Duo planning 1,000 days alone at sea

AP via Yahoo ^ | 04/21/07 | VERENA DOBNIK

[RebekahT]

If her parents do disapprove of the relationship, I don’t think the girl is going let the press in on that detail.

[ASOC]

Ah, quintessential Patton! - He is a personal hero of mine! I taught myself to sail a 16 footer I rescued and fixed up.

Sailed right up to Hoover Dam and back out.

Someone later told me that was nutz.... I guess the Lord does protect fools.

Anyway the boat from your story is for sale.

WHEN AND IF is an Alden designed schooner, built by FF Pendleton in Wiscasset, Maine for Colonel and Mrs. George S. Patton. She was launched in 1939 and the Pattons planned to sail her around the world "when and if" Patton returned from the war that he saw looming in Europe.

Patton, by then a General, was killed in a freak accident shortly after the end of the war and WHEN AND IF was sailed by Mrs. Patton for some years. Mrs. Patton gave the schooner to her brother Frederick Ayer, who sailed her along the New England Coast, eventually donating her to the Landmark School for use in their Watermark Program for dyslexic kids - Patton himself was dyslexic.

In 1990 she was wrecked north of Boston. Subsequent owners had her rebuilt by Gannon & Benjamin Boatyard in Vineyard Haven, MA. Recently purchased by a family from New Jersey she has been refitted during the winter of 2005 -2006 and is in immaculate condition.

She is a superbly seaworthy and comfortable vessel with long keel, gaff foresail and Marconi main. Measuring 63' 5" x 47' 3" x 15' 1" x 9', plus bowsprit and boomkin, she displaces 43 tons and carries about 1700 square feet of sail area. WHEN AND IF has wide decks, a large cockpit, high bulwarks, and a doghouse in addition to her commodious accommodations.

WHEN AND IF is Coast Guard licensed and inspected to carry 17 guests and 3 crew on near shore routes during day light hours.

From Time magazine, April 12, 1943 "He had always done things the hard way, and the spectacular. When he was ordered to Hawaii, he bought a 40-foot sailboat, boned up on navigation, and sailed out. He still has a sailboat tied up against future leisure—the When and If, it is called."

The Nation lost a lost when he died.

[Michael.SF.]

Anyway the boat from your story is for sale.

Wow! Thanks. I would love to buy it, WHEN and IF I could afford it!

[Bigg Red]

If her parents do disapprove of the relationship, I don’t think the girl is going let the press in on that detail.

&&
True.

I just wish these young women would start demanding more respect from men instead of just hopping in the sack.

[Bender2]

Re: "One of those previous voyages was a 200-day trip with his wife in 1999. They’re divorced now, but she gave him and Ahmad a life raft for their journey, and planned to be on the dock to wave goodbye Saturday."

Is she for it or a'gin it?

[Reeses]

Here are some photos of WHEN AND IF, now available for charter:

[Overseez]

Here is another picture of the guy, and he looks different from your photos.

I would guess that it's an older picture. I would like to always look like I do in my older pictures.

Unfortunately, we should assume that the photo of the man who is now balding and not as good looking is the more recent photo of the 55 year old. Especially since the man in your photo doesn't look to be over 40.

I would guess that the Captain looks more like my photo than yours, but I could be wrong.

It doesn't matter, he's about to spend 3 years with a nice looking gal and he appears to be a happy fellow.

Whichever picture is accurate, I wish them both smooth sailing.

[ErnBatavia]

I give it 3 months.

Or one missed menstrual cycle - whichever comes first.

[Daffynition]

Acquaintances David and Daniel Hays know of this adventure in a much smaller craft and scale... My Old Man and the Sea.

From what I have read about Stowe/Ahmad, spiritually the couple may have a chance. But I would never, ever attempt a voyage of this magnitude with a greenhorn. In an emergency, any emergency, a new hand is going to be completely worthless. And there will be emergencies.

Sounds like Stowe is having a midlife crisis ... the kind where a guy goes out and buys a Corvette. There aren't very many records to break, so this may be his chance. [/very opinionated opinion]

[ASOC]

See my post 61.

[Daffynition]

Just checking in ... have they returned to port yet?

[Abathar]

Hehehe, nope not yet. The navy buzzed them in a plane and told them to get out of their live fire exercise area though, seemed to explain to them why there wasn't any other ships anywhere near them.

I had to chuckle at that, she has already got sea sick once during a little blow, complaining about the lose stuff bouncing around the cabin. If we start a pool my bet is >180 days tops.

[Daffynition]

LOL ... you think that long? I'll wager you a bottle of dramamine that it will be closer to 30 days.

I've done a fair amount of sailing in my time and there is NO way I would take a new hand. [/ shaking head in disbelief]

[nomorelurker]

selfping for later

[Abathar]

You wanted to know if they quit yet, well seems they went to bed and got woken up rudely when they collided with a freighter in the middle of the Atlantic, so its in to shore for repairs...

[dirtboy]

You wanted to know if they quit yet, well seems they went to bed and got woken up rudely when they collided with a freighter in the middle of the Atlantic, so its in to shore for repairs...

It's kinda hard to hit the sack together and still keep someone on watch. Too damn funny.

[subterfuge]

You can’t see it in that pic, but I’m betting there is a pony tail on the back of the Sailor man’s head.

I’m just sayin’...

[mysterio]

A three year trip?

That is utter insanity. Why would anyone even WANT to do that?

[Abathar]

I always thought that these days they have small radar units that will beep if anything gets too close. I sure as heck wouldn’t want to go to sleep and just let the thing drift around and have to rely on the other guy to miss you.

[dirtboy]

There still ain’t no substitute for a set of eyes.