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Roslin's serious bout with Mal de Mer
Oct 21, 2004 14: 15 EST
When we took Santa Maria for her first big ocean crossing (the Atlantic) none of us (2) had sailed a big sea before. As the night set a big storm whipped the sea and huge, black waves rolled behind our old, battered ship. We became seasick. We couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, the boat made tons of loud, strange noises and we couldn't imagine another minute - much less a month - in this frightening hell. All we wanted was to get off the boat, and out of our misery. Well, that's just about where Roslin is at right now.
Roslin Forrest, 23, attempt to become the youngest woman to sail around the world single handed and non-stop is a bit shaky at this stage. Writes her sponsor:
"Ros has been receiving a severe battering from winds of up to 50 knots as she rides out a three day storm. The boat has stood up well and she has been sailing under a storm staysail. Unfortunately she has been badly affected by seasickness and has been unable to keep down any food for the last three days. As those of you have suffered from this malady know, you just want the world to end; this is not the state that you want to be in to prepare yourself mentally for the rigors of Cape Horn and the Southern Ocean.
This is obviously a matter of concern to all of us in her support team and we have persuaded Ros to head closer inshore in order to keep her options open. We have recommended that she sails towards San Francisco and decides what to do when she is in calmer waters. She has agreed to follow this advice.
We all should remember that Ros is only 23 years old and is attempting something that those of us, much older and more experienced, would shrink from doing.
I know that, if she decides to enter port, she will feel that she has let all you folks down; let us all make it clear to her that she hasn’t. None of us would wish her to be in danger. We would love her to re-group, re-start and fulfill her dream; but the decisions are hers, it’s her life, her dream; we are merely bystanders. Her dream is to sail around the world, the “non-stop”, the “youngest woman” so to do, are all gilding on the lily.
As her sponsors we have always believed that our role was to make her as safe as possible. She was going to attempt the voyage with or without us; our part was to make sure she could afford the right equipment. Her obligation to Scotwork ended the moment she set off from West Vancouver on the 25th of September. We will support and defend her decisions whatever they may be."
John McMillan
Senior Partner
Scotwork
Glasgow, Scotland"
As for us, we were too far out to turn around, but a few days later - the storm passed and our spirits soared. Hang in there, Ros!
Roslin Forrest, 23, is attempting to become the youngest woman to sail around the world single handed and non-stop. From Vancouver she sails south until Chile’s Cape Horn. Heading east in the Southern Ocean all the way to New Zealand’s Southwest Cape then heading north in the Pacific again and home to Vancouver.
She will pass all five capes and pass through all necessary meridians as set out by the World Speed Sailing Record Counsel. Based on a conservative 100nm/day, she estimates a return in less than 10 months from her true departure date of October 9, 2004.
Some records in the realm of round-the-world sailing are; Ellen MacArthur, British, 24yrs 7 months, youngest woman to sail around the world solo, non-stop and unassisted. 3 months to finish. Jesse Martin, Australian, 18 yr., youngest male to sail solo, unassisted, non-stop around the world. Kay Cotte, New Zealand woman, first to sail solo, unassisted, and non-stop. Jon Sanders, Australian, first to ever sail three times around, unassisted, non-stop.
Image of Roslin courtesy of RoslinForrest.com.
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