Spare a thought for those brave sailors of old
I have just finished reading a brilliant book. Entitled A Race Too Far and written by Chris Eakin, it charts the story of the Golden Globe Race of 1968-1969; the first round-the-world single-handed yacht race.
Apart from being a stonking good read, it made me think about how spoilt we are in today's world of instant global communication.
The race was controversial because of the failure of most competitors to finish, and because of the apparent suicide of one entrant.
However, it ultimately led to the founding of the BOC Challenge and Vende Globe round-the-world races, both of which continue to be hugely
successful and popular sporting challenges.
The 68-69 race was won by Britain's Robin Knox-Johnston and the book's launch coincides with the 40th anniversary of his victory. But it is the extraordinary courage, endurance, loneliness, success and failure of all nine original entrants the book details.
One of the many things which struck me is the fact it took place before GPS (Global Repositioning System) technology was available to sailors or naval navigators.
In the Golden Globe Race most of the sailors had radios, apart from eccentric Frenchman Bernard Moitessier who instead decided to use a catapult to fire messages as passing ships!
I sometimes feel we take these amazing advances in technology for granted. How often do you hear people complaining about the lack of mobile phone reception or the fact their internet connection has failed for a few moments?
So next time you send a text message, an email or speak to a relative in America, spare a thought for the intrepid souls who took on the elements in the Golden Globe Race of 1968 without a mouse, modem or router in sight.
Oh, and do read the book. I recommend it absolutely.
Truly inspiring
Talking of brave souls, here's wishing Dr Mary Campbell of Parklands Surgery in Chichester all the best of luck for the London Marathon.
Running to raise awareness and funds for the Myasthenia Gravis Association, a charity which is funding vital research into what is more familiarly known as The Rag Doll Illness, of which her husband is a sufferer.
Juggling her role as a busy GP with training for the marathon, as well as supporting her husband and being a mum to her three children, this smashing lady is an inspiration. Please, if you can, sponsor Mary via www.justgiving.com/marycampbell3
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Weather for Chichester
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
