Friday, July 08, 2005
Have A Wetass (Shark-Frenzy-Free) Weekend...
"Hi, Honey. I'll be home soon, right after I take a quick dip..."
IDEC Is In Pieces...
Don't think they are going to be putting this one back together again. Story (in French) here. Link to full set of pics here. Sad, very sad...
(Photos: Vincent Mouchel)
(Photos: Vincent Mouchel)
High Times On Parlier's Hydroplaneur...
You'll almost certainly never get a ride on it (particularly since it was last seen upside down). But TWC will throw you a bone and at least give you a shot at seeing what it's like to be onboard a radical cat. Click here to launch yourself across the waves...
"Hey, who's that weird guy with the mini-cam...?"
"Hey, who's that weird guy with the mini-cam...?"
Department Of Useless Information...
Ever wonder where the ten best hotel swimming pools in the world are? Well, someone named Gary Warner had the miserable newspaper assignment of working up a list. Here's his take on a pool in Bali:
In the quiet hills far from the tourist routes sits one of the heartbreakingly lovely Amanresorts of Asia. The luxuriously cool and shady cottages are hard to leave. But I loved spending a couple of hours lolling in and around the hotel's infinity pool, the tag put on pools that use a flat rim with a gutter just below to create the illusion that the water simply floats off into space.
The far wall dropped into a ravine with a green forest canopy sitting above some of Bali's iconic terraced rice fields. Palms swayed in the warm, humid breeze and a small river rushed down the hill toward the sea. I folded my arms over the edge and watched as a Balinese woman with a large kayak balanced perfectly on her head walked by. A remarkable travel moment experienced without even getting out of the pool.
Gary, stop! You're killing us...
Budapest Bathing: "Hmm, there's supposed to be a cappucino bar around here somewhere..."
(Photo: CHAS METIVIER / KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS)
In the quiet hills far from the tourist routes sits one of the heartbreakingly lovely Amanresorts of Asia. The luxuriously cool and shady cottages are hard to leave. But I loved spending a couple of hours lolling in and around the hotel's infinity pool, the tag put on pools that use a flat rim with a gutter just below to create the illusion that the water simply floats off into space.
The far wall dropped into a ravine with a green forest canopy sitting above some of Bali's iconic terraced rice fields. Palms swayed in the warm, humid breeze and a small river rushed down the hill toward the sea. I folded my arms over the edge and watched as a Balinese woman with a large kayak balanced perfectly on her head walked by. A remarkable travel moment experienced without even getting out of the pool.
Gary, stop! You're killing us...
Budapest Bathing: "Hmm, there's supposed to be a cappucino bar around here somewhere..."
(Photo: CHAS METIVIER / KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS)
Thursday, July 07, 2005
The Wetass Life 1: Climbing Into Obscurity...
Every once in a while you come across a pure, unadulterated example of the Wetass Spirit. And climbers Chris Thomas and Will Mayo have it in spades. The big mountains are so done, and so crowded. So Thomas and Mayo headed for Mount Huntington in Alaska and climbed a piddly little 10,700 foot subpeak on its southwestern face. No Death Zone, no sponsors, no media hoohaa. But they did the single thing that is most important: they tested themselves, they put their lives on the line. To make the climb, according to Climbing magazine, they "followed a hazardous rocky gully to a full-pitch ice traverse and then a beautiful ice gully to the top. They reversed the line in descent and returned to basecamp after a 23-hour roundtrip." The danger of rockfall was with them the entire way, and they could simply have disappeared on a no-name face. When they got back to their camp, they toted up the risks and weighed them against the relative unimportance of the summit they had bagged. And--displaying a second key ingredient of the Wetass Spirit, which is humor--decided not to call their little hill "Mount Mayo" or "Thomas' Tower." Instead they settled upon a more inspired, more revealing label: "Idiot Peak"...
"Dude, only an idiot would risk his life for this mole hill. Luckily for you, I'm feeling pretty stupid..."
(Photo: Will Mayo)
"Dude, only an idiot would risk his life for this mole hill. Luckily for you, I'm feeling pretty stupid..."
(Photo: Will Mayo)
The Wetass Life 2: Ben Moon...
Being a sport and adventure photographer has to be one of life's sweetest deals. At least that's the way it seems when you browse through a portfolio from a guy like Ben Moon. Moon does it all: surfing, climbing, travel, the outdoors. And it's all very, very mesmerizing...
Joyon Finally Makes A Mistake (A Big One)...
After setting the solo transatlantic record yesterday, Francis Joyon turned IDEC toward France and went below for a little nap. Exhausted as only a solo record-breaking sailor can be, he, umm, overslept and woke up only when his 90-foot tri ground ashore on the rocks of the Brittany coast. Joyon was rescued, but IDEC is believed to be a total wreck, losing her mast and slowly disintegrating into pieces. The Daily Sail (subscription only, but well worth the price) has a full report. Here's just a bit of it:
This disaster may have been averted had Joyon taken crew on board at the Lizard to help him deliver the boat back to the Lizard, but as one close friend commented: "Of course he is used to doing things by himself. He prepared the boat by himself, he painted the boat by himself, he went to New York by himself, he took the boat to the start line by himself - that is the way he is." However this in no way questions Joyon's seamanship - there was nothing remarkable about Joyon delivering his boat up and down this coast, something he had done on many previous occasions. Only this time he was exceedingly tired as he negotiated a treacherous part of the Breton coast.
Fortunately Joyon is safe and unhurt, but this is a terrible end for a boat that by rights should have been put into a museum for the incredible achievements she had made during her lifetime. 19 years old the IDEC trimaran must have one of the highest mileages of any race boat and was rapidly reaching the end of her life.
It's a sad end to a great boat, though there wasn't much left for Joyon to do with IDEC in the record-breaking game. Hope the thing was insured. It would be nice to see Joyon appear down the road with a newer, modern design...
[Update--Joyon on the tragedy: "After crossing the finish off The Lizard, I headed for the "Four Channel" (editor’s note – near Ushant off Western Brittany), then went through the Raz de Sein during the evening… As I had planned to reach La Trinité during the morning, I decided to slow the boat down a bit, by reducing the canvas, and with the wind aft, I was on a bearing well off Penmarc’h Point– about 30° to the right. As I hadn’t managed to get any sleep for a long time, when I did fall asleep, it was very deep… I was using the autopilot, and I think it must have taken her off course, as happened once or twice during the record – but I wasn’t going fast enough this time to be warned of the change. I suddenly woke up, when I heard a huge crash, when the boat came down in the breakers between a 6 metre high rock to my left and another one to my right. I was stuck there in the middle. I had managed to go aground on the most vicious rocks you can find off Penmarc’h Point. I think it must have been around one in the morning, and I immediately radioed a Mayday, as I thought I was on some rocks a little further out to sea. I didn’t think for one moment that the boat had turned in towards the coast. In the pitch black conditions, I gave my position and the coastguards service in Corsen told me that the rescue service was on their way, and that the boat could be reached on foot! They helped me ashore in amongst the rocks… I didn’t know what was going on for an hour or so, and I let them take care of me, which isn’t at all like me. As the rescue team saw I was in shock, and not very coherent, they suggested I go to hospital– I was examined for three hours in Pont L’Abbé. My brother came to see me at four in the morning, and we went back to the boat to try to get her off with the help of the sea rescue service: a diver from the rescue team went into the water, I got on deck to help him moor up the trimaran, but just at that moment, she swung around and in just a few moments, the breakers smashed her up and her mast came down… In spite of the extraordinary bravery and the determination of the sea rescue team, as we speak, all that remains of her is a few tiny pieces. It’s incredible that in such a short space of time, a boat can be smashed up like that.»
«Those six days at sea on board IDEC were a sheer joy, and when you find this sort of success with a boat, you get attached to her. I’m almost ready to believe that those little bits of fibre have some sort of spirit. I really believe the boat worked harder than I did in getting these two records. I was beginning to think about other challenges. I was determined to sail 600,000 miles alone with her! (…) But in the end, at sea, you are the only one in charge and you have to accept your mistakes, just as you accept the laurels of victory at other moments."]
IDEC As She Should Be Remembered...
This disaster may have been averted had Joyon taken crew on board at the Lizard to help him deliver the boat back to the Lizard, but as one close friend commented: "Of course he is used to doing things by himself. He prepared the boat by himself, he painted the boat by himself, he went to New York by himself, he took the boat to the start line by himself - that is the way he is." However this in no way questions Joyon's seamanship - there was nothing remarkable about Joyon delivering his boat up and down this coast, something he had done on many previous occasions. Only this time he was exceedingly tired as he negotiated a treacherous part of the Breton coast.
Fortunately Joyon is safe and unhurt, but this is a terrible end for a boat that by rights should have been put into a museum for the incredible achievements she had made during her lifetime. 19 years old the IDEC trimaran must have one of the highest mileages of any race boat and was rapidly reaching the end of her life.
It's a sad end to a great boat, though there wasn't much left for Joyon to do with IDEC in the record-breaking game. Hope the thing was insured. It would be nice to see Joyon appear down the road with a newer, modern design...
[Update--Joyon on the tragedy: "After crossing the finish off The Lizard, I headed for the "Four Channel" (editor’s note – near Ushant off Western Brittany), then went through the Raz de Sein during the evening… As I had planned to reach La Trinité during the morning, I decided to slow the boat down a bit, by reducing the canvas, and with the wind aft, I was on a bearing well off Penmarc’h Point– about 30° to the right. As I hadn’t managed to get any sleep for a long time, when I did fall asleep, it was very deep… I was using the autopilot, and I think it must have taken her off course, as happened once or twice during the record – but I wasn’t going fast enough this time to be warned of the change. I suddenly woke up, when I heard a huge crash, when the boat came down in the breakers between a 6 metre high rock to my left and another one to my right. I was stuck there in the middle. I had managed to go aground on the most vicious rocks you can find off Penmarc’h Point. I think it must have been around one in the morning, and I immediately radioed a Mayday, as I thought I was on some rocks a little further out to sea. I didn’t think for one moment that the boat had turned in towards the coast. In the pitch black conditions, I gave my position and the coastguards service in Corsen told me that the rescue service was on their way, and that the boat could be reached on foot! They helped me ashore in amongst the rocks… I didn’t know what was going on for an hour or so, and I let them take care of me, which isn’t at all like me. As the rescue team saw I was in shock, and not very coherent, they suggested I go to hospital– I was examined for three hours in Pont L’Abbé. My brother came to see me at four in the morning, and we went back to the boat to try to get her off with the help of the sea rescue service: a diver from the rescue team went into the water, I got on deck to help him moor up the trimaran, but just at that moment, she swung around and in just a few moments, the breakers smashed her up and her mast came down… In spite of the extraordinary bravery and the determination of the sea rescue team, as we speak, all that remains of her is a few tiny pieces. It’s incredible that in such a short space of time, a boat can be smashed up like that.»
«Those six days at sea on board IDEC were a sheer joy, and when you find this sort of success with a boat, you get attached to her. I’m almost ready to believe that those little bits of fibre have some sort of spirit. I really believe the boat worked harder than I did in getting these two records. I was beginning to think about other challenges. I was determined to sail 600,000 miles alone with her! (…) But in the end, at sea, you are the only one in charge and you have to accept your mistakes, just as you accept the laurels of victory at other moments."]
IDEC As She Should Be Remembered...
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Emission-Free Waterskiing...
It's quiet. It's enviro-friendly. It's probably just a little slow. But it's not a bad way to go waterskiing. Click here to watch...
"I wonder what other crazy stunts we can pull off on this cat..."
"I wonder what other crazy stunts we can pull off on this cat..."
Jump For Joyon...
Because he's King Of The Atlantic, just hours ago passing The Lizard to set a solo crossing record of 6 days, 4 hours, and 1 minute. Joyon crushed, and I mean crushed, Laurent Bourgnon's 11-year old record by 22 hours and 33 minutes, averaging 19.75 knots for the crossing. Read all about it here. Joyon is an incredible, indomitable sailor, and this was an incredible voyage, in which he nailed two of the biggest three solo records (the 24-hour record, and the west/east transatlantic record). It's particularly sweet that he did, because it looks as if Thomas Coville is about to take possession of his east/west transatlantic record (he's more than 400 miles ahead of Joyon's pace, with just 808 miles to go to the finish in San Salvador). So what now for Joyon? I guess he sits back and waits to see how Ellen, and possible Coville, do when they go after his new record later this year. His new mark will be very hard to beat. But that's what everyone said before Ellen took the solo round-the-world record from him...
"Alors! Now what...?"
"Alors! Now what...?"
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Tour The Tour...
The Tour De France is one of those sporting spectacles that transcends a given sporting discipline. It's got drama, suspense, heartbreak, elation and, always, exhaustion. Even if you are not a cycling fan, it will suck you in. And you can't do any better than Outside Online's dramatic, in-depth, coverage. You've got an interview with Lance (if you need to ask who that is, you really need to get out more), a daily blog from Lance's coach, Chris Carmichael, and plenty of other good analysis. And don't miss the inside account of last year's race by superb writer Daniel Coyle, excerpted from his new book Lance Armstrong's War: One Man's Battle Against Fate, Fame, Love, Death, Scandal, and a Few Other Rivals on the Road to the Tour de France. Here's Coyle tapping it out:
The Dead Elvis Grin refers to Armstrong's facial expression when he's pushed to the edge, on the verge of cracking, that tactically useful moment poker players call the tell. Armstrong's tell began with the American changing positions on his bike—standing, sitting, standing again, rooting around for more power. Then he leaned forward on the handlebars, throwing his body weight into the pedals. His face went red, then ashen. The furrows in his forehead deepened, his eyes fixed, and his upper lip slowly rose over his front teeth, unveiling the signature half snarl, half smile.
Armstrong says this will be his last Tour. But if he wins, how can he resist coming back for another? I don't think he will. But that's a question for later. First, there's a couple thousand miles of road to contest...
"I may look dead, but Ullrich is embalmed..."
The Dead Elvis Grin refers to Armstrong's facial expression when he's pushed to the edge, on the verge of cracking, that tactically useful moment poker players call the tell. Armstrong's tell began with the American changing positions on his bike—standing, sitting, standing again, rooting around for more power. Then he leaned forward on the handlebars, throwing his body weight into the pedals. His face went red, then ashen. The furrows in his forehead deepened, his eyes fixed, and his upper lip slowly rose over his front teeth, unveiling the signature half snarl, half smile.
Armstrong says this will be his last Tour. But if he wins, how can he resist coming back for another? I don't think he will. But that's a question for later. First, there's a couple thousand miles of road to contest...
"I may look dead, but Ullrich is embalmed..."
Freakin' Francis Joyon....
This guy is just relentless. Just a couple of days into his solo west-east transatlantic attempt he put the hammer down and knocked off the solo 24-hour record, sailing 543 miles at an average speed of 22.62 knots. That beats Laurent Bourgnon's 11-year old record, and puts Joyon 240 miles ahead of Bourgnon's transatlantic pace. Typically, Joyon wasn't even aware that he was on a record pace. He was just sailing hard, doing his thing. Now he's 240 miles ahead of Bourgnon's transatlantic pace with just 539 miles to go. (Follow along here). In other words, he's going to nail this crossing record unless his mast falls down or a float breaks off. Watching closely is Joyon's friendly nemesis, Ellen MacArthur. She plans to take a crack at this record in September. Will she steal another one from M. Joyon...
"Hmmm. If Ellen is following in September maybe I should drop a few mines over the side..."
"Hmmm. If Ellen is following in September maybe I should drop a few mines over the side..."
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