquire article " I do not have a death wish "

He is finishing work in San Francisco and plans to do some bay sail tests, then transit to Long Beach prior to starting the circumnavigation.

Hulls are filled with foam. 8,000 lbs, $25,000 budget. Build in about 3 months (goal was 2). Deadlines for departing keep slipping. 1st Naval Architect walked away from it when he got the willies about the around the globe attempt.

Check out the boat layout & diagrams...the beams form a "X" at the main hull.





Looks very weak for the racking it will need to take.

All welded alloy...so he's lost the temper strength at the weld areas.

Yikes!

I've always said~don't fear the speed, fear the addiction..
but in this case> FEAR THE BOAT< Good luck crew, wear yer PFD's & take.. cell phone, walkie talkie,& GPS so ya can tell the Coast Guard where to pluck ya outta the water..

You think it will fail before it gets out of cell phone range? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> EPIRB is more like it, and a liferaft or two. BTW: Mast looks like a standard industrial alu extrusion as well?


Seriously, he obviously have got some feedback since he says he dont have a death wish and will do some testing. Hope he tests it hard enough.
Looking at the design, I think living aboard will be a challenge in itself even if it holds together structurally. Flat bottoms, very narrow main hull for use as living quarters, storage etc. A metal boat so it will be very noisy inside.

It looks weak cos it ain't finished, the renderings of the finished boat make the beams look pretty sound to me.
This is the kind of adventure I love, good luck to the guy.

Did you see the Volvo 70 DVDs?, it cant be much worse than carbon. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Everytime they would ease the gennaker sheet from winch the entire boat was like a giant oildrum (not good for light sleepers).

I don't see this thing floating on it's line, it just may be a submersible.
Then there is the issue of twist. One can only hope that when it comes apart no one is harmed in the rescue effort.

I admire the spirit, but really now...come'on. There's not much chance of success on this one. The flat bottom is going to have terrible sea action, the narrow width of that hull has very little room inside, the aluminum is going to be incredibly noisy and COLD, and while I think his truss system on the ama supports seem to be OK, I really question the attachment method to the amas (rather the lack of anything appearing significant).

I like the nice sharp edges on the house/coffin. That'll be great to get slammed into. I hope he got his tetanus shot.

This guy is in San Francisco somewhere. Can someone go over and have a look at it?

Haven't managed to find other info on this one, but is he trying to breake any record ?
It will surely set a new record for ugliness.
I have seen a few years back on Discovery Channel a documentary about a young kid rounding the world in 7,5m boat named Lionheart or something like that. No fancy boat , no fancy equipment, just ....optimism.

I would love to have a neighbour like this tincantri guy. He deserves a lot of apreciation. Pioneers, explorers, inventors have a large dose of insanity and optimism. Insanity overcomes fear, while optimism overcomes the lack of reality sense.

He's a winner no matter what will happen. Eh... I hope he doesn't injure himself too bad, but some scars will represent cool medals.

I'm near San Francisco and going that direction in a week. If somebody tells me where it is I'll go and snap some pictures.

THere is a long thread on Sailing Anarchy on this fiasco...someone there posted they have seen the boat at the SanFran site...and walk by in regularly...maybe you can get in touch with him to figure out exactly where.

That wheel house looks very much like a crypt:



Mike.

Scars are not badges Florian, they are reminders of past miscalculations <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ever try holding on to an aluminum beam or mast when it cold? It just sucks the heat right out of your hands very quickly....big heat sink! I guess you could over come this with enough insulation...but the housing is incredibly small (was it 6x8x4?...stated in the second article I listed). So, once you've got your foodstuffs, minimal gear etc (spare sails??), where will you fit reasonable insulation?

I hope he's though about foot traction...alu when wet is very slippery, even with good boots on.

The second article I posted states he is trying to become the 1st American ever sail solo around starting from the West coast. Apparently only 1 other person has done it, a Canuck.

I'm heading up to the city Thurs. Who knows where it is? Looks like East Bay somewhere from the pix. I don't know a boat yard in SF with that many weeds in the background. Vallejo, Berkeley, Oaktown, Alameda? I'll go check it out if someone let's me know.

Another interesting Trimaran with some new ideas (at the time).
http://www.penduick.com/pages/uk/bateaux_uk/penduick4_uk.htm

Darryn
1782

He's going to die a very lonely death. I'm all for adventure but it doesn't look promising.

Yeah, but from the first post, I thought it sounded like he is just going to "cruise" around the world -- not like he is trying to set a record or anything. I can't imagine "cruising" in that, though. It's going to be pretty hard to pick up women along the way with that coffin cabin. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I saw Pen Duick IV sailing, the morning after she arrived a day ahead of Windward Passage's winning finish in the TransPac- at Diamond Head. We had sailed out from the AlaWai Harbor on a nice 27 ft leaner to the finish line to see WP come in early on a beautiful morning. Then I heard this sizzling noise and just to weather of us was PenDuick IV, looking like a huge grey spider on 3 sticks, screaming past us at way more than twice our speed, both full battened sails sheeted in tight, big jib drawing. Absolutely breath-taking I thought. Incroyable as they say in France! A chill went down my backbone, and I knew right then I would be sailing multihulls forever! Not to make a point of it (HAH!), Taberly sailed about 2 miles to weather, sailed around Windward Passage that was herself under full spinnaker and really hauling the mail. Taberly then put up his chute, passed WP easily, and ran way ahead past the Diamond head buoy. Then he repeated this "in your face" gesture, going back to weather, passing and jibing then popping his chute and zooming ahead WP a second time past the Diamond Head Buoy.
I guess monohull sailors get furious about this kind of showing off. What, was he supposed to go as slow? I thought it was fantastic and thus changed my life. Nobody at the Waikiki Yacht Club liked this boat.
The novice sailor under discussion would have done well to do some engineering research by looking seriously at Taberly's excellent design. It looks awful to me: I was there and have seen the real Elephant.

I think I have a bead on location for you...

Napa CA

It hope he can find only flat sea...I would question the potential for severe torsional stress in an ocean swell. It is my hope that he gets a few engineer's opinions before taking his design into blue water.

An ocean going friend of mine once described blue water as any water that is deeper than your ankles and wider than your bath tub.

I hope this thing breaks up on launch, then maybe he won't drown.

Tabarly, Eric Tabarly. A God in France. He is the one who started the whole thing.

wonder if he knows about this story

or cares

or cares about his wife/life

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/ar...in_page_id=1770

He is an author by trade... http://worldcat.org/oclc/60783049

And pictures from his story... turning this


into this


His website says he has "US Coast Guard 200 Ton Masters license and has sailed forty thousand miles offshore"

He already knows how to get rescued!

Mike Teets, I must admire your observation of "he already knows how to get rescued!" This guy is obviously depending on being rescued from the mess that he is weaving for himself. It is very evident that he knows how to create a spectacle of himself and then get rescued.

Here is a noteworthy thread of discussion that I found to be quite interesting. bulletin board

All of the twisting forces that will be applied to his "ship" could possibly be absorbed by a laced and tied configuration used by our early ancestors. But to hard-weld some aluminum struts together and expect them to endure the weathers of the high seas, without testing or proving, is just a ridiculous undertaking.

I dream and hope for the day that Mr. Vann proves me wrong. But as a catamaran sailing explorer of my own frontier, I have to say that this guy is acting irresponsibly.

It appears to me that I did more testing, on a proven design, to visit a National Park that is within only 20-50 miles of my own country's shores, than did Mr. Vann in his plan to sail around the entire planet.

If this guy ever gets afloat, I am afraid that he will get far too much attention for what he deserves. In my view, he deserves to be condemned for this feat, unless he is asking to be considered, contemplated, confirmed for his ideas and risk taking. If considered, contemplated his plan will certainly be condemned by his peers.

Mr. Vann needs to request peer support, in which case he will certainly be grounded. Without the support of the sailing community, he should feel as though he is undertaking a dangerous risk that will likely result in the unnecessary risk of human life when those who care for his life will have to risk their own lives in trying to rescue him from the watery grave in which he seems determined to plunge himself into.

Note that Mr. Vann has mentioned not one, but two suicides that motivate him to make this endeavor.

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

GARY

for example

I am not a boat designer but I cant help but notice that he used "I" beams and sealed them in to make his amas and hull. He is counting on enough bouyancy from the air space created by boxing that junkyard crap in. For one, I dont think he calculated the weight vs bouyancy. He will have so little stability from those, I think the first time he takes any considerable wind from abeam, he will see what he is in for, if not capsize on the spot. Hopefully he will get this before going under the Golden Gate Bridge (he's in S.F. right?).
Now my professional opinion of the design, manufacturing and material of the boat... He's [email]fu@#&d![/email] I have been a fabricator for 20 years and have EXTENSIVE experience with alluminum. His design consists of trusses. If he gets far enough to take some punishing waves for a long time, it will take it's toll on every weld joint in those trusses. The strength comes from combining all those joints together. When one cracks, another takes the load that it was bearing and not in the way it was intended. Then more will surely follow. I take some pretty stupid risks sometimes but I would't take that thing on a Catalina Island crossing. I hope for his sake, I'm wrong. But if you read the blog about his family suicides, this is just his way of doing it as well and getting alot of bublicity for it. In a nutshell; everyone is supporting his idea of a public suicide. I wont feel sorry for him one bit but I will for his family.

Lee Wicklund/Team Chums

How do we, as a community, get his family to change his mind? Not my problem.



How do we, as a community offer some sympathy to his family?

GARY

Blog has been updated:

TinCan

Expected to do some testing in SanFran bay on Sat., 2/9/08, depart for Southern Cal Sunday 2/10 and stop in San Diego if needed, else continue on for a "lap" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


" I’m willing to pull into a port at any point during the trip if the boat doesn’t seem safe or I just don’t feel confident. Contrary to what some folks on sailing forums seem to think, I’m not insane or reckless"

He's being safe/cautious/careful and will take the time needed to be sure....Ya, right! Like letting his departure windows keep slipping by over 1 month while he hastily cobbles that crypt together. And, it's going be just fine 'cuz he's got buddies that will inform him if he's got bad weather coming, so he can put in and sit it out at the Cape, NZ etc. etc.

Does he realize that things like radios regularly fail in those conditions? Even his breakfast cereal is trying to stop him! Wonder if he's had his appendix out?

Gotta get someone in SanFran to get photos of this thing before it collapses.

If by some miracle he makes it to SD, maybe I'll see him from my Tboat...I'll be at the Midwinters event out of Mission Bay 2/16 & 17.

When you are in the souther ocean you can't just run and hide of a bad weather system. Land is often just to far away and it blows like stink there all the time ! Additionally, running high through the south Atlantic to avoid the roaring 40's and screaming 50's forces you to sail through the St Helena High pressure system (=no wind) of the coast of Africa. You can get becalmed for weeks there. People are known to have gone insane by only a few days of being becalmed.

Therefor I would call such a safety policy a fundamental flaw.

Wouter

I hope he packs some cyanide pills.

Isn't hypothermia fairly quick and painless?

I like the statement that he's taking the time to do a few more"safety improvements" to the craft...putting a couple of stays (he calls them "wires") from the ama bows to the main hull...and he's got all the engineering right because hese stays are angled right to prevent the amas from twisting the beams off.

This is hillbilly at best. Psychotic?

That's only if it makes it to somewhere cold and then break up. I guess S.F. Bay isn't that warm, so maybe the hypothermia thing will pan out for him. I'd still pack something to end it quickly. Unfortunately it probably won't break up getting craned into the water. Aluminum prices are way up. He could recoupe some of his costs scrapping it at least that way.

Me thinks he has a head start in this respect...

Now when the amas break off, if he has just enough chance to tack the boat, it will stay attached long enough to completely destroy the main hull too - great idea.

On my flight to the US last week I watched the movie Deep Water about Donald Crowhurst (excellent btw). Though the circumstances are different, this reminds me a lot of that.

Obviously, this is his wife's fault. All she had to do is insist that she was going with him. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

While there are similarities...Crowhurst had different motivations and pressures. He was in a financial bind with his business (nautical radio direction finding equipement) and basically got deep in hock with his sponsor who would get his business, boat & home if he failed to complete the race. A very ugly situation indeed...not all of which Crowhurst can be blamed for...

This Vann guy is completely self-motivated as far as we can tell. We can only hope that when things get bad, he can make it to safety...there are no huge external pressures for him to continue beyond his limits or the boats.

A few days? When I race cats, *IT'S INSTANTANEOUS*!!!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

How about the part where he doesn't have an engine or ANCHOR(!) because the boat it's "built for the open ocean"
Guess he knows a guy with a tugboat where he's going....

I just finally got around to reading this guys blog. Man is he nucking futs. I always root for the underdog, just as I did for super bowl but I believe this guy is going to die. But just for fun, I will bet he does not have trip ending failure before he reaches Cape Horn buts thats where the boat will come apart and he will probably die.

Boy are you optimistic...I think reality will set in on him long before cape horn and he bails out with a minor failure...something like he forgets a frying pan.

Gosh, if he needs a frying pan, all he will need to do is reach out and grab a piece of aluminum plate as it peels off the various failing structures! Of course, some purists do not like to cook on aluminum, but hey, he'll just have to make a sacrifice or two (before he makes the ultimate one...)!

Can we place bets ?

I think he's going to make it, but with some damage to the boat. I know...I'm a dreamer. I think so is he.

I think the boat will hold together to get him out far enough to be beyond immediate assistance. It will also be a pig to steer (have you seen the pictures?) as there's square bows and keel turns on all 3 hulls. So it will also take severe loads in big seas as those sharp corners resist the wave engergies.

My bet is the aka's (which are welded tubular sections) will fail either at the ama attachment points or the main hull, or they with just buckle at one of the many sectional welds along their lengths.


He's putting all his hope on the foam filled floatation..."unsinkable" ...but very heavy, little to no free board and not preventing structural breakup.


Mike.

I know a guy in Oside, CA that sailed a Cal 20 around the world in the 80's. It had that fake grass carpet glued to the decks and .5" marine ply boards to cover the windows in case of bad weather <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. The boat was still in Del Mar Marina last time I knew. The thing was beat! The Cal 20 was built for a weekend cruise to Catalina Island at best, not an around the world voyage.

Some guys just get lucky.

Read the book "Trekka Around the World". A book about a guy that built a 20 foot boat out of wood and sailed around the world. Keep in mind the boat was designed by a boat designer and the guy was some kind of carpenter so he clearly new what he was doing during the construction. It is not always necessarily the size of craft, as much as it is the design, construction and of course the skipper.

Today's the Day for TinCan Tri...

According to the most recent blog entry, he is to launch that beast sometime today, test it in the bay tomorrow and leave for San Diego Sunday...potentially continuing on for a full lap about the globe.

Anyone in SF area able to get photos/vids for us?

TinCan in Latitude on-line mag:

Latitude Article

So long as people are being honest with their answers, the poll isn't too optimistic. Only 2 out of 29 votes say he's going to even make it.

well he's supposed to be in the water now and moored somewhere for the night in SF bay.....going to be tricky without an anchor but he'll work out something i'm sure

OR he's been delayed again which puts his launch back further and that'll mean riskier weather for a non-stop circum. but actually if it does sail i suspect he'd much rather stop in at every port for publicity/money/rebuild reasons and then it won't matter when he casts off

wonder if he's planning the movie now, could get krakauer? of "outside" fame to ghost write the book and maybe sean penn to for the movie

does he know how that story ended?

Latest on Sailing Anarchy states he has not launched as of today. This came from a phone call someone apparantly made to the boatyard operators.

Another "deadline" slips... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I don't know that I would use words like "deadline" with this topic. It might have other meanings by the time this is all said and done.

this whole thread reminds me of the new H16 sailor that we warned about sailing by his self in the winter, and we all know how that turned out. maybe Tin can will have better luck..

Never heard the story. What happened in his case?

ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

it's in the water and FLOATING

pics at the wooden boat forum, post #97 of this thread

http://www.woodenboatvb.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=73818&page=2

Oh my God! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />


And it keeps on giving:

Oh dear lord....I take it back - that thing won't make it but barely out of the harbor.

Look at the head of the bolt in this picture going through the truss. It's at an angle, and doesn't even look tight!

There seems to be lots of sharp edges and plenty of places to get tangled & hung up on.

You guys are just jealous! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Is it still floating?

http://www.catsailor.com/forums/showflat...=true#Post16948
Sven's religious sailing experiences.

This is a consequence of having more money than knowledge, lots of free time and no common sense. I wonder why he choose this adventure instead of politics, as we usually see.

We can only hope that he is lucky enough to make it. But then, if he survives, he will write a book and go into politics. That is, if the money isn't enough for a TinCan rocket...

After those close-ups, I change my prediction. Before the boat breaks up in bad stuff he will need to be rescued due injuries sustained in the environment of flesh-rippers he has created. One incidental loss of balance and there will be blood...

A post on the woodenboat forum put it this way...there's enough sharp edges on that thing to keep the ship's surgeon busy 'round the clock stitching up the sailor...oh ya, he ain't got a surgeon!

BTW, anyone else find it ironic that the Wooden Boat Forum got the scoop on the launch of an all metal boat?


From the post launch photo, you can see fenders hanging off the amas. Usually the procedure is to remove them from the water as good edicate dictates...but then we realize there are no nets across the beams to the ama's and he has no easy way to get out on an ama. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Them fenders are there for the duration! Perhaps they can be his PFD's in the coming emergencies he'll be having.

Anyone wanna bet that, not unlike Kristopher Harley , that thing is full of tiny leaks? That's a LOT of linear welding to get right without a pin-hole.

have attached that shot of it in the water again and here's a link to willy's detailed pics

http://flickr.com/photos/mmm_beer/tags/tincan/

very impressive amount of work he's done

i hope he has a seatbelt on that chair cause if he gets thrown forward onto the edge of the dog box bad things will happen

Here's a pic of the main "X" beam attachment ot the hull. YIKES!!!

I really hope that thing won't sink, it really should be in a museum after the trip. It's a really unique sculpture.

after seeing the main attachment I find it funny that everybody is talking about the welds failing. This I think is the part that really shows how deluded the poor fellow is. After welding all that tubing and creating that whole big structure and to then trust it with a handful of under-sized and under supported bolts that are going to be worked worked at least a bunch in shear. I can't see that lasting even through a decent chop in the Bay. Ironically, if he had just fashioned a supporting seat on the hull for those beams and used high-tech line for lashings he'd be a bunch better off.

This may be more gruesome than amusing.

pity he couldn't/didn't get sponsorship from alcoa or 1 of the other big alloy producers, and then maybe paint it up in coca-cola colors and work out the carbon offset from using the equivalent of 1billion? coke cans

looks like they have given up for the japanese balloonist who set off from japan a couple of weeks ago for the record attempt of 50?hours to alaska

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7223659.stm

failed to make a scheduled radio call and that was that

Reminds me of the movie Water World...after his boat got blown apart. He should be fined for dumping that much $h!t in the water after he launches it. I'd be willing to bet big $$ he wont make it to Point Conception.

Lee Wicklund/Team Chums

Moments ago, they spotted him from the Exploratorium RoofCam:
RoofCam

Last reported to be stopped...maybe by the Coasties...let's hope!

Well that was fun - watching someone else with control of the camera apparently hunting for him. Is this him?

Yup!

I can't get the pics from this pc...please keep us informed.

Live webcam from Sausailito's got him:

SaulsalitoYC Cam

He's at anchor presumably for the night. Who's getting up at dawn to catch him leaving?

I like the dual purpose emergency hatch...good for letting a fresh breeze in to the cabin as well as a cooling sprinkle of water for when he reaches the doldrums:
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />



also, take a close look at the mast stays on the extreme left...I can't see any split-pins on the turnbuckles...they really don't do too much and can snag lines & tear sails anyway. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

+1 for the Harken winches though.

Looking at that picture and the winch c.q. lines I'm amazed at how low his freeboard is.

I'm fearing a wave swamping his reardeck and water running down the manhole into the hull.

Wouter

Looks like the anti-fouling paint didn't get applied high enough. The hatch obviously is too low also which clearly indicates he had no clue where this thing would sit in the water.

Lee

On top of the fact that the hatch itself is a deck hatch not rated for that kind of use. Underway the constant flow of water along the hull will compromise that seal pretty quickly I imagine.

It then makes you wonder if he spent the proper time with the electrical system to keep the whole thing from disappearing in the salt water.

Tip for the salvage guys - save the deck hardware, take a cutting torch to the rest. In short order we'll have pieces of metal from this thing in our cars we'll be buying...

I find it very suprising that this guy is still attempting this. There must be people close to him, advising him against it. Did he not consult with any experts prior to designing/building his "boat"? I readily admit that I am no expert in marine engineering (in fact, i know nothing), but even I can see that the hatch or that type that goes below the waterline is a serious problem. I am sure that given that GLARING issue, that there are many others just below the surface that are bound to show up once he gets this craft on the open water.

I think you are not realising the full extent of his work of art. The hatch is built that way on purpose, it's like a screensaver or "calming" elevator music, so he can see the dolphins (or sharks) swimming along with him underwater, it's for meditation.

I still (want?) think he's going to make it.

At first I sort of admire these kind of people for proceeding in the face of so many nay-sayers. After that initial flash of thought, I then begin to realize that these people are suffering delusions of grandeur from which they cannot peer around to see reality and are, in some ways, fueled by the nay-saying which drives them further into their tunnel vision.

One one side, it's incredibly entertaining - on the other, it's a human tragedy.

I watch these kinds of projects as often as I find them and it seems that the tunnel vision begins to break down pretty quickly once a few of the major points the nay-sayers were making are realized. In the case of Kristopher Harley, after launching his 8 foot boat he intended to sail around the world, he realizing he had some leaks. He then spent one night in his 8 foot boat on a sandbar 100 yards off the dock he launched at speculatively because he didn't have the money to get back home for the night. That cold hard reality of one of a thousand nights crammed into a 10 foot boat with tiny packets of peanut butter seemed to cause a flood of reality...though he hasn't completely given up we haven't heard much from him yet.

It seems to me that more appropriate name for his tri would be "Tincanic" or "Tintanic".
On the other hand we all know about Thor Heyerdahl who twice crossed Atlantic in the boats made of papyrus reeds. granted those were well prepared and thought expeditions based on historical facts.
Or better yet I read in some sailing magazine about some sailing across the Atlantic in the boat constructed of NYC garbage!
looks like Vann's tri is stronger than NYC garbage <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)
what if despite of all odds he is gonna make it ?
At least he's archived one of his goals - publicity.
maybe this is already more than enough for him ?

Don't underestimate the strength of trash from NYC

He should have built it out of empty beer cans, at least he would have an excuse... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I have no problem with the location of the hatch - in fact I'm happy to see that he has one so located for emergencies, and yes, watching the sea life go by would be great. I question the actual hatch that he used. And it may be a simple case of misjudging the true waterline of the boat, but that should set an alarm or two off as well (increased weight = increased loading, etc.).

I would love to see a simple and unconventional effort prove successful, and I think there may be a thing or two to what he's trying. But after seeing the pic of the join area of the main beams and close ups of some of the construction details, I have very little hope of a good outcome.

Gotta admire that sheer amount of effort that's been put in...to bad he's been working the wrong direction.

He loses my sympathy once he flatly discards any & all advice from more qualified people about problems with the concept. He could regain my support if he was willing to throughly test the thing over the next few months, make the needed improvements, then re-plan progressively longer voyages. One day acrossing SF bay in flat water does not a test plan make. For all we know, he has departed this morning for at least SoCal and perhaps the southern ocean. Yesterday's images could be the last anyone ever sees of the guy.
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Great idea Timbo! But how would a sailor get rid of that much beer? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I agree. I don't see how this thing will possibly hold up. The central connection point for his four main beams (the area with presumably the highest load) appears to be increadibly weak. A thin plate of aluminum (maybe 5/16") connecting the top of all the beams. Of course we can't see what the connections are inside the main hull. But the bolts look like they're on the order of 1/2".

But the fact that the main beams are not solid all the way across the boat (from ama to ama) appears to be the main (and very big) flaw in the design. The beams should be two solid pieces rather than four. And the criss-cross doesn't look like a good design even if it were all welded. One huge point load on the main hull.

Imagine cutting the cross bars on your cat in half, angling them all in toward center, and then splicing them together with some thin sheet metal. The boat would just fold up when it hit a wave (if not before). I suspect that's what will happen to this boat.

sm

Well,
he is still on the hook in the bay. Wonder what he is waiting for?

Undoubtedly for the leaking to stop. If he waits two more days, I predict reality will have set in and we'll see a longterm postponement of the departure due to the unfavorable weather conditions and passing of a Southern Ocean weather window.

I think he's waiting for the king of the crab people to bless his voyage.

Blog Update

Report on Latitude38 from yesterday's in-depth sea trials, complete with new pics:
Latitude38

good pics here, but i think you have to sign up to see them

http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=67506

He was trying to duplicate the Brossard Tri... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Check the port just above the water line.

We've got ecsape hatchs on Afterburner...they are oval cutout in the hull above waterline...but are fiberglass panels secured from the inside with a large stainless dog systems. Those portlight hatches are not to be used below waterline.

when your escape hatch becomes a liability.....

A few guys at SA have called the coasties and looks like the floating swiss army knife will be inspected by Uncle Sam. Interesting twist.

I hate that he's getting such a bashing, but if noone intervenes this will turn out very badly.

Too bad, he has invested a lot of work and money.

Come on, Pete. If he had just followed some kind of simple, proven design like a Wharram, even with all the aluminum, he would stand a hell of a lot better chance. I personally don't think he deserves any pity. And this is coming from a lifelong do-it-yourselfer/hacker...

Right On Dude!

A few more posts like and I'll give you a 5 star rating <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

This is a must read article on SA from a photojournalist at the scene of the launching. She was allowed on board and got some excellent shots. Her impressions as a fellow sailor just send chills down me spine

" 'When are you envisaging putting on the nets?' 'No nets. I don't trust them.' David said as his Filipino mother-in-law shook a bottle of holy water at the inside panels of the outer hulls. 'I've had them fail in the past.'"

SA Article <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

All joking aside...I hope he doesn't poke his bow under the Gate in this. Way lesser weather has killed many sailors and sunk well founded cruising yachts just a few miles from where he's anchored. The Bay and the Patch and Bar are nothing to screw around with. I've seen barreling waves 5 miles out of the gate that you could drive a city bus through. If he leaves in these conditions, my vote is he doesn't make it to mile rocks.

854 PM PST WED FEB 13 2008

.SYNOPSIS FOR THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST AND BAYS INCLUDING
MONTEREY BAY...GULF OF THE FARALLONES...AND CORDELL BANK NATIONAL
MARINE SANCTUARIES...
[color:"red"]
STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS [/color] WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT IN RESPONSE TO A
TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT CREATED BY HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST AND AN INVERTED TROUGH OVER THE CALIFORNIA COAST. WINDS
WILL DECREASE BY MID MORNING ON THURSDAY AS BOTH THE TROUGH AND
SURFACE HIGH WEAKENS.



POINT ARENA TO PIGEON POINT 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
854 PM PST WED FEB 13 2008


[color:"red"]...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM PST THURSDAY...[/color]

.TONIGHT...N WINDS 25 TO 35 KT WITH [color:"red"]GUSTS TO 40 KT...[/color]
DECREASING TO 15 TO 25 KT LATE TONIGHT.

[color:"red"]COMBINED SEAS 13 TO 17 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 15 SECONDS.[/color]
.THU...N WINDS 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT.
W SWELL 10 TO 13 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
.THU NIGHT...N WINDS 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT.
W SWELL 8 TO 10 FT AT 14 SECONDS.

There are not too many factory built 50 foot tri's or cats I would want to take out in that weather! But if this guy thinks he's going to sail his tin can tri in that...well, it will be a short trip! Can the Coast Guard send him a bill for the rescue or will our tax dollars pick up the tab? I wonder what he could get for all that metal if he sold it to a scrap yard and bought a real boat... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

If we all just believe in him... he can do it (just like Tinkerbelle)

good luck to the guy , it aint pretty , it aint clever, but the guy,s living HIS dream, what life is all about, if you're lucky , if he comes a cropper he can only blame himself and thats not soo bad, if he pulls it off its a big reward for him and he can bounce around on his balls like space hoppers for the rest of his life ,

Takes all to make the world go round .

If my belief in his chances were worth a dollar, and he could go around the world on my belief, He won't make it 5 miles out of the bay.
His wife and his mother in law seem to be very supportive, kinda makes me wonder how much his Life Insurance Policy might be worth. Tripping along a little further down that path, kinda makes you wonder what his insurance carrier might think if they knew what he was planning and looked at his equipment.
There is a reason insurance premiums are based on "risk factors" like cholesterol levels and tobacco use.
Anyway, I believe that the Coasties might wanna have him sign a disclaimer allowing them to charge him for any rescue efforts made on his behalf, and make him post a bond to cover those costs before they even let him out of the harbor.
Fiscal realities might prove more discouraging than safety concerns.
But hey, I live in Colorado, what do I know.

Stephen

Hey, I found the dude that I was talking about in earlier posts. Jesse Martin.
He's the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the ball.
He did it in a 34 foot boat (not 7 meters as I recalled).
I watched a documentary on Discovery about his trip years ago. Pretty interesting stuff.


We should let reason aside for the moment, and believe in this guy's dream. Other ppl are OD'ing on drugs, I really hope he makes it. If he does I'm gonna have a tattoo done referring to him and show it on the forum.

http://books.google.com/books?id=P8ZW-se...gGr-kRVk7g#PPP1,M1
http://www.jessemartin.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Martin

Now I'm thinking...which one is more stupid, him or me...

Actually, Hobie and Performance cat are going to be modeling their new line up of F-18's on this tin can cat. The flat bottom is far superior in 'getting on the step'.... more so than any other design thus far. The wave pierce design of the bow is far superior to the N20..... (think Bizmark, crashing thru the North Atlantic)....

He will be taking the lead role in Morelli and Melvin designs.....

the inter20 used to drive me nuts when it slammed over the chop, what will this tri be like on a choppy light wind day?

Not to worry, the hulls slam a lot less when they're full of water.

At least from the pics in the article it appears that he has reinforced the union of the beams at the central mounting point. Not sure if I would trust it still, but it looks like it will take a little more wear and tear now. He'll get a little further offshore before something bad happens...

not with that hatch like that.

I'm not entirely sure the hatch is a no go. Sure it will leak and maybe even rip off...but he might have filled sections of the main hull with his miracle cure...Homedepot triple expanding foam. So, maybe even completely swamped, she'll not go down.

Latest news is he's still at anchor off SYC. Weather is knarly there today...ideal for a quick shake down. We're not sure why he hasn't set off.

yeah, but he'll not still be sailing at that point.

The hatch will be an issue for sure, however - if he gets lucky initially and the hatch is on the windward side for awhile its failure will be delayed. He may not sink initially for a hatch failure, but it would be catastrophic.

Ironically, all the foam that he may be counting on to save his butt may be part of the reason the hatch is under water in the first place. All that stuff has done is add weight to the structure without adding any flotation. If not part of the original design (if there really was one) it could account for it floating lower on it lines.

Perhaps there is a "sub" feature he has not revealed. Go, go gadget submarine!

Holy crap! we have all raced/sailed in heavy air and come back busted up, cut up, broken up, nursing a concussion and many other injuries. Now imagine doing a lap around the southern hemisphere in the roaring 40's at THIS helmstation.

BREAKING NEWS...He's Hoisting sail:

If there is to be a failure, let's hope it is swift. Withstanding any ocean swell for any period of time is the question. Care on a run and broad reach may be required; I suspect the stern may submerge in a following swell of any significant proportion. No nets is a very bad idea. Shake out should be in an ocean swell, which may be a distance off shore. Cuts and bruises to be expected.

Now making for the GATE!!!



That's him at the lower left...^

There is awesome coverage over on SA forum...they've even got a guy out on a chase boat trying to get shots for us.

YeeHa! Pedal to the Metal Baby!

GO 'CAN! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Two sails full and going under the gate...

Anyone have an audio clip of "the Final Countdown"?

I can't watch....

I did - morbid fascination.

What's it rate?

btw. Is it "aluminum" or "aluminium"?

is there some live cam somewhere >?

North Beach. very long distance shot.

http://www.wavewatch.com/Live-Surf-Cams-Region.php?CamID=19&RegionID=4

cool... looks like he is doing well. Can you ask the camera guy to wipe the lense? (kiddin)

If I still lived there I would drive over and do it myself!

current gos from SA's photoboy who is along side in a RIB?
with a camera

the Vann with a plan has been stopped in the "can"

"I sh#t you not. They cant transfer with the 47' so they are waiting for the USCG RIB...

Daves trying to talk his way out of it, but they ordered him to take down sails.."

could this be the end if the tin man?

Is there a fine for littering on the sea?

One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind:

Wow.
The coasties have finished their inspection and allowed him to continue. The saga continues..

"Were leaving together,
But still its farewell
And maybe well come back,
To earth, who can tell?
I guess there is no one to blame
Were leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?

Its the final countdown..."


everyone headbang

It's about 60 NM to Santa Cruz from the Gate. So in about 10 hours from now I'll keep an eye on the harbor mouth to see if he has decided to make a pit stop here. (Surf City is located next to the fuel dock, just inside the harbor entrance.)

At the mile mark it's blowing at least 30 right now and there's a good swell running. If that thing is capable of surfing...it's gonna!!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

I just hope he hits the sea buoy before he makes the left!!!

So if he does pull in here, I might be obliged to give him some sort of gift from the shop for making it down a pretty gnarly stretch of coast in that craft. What should I give him?

an honorable mention in the 2008 Darwin Awards.... winners and runners up are usually given posthumously... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

An oar to the temple for being so f*cking stupid

Wouldn't Bowie's Major Tom be better?

He seems to have a lot of sail up for it blowing so hard.

a beer and some better advice as what to do next...as in...stop before you die.

Im off to SD tomorrow for the midwinters. Maybe I'll see tincan there!
Will try to stay in touch with this iPod touch thingie I'
m typing on right now.
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

So if he does pull in here, I might be obliged to give him some sort of gift from the shop for making it down a pretty gnarly stretch of coast in that craft. What should I give him? [/quote]

PFD?

Has anyone heard from or seen the TinCan since he left? Is he in port now? Did he was up on the Santa Cruz boardwalk yet?

No new news yet. Love this shot from PB over at SA.

Nice shot , assorted colours, it's Tin Can and Baby Tin can

Come on, you got to applaud him for his spirit, his courage, his.....

I certainly wish him well,

It'll be interesting if that 'boat' holds up in a pouinding, relentless sea.

Well, no sign yet. Santa Cruz is behind a point, so it's easy to bypass and head to Monterey. I called my friend at Pillar point and the tin can hasn't pulled in there either.

It's a beautiful sunny day here with a moderate 15 kt wind and a little swell. Perfect day for cruising other than it's cold. If he's still floating, he's probably having a nice sail.

Is it to early to place a bid for Salvage rights?

One thing I have noticed about these types of people... they are too :something: to get hurt. Here is a long-winded story to explain:
I used to live in the keys in the early 90s. I did a lot of scuba diving with one of the local shops. I certified through them and I kind of paid a little too much when I bought all my gear through them. My dive instructor was a little miffed about it so for the rest of the time I lived down there, I got great deals on two-tank dives. The only catch was that if there was someone diving solo, we would have to take them on as partners so they wouldn't dive by themselves. This was a very nice deal since most people are very nice, polite, and generally know what the heck they are doing. However, there were the few that scared me. One in particular... I'll call him Clint since he looked a lot like Clint Eastwood... was to ultimate in stupidity. First thing he did was jumped right off the platform before turning on his air. Somehow he made it back up to the boat with some pretty hard kicking. The look in his eyes was priceless. That should have been the first clue that this was going to be a bad trip. We finally got him squared away, went over our dive plan, and then followed the anchorline down to the bottom. When we got to the bottom he was nowhere to be found. I could see him floating off the back of the boat. As I started to go up to grab him, he finally figured out how the get the air out of his "floaty vest thing" so he could sink. He hit the bottom with a thud in a nice cloud of sand and silt. Thank God for the current. He had a terrible time keeping up to a very leasurely pace, he tried to pet a morray eel (a big green one), and he was an environmental disaster to the reef (dragging through the sand bumping into the coral). We had to swim around the reef to the outside to see all the good stuff. I dont think he paid attention on the way out. After about 40 minutes we all surfaced to get a good bearing to go around the reef back to the boat. My regular partner Dave and I would have contests to see if we could complete the three legs around the reef and get back to the boat without having to surface. We had gotten pretty good at it and today was Dave's turn. While he was taking his headings and distances I was explaining to Clint what we were going to do. All he had to do was follow. He nodded and we began to descend back to the bottom. About halfway down I heard this weird splashing sound. I looked up to see how Clint was doing and was terrified at what I saw. He had his snorkel in his mouth and he was planning on swimming on the surface OVER the reef back to the boat in a direct line. I tried to ascend to catch him before he went over. That day, there was a pretty descent surge and the reef came to within a foot of the surface. I chased and chased and got to withing grabbing distance of his fins but with his kicking I couldn't grab hold. As the bottom got closer and closer to surface I finally gave up and let him swim over. I swam back out to Dave cussing like a sailor. I told Dave that the dive master would get all mad at me because I let this nimrod swim over the reef and cut himself into bitty piece. We continued our dive and Dave's navigation put us right on the boat. When I climbed up the platform the dive master asked how the dive was. I thought he was being funny and started in about how big an idiot Clint was. I asked if he was hurt very bad. The dive master said, "No, he's in there getting a drink." When I walked into the cabin area, Clint was back there combing his hair like Fabio. He didn't have a single scratch on him. I walked over to him to tell him how he was too stupid to get hurt but he could certainly get someone else hurt. All that I had the guts to tell him was he needed to find another group to dive with on the next dive.

Some people are just too ignorant to get hurt. They go through life in bliss. I'm anxious to see how Mr. Vann's expedition turns out. He could be very very lucky and make it all the way around with perfect weather. Maybe the Southern Ocean winter will wait an additional month until he clears that route. We'll see.

I followed this post from the beginning and find it very interesting.

Give this guy a break! At least he dreamt big, realized his dream and had the tenacity to achieve this. Respect this. How many of you have big dreams (I am not talking about the beachcats small thing) but never do anything? You know how they are called: the armchair sailors ...
The CG will rescue him (or not), so what? your taxes at work and a good training for them.

Watch and try to be nice.

So if it breaks up and the guy dies, should we all clap our hands because he lived his dream? I think we all support the "living the dream" part, we are just more concerned about him not losing his life, or giving sailing yet another black eye in public.

I hope things go well, but there is a difference between dreaming and living the dream.

Link from a sailing anarchy thread describing his past two exploits before the tin can.
http://saildivebvi.com/serendipity/archives/2008/02/12.html

Do some research before blindly saying maybe he's OK.
He has had two POS large charter yachts built by using money he scammed out of people, including his family and friends, and they BOTH sank. First was a big steel mono poorly built in Turkey that he wrote his book about. Then a 90 ft. Al. cat and it also went down. Both were built with the intent of living an easy life of rich people chartering his vessels. He is a BS artist and is not just hurting himself. Swann deserves only condemnation and scorn.

You have to be alive to LIVE the dream.

Ncik, Exactly!

"Die'n ain't much of a livin'"

Name this obscure old movie quote, first one who gets it right gets a beer on me! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Clint - Josey Wales - Dyin' ain't much of a livin', boy.
I think that someone said it recently on another forum - heard it somewhere - so I don't qualify - I'll still take the beer when we meet again <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Update from Santa Cruz (from post on SA)

"The Tin Can is tied up at the gas dock in Santa Cruz. Apparently it was towed in this morning by Vessel Assist from 30 miles out (un-confirmed). No one is currently on board but everything looks basically ok."

Was there somebody aboard when it was towed in?

Yep! It's right next to my shop. Full report coming. Snapped many pix. Major cracking where the crossbars attach to main hull. Vessel assist towed him in. He went 150 miles offshore and it started to break up.

Someone was aboard. He's chilling in the harbor.

No big deal.....
A dab of JB Weld..... A little 3M 5200

And he's off......

Where's my Duct Tape! Damit, where did I leave that roll?? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Worked for Apollo 17 Lunar Rover...

haha, there's a soft drink advertising campaign on at the moment along those lines...

"If it can't be fixed with duct-tape, it can't be fixed."

45 mins away i'm leaving in the morning to see this. i must see it with my own eyes.

Well he has beat the odds. Wasnt it expected to sink before getting "out of cel phone range"? He should mark this as a success... and move on.

Well, that didn't take long !

Wouter

Oopsie!



Vann left SC for the bay this morning. Thanks for the backup on SA guys!

Hope he got warranty on that welding job!

What kind of Wallmart Aluminium did he use ?

2 days in Salt water and you can already see the alu components turning grey and pitted.

And he wanted to go around the world on this this ?

Wouter

Jeremy,
Thank You for the coverage here and SA.
One a$$hat out of all those views on SA ain't bad.
Todd

I must have just missed it. I got there about 9:15 am. no tin can. I saw vessel assist coming in. must have been the tow out. Jeremy neat little shop you have. Thanks for the update. I was tring to get the story. light winds today hopfully he makes it back to the bay.

Not very surprising to anyone who has sailed a cat, that the "crossbar" design was just too weak to withstand stress pressure on those welds. Especially in an ocean swell, those points looked to me that they were going to crack rather quickly. I am relieved they failed quickly.
Rex

Wow. They are the viscous sort over on SA. While totally possible that I'm an idiot, they're just harsh.

No doubt Karl! I came running back here looking for my blankie sucking my thumb. That's a good site to be anonymous. I'm more inclined to tell people like that to... Awww, never mind!

One redemption:
I guess because I'm so public, and know quite a few people in the sailing world, I got about 30 emails apologizing for that one bad apple. Good to have friends!

Lead *is* a developmental neurotoxin, of course, and those guys have been sailing monohulls since childhood.

Seriously, I think the SA guys do their 'manly' best to berate people in their forum as sort of a college hazing, one-upmanship thing; it's usually a harmless, though asinine, indulgence.

Only because most of them are college age kids, think they know it all, and the funny part is they think 8 knots is fast!

I love all the smack talk about the Tin Can breaking up and "going to the bottom". I guess it never occured to them that unless all 3 hulls are holed, it will float even if it breaks apart. One of several nice features of multihulls!

It never occured because they sail lead mines, which usually do end up on the bottom, when things get ugly.

Still, I can't believe this Tin Can guy Vann didn't do any homework when it comes to welded pipes vs. wind and waves! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I'm hoping I misunderstood, but is he going BACK OUT? Even if it's just back to the Bay, can't somebody convince this guy it's time to just break out the Sawzall already? It just seems like such a waste of energy and resources, how 'bout welding somebody aluminum survival shelters in Tornado Alley, or a gigantic 18 person pedal powered commuter cars, you know, something that actually has a chance of working...

and he wants to take it down to the southern ocean, did you see the maxi tri groupama just capsized within the relative shelter of the nz coast

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10493157

OK, just got back from SD Midwinters...trying to catch up my this post I started ages ago.

So, What'd I Miss?




OK, I heard he put in to SC with a wee failure on the cross over thingie-ma-jiggy....and that he's headed back to SF....any news since he left SC?

That thing was in no shape to go upwind on the ocean prior to the failure...it's just going to collapse.

and if the groupama breakup dosn't convince vann that the southern ocean is too much for the can maybe this report from the russian trying to set a record for antarctic circumnavigation will

18th Feb 08. 1200 UTC Sat Phone Sched with Fedor
"Here at 52 South it is very harsh conditions with winds 50-55 knots, gusts up to 65 knots, and monstrous seas. Some of the waves are half the height of my 110 ft mast. It is difficult to breath on deck when standing against the wind. The main sail is completely down lashed to the boom. I have 1/3 of the stay-sail set and the boat is going at 10 knots, surfing 15 knots on the waves. It’s very rough but but boat is holding up OK and conditions are gradually weakening. Fedor”.

he's got a cv that vann should respect

http://cruising.sailboatowners.com/forums/CSBB/index.cgi?noframes;read=117829

Don't get to hung up on the SA guys. There's a lot of bluster and they like to break everyone's chops. It is a good way to eliminate the trolls. Everyone else gives what they get.

Nice pics!

I dont think that sailing in the Southern Ocean is a very good idea for this guy. He doest even have lifelines going from hull to hull, and he said that he doesnt trust having a tramp in between either. Im gonna make an early call here and say that he's done for.

From the first time I saw it, I thought it was some kind of scam or joke. I mean, it's just silly. And when I saw how supportive his wife apparently is for this venture, it just reinforced my conviction that it is some kind of a joke. (Unless she is very happy to see him go and die at sea.)

I have been trying to figure out how he has gotten $25,000 worth of publicity out of this, though. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

can you say beneficiary <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Mary,
Isn't it obvious why his wife is so "supportive"? She must have a HUGE insurance policy on him!!

Bob <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Jeremy,

You're published!
http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2008-02-18&dayid=74#Story2

Don't forget us when you make the big time.

That Lattitude 38 lead ariticle makes it sound like the Groupma boys knew the boat was breaking up, you can see how they turned nearly 90 degrees off course to the north, to get out of the wind and waves...

And our boy Vann will be in port until next year, fixing his toy.

I think that would be surprising. I had wondered myself how they ended up up there, but my recollection is that the blog on the Groupama site mentioned earlier that they were heading northeast to position themselves relative to a storm system.

They had to know - if they had to previously fashion a repair to the port structure arm, then it could be derived that they made a poor decision to continue.

He's surfaced:



According to a post on SA, he's apparently being towed outside Vallejo...perhaps heading back to Napa boatyard.


Is this the last we'll see of the Can a float? Will it be a quick weld up repair and back out to sea? Or, is he headed for the scrap yard?

He now probably has his attention diverted to more fesable stuff ...like space travel. Snap a couple of rockets on each hull and it's ready. Might be a good competitor for Branson.

Well, think about guy's~~~~ he's got ''BALLS''. And anyone else who goes around the world~~but they do it with boats that FLOAT & usually make it........ <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

There is a thin line between "brave" and "stupid". <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I'm pretty sure this guy was not "brave"; he was "bold".
Bold is not being afraid and doing something.
Brave is being very afraid and doing it anyway.
Fear is a natural feeling that keeps us alive. When it is missing, you don't stay alive very long.

I heard a cool saying that fits this subject well...

"There are BOLD sailors and there are OLD sailors, but there are very few OLD BOLD sailors."

What was the saying again ?

The difference between brave and stupid is luck ?

Wouter

Jeremy, I cant find where they burned you over there on SA, but in my search I found another good fight between, Ro and Hyde, man its rough over there. Tin Man never had a chance over there, too bad the multihull community didnt embrace him either...but really, how could we?

EEEHH, It wasn't that bad in retrospect. It was just a little hazing. A few posts later I came clean with everyone and told them what was up...and actually got sort of an apology from the offender.
Mid page (login required): http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=67669&st=50

As far as the flow of USEFUL information goes, you can't beat catsailor. And dare I say, even more specific if you're into it, the Hobie forums. Especially since both are so focussed on what we like...cats. The ratio of useful info to BS here is much better than SA.

I've been sailing here on the West Coast for a long time and was a hired gun for a well known racing monohull distributor both in Socal and Norcal. That, coupled with the fact that I'm recognizable and generally have made a jerk out of myself at every yacht club in CA. I think, people tend to remember me. The year I was Santa Clause at the O-side YC comes to mind...That's a story for another time.

On a more serious note...My vision for joining SA is to interject some positive cat info every chance I get. It's like outreach to the yacht clubs. And, I've been PM'd by a bunch of people I haven't talked to in years, so it's been pretty neat.

TinCan
As one of the few people that have been aboard the Tin Can while it was in the water. I can tell you it's a sketchy boat. I couldn't imagine it in a seaway. The decks on the sides of the cabintop were so narrow, I couldn't even get a good footing, no lifelines, sitting in the '****' I was about 2' off the water, and everything was slippery. I'm overall a pretty positive person, but that boat is dangerous!

Meeting Vann was cool though. I don't agree with the people that say he's a scammer or any of that. I think he's one of those eccentric artist-types thats a bit misguided.

Thanks again gree and MB and others that defended my n00b postings. I'm still a giant loser though, [color:"red"](EDIT) [/color] as there is only one person in the world that has seen past my idiosyncrasies and posted as my friend on SA, Karl. Thanks, Man! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

It's all fun and games!

And again!



I've got nothing but hurt inside now <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

No, No, what I meant to say was...

Aaaw Karl, you should just start swearing at me and making fun of my mama!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

As my only friend, and dude that sails in my fleet...Do you need a hug bro? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Yes.....

Just for my own entertainment I posted a new thread on SA. All it had was a link to a youtube video of me sailing the FXone. I can't wait to read the idiotic responses of anti multi crap.

Guess I should not have added your logo when I copied your post over there the first time. Go ahead, blame me. Scapegoat is in my job description.

If I were still in NorCal I would drop by and buy you a bear ( or three...)

No worries man. It's anarchy! Your response to it all was great. I'll probably be paying for advert over there too sometime.

hey jeremy,
surfcity's becoming famous

SA have just cross linked your story on the polystyrene-multi-multi airboat on their front page

http://www.sailinganarchy.com/index_page1.php

Geeeeez! Here we go! More like infamous. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

It's cool they linked it to catsailor instead of their site, because I posted basically the same thing on SA. Just a few more bad words! The CS forum seems slow, hopefully Mary and Rick get a little bump from the link.

You guys need some help overthere ?

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />I know a guy who can argue any point till exhaustion ! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wouter

Where did you post it? Looking for it, I usually love to join in the multi fights. Although the multi bashing seems to have calmed down a bit, I wonder if people got some emails.

It's under "sailing anarchy" called "have at it."

So far only one insult, and a bunch of opinions. You go trolling for insults and get nothing. There is some really quick witted people on there for sure.

awwww thats sweet' (hehe)

Well, they seem to mostly just not like the video!

But, as far as the video goes - how did you get your video to look so clear on YouTube? The things I've tried go from clear to crap when they get posted there.

Quite the thread hijack here...

In respect to sailing message boards, SA is rough around the edges, hard to get along, frat-initiation-style mentality. If you want to join, do yourself a favor and not stand out for the first 100 posts or so. That means don't make your own topics, don't pick e-fights with established and well liked members, and generally just add your two cents to existing threads in intelligible or funny ways. After 100 or so posts, go ahead and be an butt.

However, in relation to OTHER internet forums, SA is full of relative carebears. You can get MUCH worse said about/to you on other boards that are *much* less politically correct.

Like this???

Wouter, what do you mean "TILL exhaustion..."

Mike

grizzly or kodiac?

Arrogant Bastard Ale!

Back to the topic at hand...The Vann has made an update on his blog:

TinCan Blog

He sure loves his masterpiece and will have another go in December after making repairs.

Maybe-

He said he and his wife will have to "consider" whether he will try again.

heh.

Also from his blog
____
February 14, 2008

Test sails went well on Tuesday. The boat sails faster than the wind in light air, much like a Hobie Cat.
______

With the exception of the not so supportive, support structure

That thing will be a submarine in a storm, or winds with large seas. It will go thru most of the waves, with that little bitty freeboard, etc. Sure, it will still float with the foam inside, but it will do it at and under the surface in any serious seas. I hope he has a good snorkel!!

Maybe he should add to the bottom of the hulls. Make them round instead of flat. What the heck, its a contrapulation/fubar anyway. Could get him some more flotation and get his escape hatch above water. Then again it would be just another compartment that would flood anyhow.

Perhaps he could get some parts from Groupama. I hear they have some parts floating around

I'd get a little dismissive and hot if a $500 circa 1970 hobie 16 with some little kids sailed right past my $100K-racing 'Mumm-30-with-a-racing-pedigree' boat. (Also, lead is a neurotoxin).
R

I'll tell ya Saturday AM after the race, Dave. We don't wanna get the whole Sven Schang Poster Boy for not wearing a wetsuit on an inverted H16 story going again. It never ends.
CARY

OK, this guy is completely off his rocker. A Hobie is faster than the wind speed? Which one?

One of my favorite memories of my earlier sailing career was blasting by 12 Meters (with like 12 guys on the rail) in Newport on my $1400 1983 Hobie 16. Those boats are a bit more pricey than $100K.

Mumm 30s are dogs compared to Melges 32s, which are ridiculously fast monoslugs (at least in 18+ knots).

Mike

Here ya go



you can get the Hobie U PDF from

Hobie U

Sam

Ah, the screaming reach. Forgot about that since we never use it when racing... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Mike

Remember the days when there was actually a 'B' mark, is nearly every race? I do ;-)

well, The only race I have been in is against the wind anyway <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Maybe we should all have that as a motto: "Race the wind"? May I borrow it?

Yeah,
Now everyone is too scared to ride the ragged edge. We used to pick off boats on the reach legs in H16 fleet 141- and if they stuffed and you didn't, C Ya! Now that there are spin boats, the light air lake sailing here in the SE would be even more fun w/ reaching legs.

This is going back to the close up shots of the failed welds:

I built our backyard deck and large combo swingset/slide/fort out of treated wood.

However, my joints with screwed together wood would have held up better than those welds.

I mean really, I wouldn't have used welds like that on my childrens swingset/fort, much less a home built boat I planned to circumnavigate on.

Yes, i noticed those "welds" too. Those prove to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that the man has a death wish.
There's got to be a "Darwin award" with his name on it somewhere.

This is morbid, but he has to die first, otherwise he can only get honorable mention (per darwin contest rules).

Darwin Award Rules

Nice LInk, Collin ;-)