NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Varuna -- Abandoned due to Loss of Power
From: Pete Solon Palmer
Date: 2017 Sep 9, 18:10 -0400
From: Pete Solon Palmer
Date: 2017 Sep 9, 18:10 -0400
<< I find it hard to believe that she suddenly abandoned her boat solely due to a fear of entering port without electronics. >>
I don't think she ever did that. I met Tania and we discussed electronics. It all started out on a dark stormy night when 2 single handers were beating to windward to make landfall at Cairns Australia. Neither boat was aware of the other because the visibility was only a few feet in the thick rain squall, and neither had any electronics. Both boats anchored in the Cairns river, then when the sun came up, there was 2 little boats anchored there. One boat was Tania on the Varuna, and the other was me on the Pelican, and that is how I met Tania.
While discussing electronics, she mentioned that one of her sponsors gave her a hand held VHF, but she threw it away because it would not hold a charge. I asked her to remind me not to give her any expensive gifts. Later I met her again in Cook Town, and then a few times up the barrier reef with Oliver. The last time I saw her was on Thursday Island. I got there before Tania and Oliver, so the customs agent asked me if she still had her cat. I assured him that she did. I will never forget the image of Her, Oliver, and I pulling up anchor and setting off together. Just 3 single handers in 3 boats heading off into the wild blue.
-----Original Message-----
From: Noell Wilson <NoReply_Wilson@fer3.com>
To: globenav <globenav@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Sep 9, 2017 2:40 pm
Subject: [NavList] Re: Varuna -- Abandoned due to Loss of Power
I don't think she ever did that. I met Tania and we discussed electronics. It all started out on a dark stormy night when 2 single handers were beating to windward to make landfall at Cairns Australia. Neither boat was aware of the other because the visibility was only a few feet in the thick rain squall, and neither had any electronics. Both boats anchored in the Cairns river, then when the sun came up, there was 2 little boats anchored there. One boat was Tania on the Varuna, and the other was me on the Pelican, and that is how I met Tania.
While discussing electronics, she mentioned that one of her sponsors gave her a hand held VHF, but she threw it away because it would not hold a charge. I asked her to remind me not to give her any expensive gifts. Later I met her again in Cook Town, and then a few times up the barrier reef with Oliver. The last time I saw her was on Thursday Island. I got there before Tania and Oliver, so the customs agent asked me if she still had her cat. I assured him that she did. I will never forget the image of Her, Oliver, and I pulling up anchor and setting off together. Just 3 single handers in 3 boats heading off into the wild blue.
Regards,
Pete
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: Noell Wilson <NoReply_Wilson@fer3.com>
To: globenav <globenav@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Sep 9, 2017 2:40 pm
Subject: [NavList] Re: Varuna -- Abandoned due to Loss of Power
I looked her up:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tania_Aebi
http://taniaaebi.com
and there must be more to this than meets the eye.
She may have lacked experience in 1985 at age 18 but she has been sailing off and on ever since.
Also, in 1985, she started her circumnavigation with a sextant and an RDF.
I find it hard to believe that she suddenly abandoned her boat solely due to a fear of entering port without electronics.
Regards, Noell