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Date Posted: 11:04:04 05/11/09 Mon
Author: Ari
Subject: Re: Advice for 17 year old hoping to cross Atlantic
In reply to: Malkolm Boothroyd 's message, "Advice for 17 year old hoping to cross Atlantic" on 15:52:20 05/07/09 Thu

Malkolm,

First, let me say "Hi" as a fellow Canadian, originally from BC, now living in California.

Second, let me commend you on undertaking an adventure of any kind, when so many of your peers and stuck in front of the TV and X-Box. I hate to be the grizzled old 37 year old saying "When I was your age." But... when I was your age, I don't think I could have come up with such an ambitious plan.

Third, I think it depends on your definition of "fossil fuel free" and "deck hand". Of course all the cargo ships these days run on diesel, and have a crew of about 2.5 deck-hands for a 300 foot ship. (And that crew are probably unionized and licensed/certified/insured out the Wazoo and/or Malaysian or Philiphino.) Commcercial deck hand is probably out. So you're probably looking at getting on as crew on a yacht. I think that's your best bet. I've heard people catch rides on boats out of popular East Coast cruising stop offs. Have never done it, so don't know. But maybe out of Florida or Chesapeake Bay or ??? Not sure of best season either.

Forth, that brings us to fossil-fuel. The vast majority of sailors use their engines to maneuver in and out of harbors, and even just if the wind gets light. Will your sense of eco-purity allow you make a mostly-kinda-sorta carbon-neutralish journey? I mean, you could do carbon offsets, but then, why not just get a plane ticket and pay the extra for offsets?

Fifth, in general the whole idea of fast, convenient, globetrotting to attend cool events for work or play is roughly incompatible with a sustainable carbon neutral lifestyle. And I say that as a guy that used to fly about 150,000 miles a year. I believe that in the future, we're once again going to have to get used to world travel and transportation that goes at sailboat or horse speed. Think about driving cross country at about 5 miles an hour, and you get some rough idea of the time required to get anywhere... The fossil-fuel free way to attend an event is to stay home and attend a Web seminar. And even that ain't carbon neutral: Internet servers passed color TVs in energy consumption in the last couple years!

Sixth, I kind of agree with Jay about the stunt versus everyday life thing. But on the other hand at 17 honestly I feel like life is SUPPOSED to be about adventures and crazy stunts that will make great stories one day... I bet from the Yukon, you could take your own small engineless boat down the coast, or find some piece of land to work on. I agree with Jay that in the long run we need more people doing that, and less people making grand gestures.

I don't think there's any easy answers, but I think it's cool that you're thinking about this shit, and it's amazing that you're planning some crazy adventurous voyages as a young man should!

Good luck wherever your travels take you, and you oughta post here if you end up sailing...

- Ari

- Ari

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Replies:

  • Re: Advice for 17 year old hoping to cross Atlantic -- Bellingham Mike (No fossil fuels? Can't be done!), 13:29:48 05/11/09 Mon
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