Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Ellen McArthur
Ellen McArthur
First off, allow me to warmly congratulate Ellen on becoming the fastest person to navigate the globe single handed, and at such a young age! One cannot underestimate the enormity of the task she had undertaken, in terms of a sporting challenge this is akin to climbing Everest without any back up team, oxygen, or protective clothing.
She undertook this challenge alone, and endured some of the worst conditions that the earth's climate can provide for over two months; burning her hands, bruising her legs, depriving herself of sleep for countless nights. On at least three occasions she needed to scale the main mast to make running repairs, had a slight collision with an underwater object, and almost collided with a whale, not to mention running the monsterous and mountainous seas in the Southern Ocean.
I cannot and will not underestimate the enormity of this 28 year old's achievement.
However, I need to say that Tony Blair has been conspicuously opportunist by announcing today that she would become a Dame Commander of the British Empire, a piece of calculated news management again!
Today, when she berthed at Falmouth should have been her day, to relax, enjoy the warmth of the welcome, get used to walking on terra firma again, and to reflect on her achievement. There would be enough pressure on her today with the world's press wanting a piece of her. A little dignified delay would have been more appropriate Prime Minister!
Francis Chichester and Robin Knox Johnston waited months for their Knighthoods, our World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore waited years for his, and Geoff Hurst (the only man to ever score a hat trick in the World Cup final) waited decades for his.
I guess, at 28, Dame Ellen McArthur still has plenty time to spoil her reputation, although I doubt she will.
Read her story here
_________________________________________________________________
First off, allow me to warmly congratulate Ellen on becoming the fastest person to navigate the globe single handed, and at such a young age! One cannot underestimate the enormity of the task she had undertaken, in terms of a sporting challenge this is akin to climbing Everest without any back up team, oxygen, or protective clothing.
She undertook this challenge alone, and endured some of the worst conditions that the earth's climate can provide for over two months; burning her hands, bruising her legs, depriving herself of sleep for countless nights. On at least three occasions she needed to scale the main mast to make running repairs, had a slight collision with an underwater object, and almost collided with a whale, not to mention running the monsterous and mountainous seas in the Southern Ocean.
I cannot and will not underestimate the enormity of this 28 year old's achievement.
However, I need to say that Tony Blair has been conspicuously opportunist by announcing today that she would become a Dame Commander of the British Empire, a piece of calculated news management again!
Today, when she berthed at Falmouth should have been her day, to relax, enjoy the warmth of the welcome, get used to walking on terra firma again, and to reflect on her achievement. There would be enough pressure on her today with the world's press wanting a piece of her. A little dignified delay would have been more appropriate Prime Minister!
Francis Chichester and Robin Knox Johnston waited months for their Knighthoods, our World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore waited years for his, and Geoff Hurst (the only man to ever score a hat trick in the World Cup final) waited decades for his.
I guess, at 28, Dame Ellen McArthur still has plenty time to spoil her reputation, although I doubt she will.
Read her story here
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