Conference unifix::sailing

If anyone has the 'Riddle of the Sands' video, I would KILL to get a look
at it. Or any other reasonable or unreasonable price. Please mail to me
above if you have it, or now a video place in S NH/ E MA that has it...

thanx
Ross Faneuf

    RE: .1  "Riddle of the Sands"
    
    Video Signals on Rte. 111 in Boxborough, Mass. has it.

    There phone number is 263-3047.
    
    I think it's one of the best "sailing" movies ever made.
    
    Does anyone know of a video store that has "Coaster"?
    
    

    I'D LOVE TO ACQUIRE/SHARE SAILING VIDEOS.  PRICE OF $40.- TO $60.-
    EACH IS TO STEEP FOR MY BLOOD !  GREAT IDEA.
    

    
    Coaster is a very insteresting video but it is REALLY interesting
    and informative if you then read the critique in Wooden Boat Magazine
    after Ned Ackerman abandoned the ship. Then top that off with Round
    Cape Horn, video of a massive wooden ship (masts 17 stories high)
    whose skipper was making his 57th passage!
    

    
    
    
    I guess I had to much fun and sun saturday flying for the first time
    in many years a SPINNAKER: 
    
    (a large triangular sail set on a spar that swings out 
    opposite the mainsail)[orig. unknown]. 
    
    Because sunday I stopped into the Newport In Water Power Boat Show.
    At one of the booths I came across a booklet on video's. In the
    book you can either rent or buy any movie or show that was ever made
    that had a patch of water in it. Some titles:
    (over a hundred titles)
    
    COASTER
    TRISTAN JONES
    USING LORAN SERIES "APELCO, SEARANGER, RATHEON RAYNAV, MICROLOGIC"
    COME SAIL WITH US
    LEARN TO SAIL
    HELL AT 40 FATHOMS
    SEAPOWER
    SCUBA WORLD SERIES
    VIRGIN ISLANDS
    CAPTAIN KIDD
    THE CAINE MUTINY
    SOUTH OF PAGO PAGO
    TREASURE ISLAND
    JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS
    POPEYE THE SAILOR
    
    To obtain this catalog call:
    
    Seven Oceans Sailing
    23 Warner Street
    Newport, RI 02840
    
    401-846-0001
    
    Rental $10.00 per tape for seven days
    UPS $3.00 for the first tape, $1.00 for any additional
    Rent 3 tapes you get the 4th one free
    
    Schools or Libraries get 5% discount, 10% on 5 or more.
    Shipping by UPS 
    They accept (MC,VISA, Discover)
    
                   
    richard
    
    

I concur. The portion of Coaster which covers the building is interesting (and
has some nice music). The sailing part is infuriating, as you watch the
avoidable errors in judgment accumulate (the old bit about sailing to a
schedule rather than to adapt to conditions couldn't be better illustrated).
There's some grossly shameless bits in it too. Still, probably worth seeing
once.

Ross Faneuf

    Origin of term spinnaker unknown?  Now really.  Never heard of the
    yacht Sphinx?

RE: .6,

>>>  The sailing part [of COASTER] is infuriating, as you watch the
>>>  avoidable errors in judgment accumulate (the old bit about sailing 
>>>  to a schedule rather than to adapt to conditions couldn't be better
>>>  illustrated). 

One of my Outward Bound comrades was second mate on the that vessel, and 
arrived at our base camp only a few days after being rescued.  He told 
more fascinating stories and insights than I could get into in less than a 
day's time, but overall it was Ned Ackerman's judgment one saw evidenced, 
not that (or the willingness) of the crew.  To a man, all wanted to *work* 
to save the ship, which was whole and unbroken, but Ned insisted no one 
venture on deck to lash down the cargo boom which had come loose and 
threatened to take down the rigging (which over several hours it did.)  
Also, the vent on the donkey engine hydraulic tank was improperly run, 
resulting in hydraulic oil all over the foredeck; Ned decided it was too 
slippery, and forbade the crew forward of the forecastle.

Given this extremely conservative appraoch to seamanship (not to mention
non-traditional), Ned's one lucky stroke may have been in placing his SSB 
distress call as soon as he did.  While he apparently did it on the basis 
of expecting the mast with antenna to fall anytime, in fact the 
transmission was only just heard 400 or more miles away.  

The helicopter ride back was itself a story of risk and danger -- one 
chopper lost all electric power, and was just able to follow the other 
chopper's lights for most of the trip home.  They had no nav equipment 
working at that point.

As we heard the story then, most all the crew felt they could have ridden 
the storm out safely (if uncomfortably) if they could have managed damage 
control quickly as each situation cropped up.  The problems became severe 
when nothing was done early on.

Now, having never seen the WB article, I hope this is consistent with it, 
or at least not in disagreement.  If someone would be willing to send me a 
copy of that article, I'd surely enjoy reading it -- Thanks.

J.

    While we are into Ned Ackerman bashing.....
    
    There was another movie made about the Leavitt, by a woman named Alica
    May (I think thats the correct name) Her movie focused on the men
    building the ship and was funded by some federal grant. She went
    to the owners of the yard for permission to film, and was granted
    it. Ned tired to throw her out of the yard, because he was making
    his own film- Coaster. Some thought he might have been as interested
    in the film profit as the possible profit from cargo carrying.
    
    Anyway, the film was finished, and is excellent. It was shown one
    year at Mystic Seaport Traditional Small Craft weekend, with Alicia
    there to narrate and Ned in the audience. One memorable part of
    the movie has 3 or 4 old shipwrights sitting aroud the stove, answering
    questions. She asks about working on a boat with the owner around.
    The shipwrights refer to 'this owner' with several very indelicate
    words!. I think it started something like 'oh, most owners are Ok,
    but this son of a .....' Ned was very silent.
    
    I also sailed with a fellow who was on board, and confirms all of
    what John notes in the previous response. It was a crime to abandon
    such a ship for so little reason.
    
    ron

    
    I enjoy viewing sailing videos and have seen most of the ones
    applying to cruising and adventure. Here's my two cents on a few.
    
    Coaster: 
    	The beer party and comaraderie segments were too long and 
    	redundant.  Other than that production wise it was OK.
    	It seemed obvious even in the video that it was the captains
    	lack of seamanship that caused the loss. They were lucky.
    
    Irving Johnson: 
        (put out by Mystic Seaport) One of the best produced and 
    	inspiring nautical videos made. Five star.
    
    600 Days to Cocos:
    	Interesting and fun throughout.
    
    Hal Roth's voyage to the horn (forgot the title):
    	Real good video. Looks like his wife does as much or more of 
    	the tough sailing in this trip. The shipwreck and repair part
    	is better to view than do. This vid is better than the one when 
    	they take Whisper to the S. Pacific.
    
    Warbaby series:
    	Too slow. Not enough sailing. Quite dry.
    
    j

    
    I received the video "Knockdown" as a gift and am offering it for
    sale, video trade, exchange, etc.
    
    
    bernie
    
    dtn: 339-5043
    MDCRAB::WARSHAW
    

    Boat US is now offering thier videos for Rent. Cost is $5.00 per week.
    
    I currently have a video on how to really use Loran C to navigate
    (Loran C , A navigators approach). It is about 3 hours long from a
    commerical Captain in Ct. Production is very good, even  if the captain
    is the most boring person I ever had to  listen to.
    
    With the selection of topics they have, this is an excellant method
    for anyone to suppliment their experiences.
    
    john