"One of the
reasons I wanted to sail east-to-west around Cape Horn was to take
video shots proving that small vessels can safely weather storms if they are properly
outfitted and properly handled," Larry Pardey stated after his record-breaking
voyage. Lin and Larry completed their against-the-wind rounding of the Great Southern
Capes on board their engineless 29-foot Taleisin earlier this year, weathering
nine days of storm-force winds to reach Puerto Montt in Chile. There they interviewed
several high-latitude voyagers, prepared the narrative, and shot further detailed
footage to complete the Storm Tactics video, a project Larry conceived almost
ten years ago.
"Too many people see their cruising dreams derailed because of their
fear of storms. I wanted to product a program that encouraged people by giving
them a plan of action-one that showed storm sails working and a small boat coming
through some major blows without drama or damage. Even more important, I wanted
to show how the sailor's safety valve--heaving-to-works, and the slick it creates.
It's hard for people to imagine the almost magic effect of a slick as it saps
the power of breaking waves," Larry says. "Now I have video to show
it."
When Lin and Larry began editing the final program in New Zealand, their work
caught the eye of television director and editor Chris Gurr,
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"One
of the reasons I wanted to sail east-to-west around Cape Horn was to take video
shots proving that small vessels can safely weather storms if they are properly
outfitted and properly handled,"
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who added his artistic talent to the project. Working with team New zealand, Grant
Dalton and the late Sir Peter Blake, Chris has created several award-winning sailing
programs that have aired in eleven countries.
Additional footage for this 90-minute program has been provided by Australia's
WinzTV. Their dramatic images include aerial and off-the-boat views of small boats
sailing in 70-know winds (Force 12) in the Bass Straits, north of Tasmania. "It
is important to encourage sailors to take a 'can-do' attitude when they encounter
storm-force winds," says cameraman Peter Harmsen, who was in the helicopter
during the infamous 1998 Sydney-Hobart Race. "These pictures do just that."
Figuring that many sailors will want to carry Storm Tactics on board and view
it on their laptop computers, the Pardeys have produced the program in both VHS
and DVD formats. "This program is designed to illustrate and expand on our
Storm Tactics Handbook," adds Lin. "We tried to add information and
ideas we picked up from the folks we met at the bottom of the world."
Besides actual storm tactics, the program includes information on securing
gear, checking rigging, and gaining confidence before setting sail. The para-anchor
setup is shown
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"This program is designed to illustrate and expand on our
Storm Tactics Handbook. We tried to add information and ideas we picked up from
the folks we met at the bottom of the world."
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in detail for Taleisin as well as for modern boats, such as Beth Leonard and Evans
Starzinger's water-ballasted 47-fotter, Hawk.
Lin and Larry Pardey have now voyaged more than 170,000 miles, including both
east-about and west-about circumnavigations. They have made passages on 20 different
boats, ranging in size from their own 24' 4" and 29' 6" self-built cutters
through modern racing boats to 85-foot classic schooners. As Herb McCormick, editor
of Cruising Word puts it, "The Pardeys have received more awards for their
pursuits than Tom Hanks has for his."
Editor and author Roger Taylor wrote that their Storm Tactics Handbook "could
save lives and dreams." Reviewers are now making similar statements about
the graphic demonstrations of gear, tactics, and advice presented in the Storm
Tactics video.
-See time coded
table of contents
-See
lyrics to featured song "Yacht Club Bar"
The video is available in both NTSC and PAL formats and runs 90 minutes. Previews
available soon, click HERE
to see them. The DVD and the VHS versions contain exactly the same information.
Get free domestic shipping & handling on all orders placed before November
1st, 2002 when you order from Paradise Cay Publications. Storm Tactics will ship
November 15th.
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Available at nautical bookstores and chandleries or online from www.paracay.com,
the DVD and the video contain exactly the same information. In the United Kingdom,
they are available for £19.95 from Kelvin Hughes (www.bookharbour.com),
Reed's Nautical (www.reedsnautical.com), and Biograph Video. The video is available
in both NTSC and PAL formats and runs 90 minutes. Previews are available online.
For more information, contact Matt or Jim Morehouse at Paradise Cay Publications,
1-800-736-4509, or info@paracay.com.
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