Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A sailor who holds the record for the fastest single-handed Atlantic crossing by a woman.
On the island
Eight records
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:40With what degree of dread would you face a fairly long isolation on a desert island?
Well, I know loneliness when I know I'm going to see people within a fixed time, which is a very different thing from an indefinite loneliness. So … I think I'd have to keep myself very busy and not think too much. I think the secret is not to think too much, actually.
Presenter asks
2:32You were brought up in Surrey by the River Thames. Is that where you started to sail?
No, in fact it was on the Isle of Wight, where we went every summer for our holidays. I actually started off in a rowing boat, and then … My father took me sailing in a dinghy, and I I hated it to begin with, because … The boat tipped over and spray flew over, and and and really it was rather unpleasant, but by the time I was six I'd forgotten it was unpleasant, and I I began to rather enjoy it.
Presenter asks
3:23What did you do instead [of ballet]?
Well, I went to London University and read economics.
The keepsakes
The book
because I know nothing about physics, but I'd love to know an awful lot about it. So I think that would keep me occupied for about twenty years.
The luxury
Having spent a lot of my life being sprayed with salt water, it would be a fresh water shower.
Presenter asks
Now this was what, four years ago, that you were fed up with market research?
Yes, that's right. I I decided I'd like to go and travel a bit, but … Jet travels never appealed to me very much. You get there too quickly, you don't feel you've got away. So I thought it would be fun to go and sail away with some friends, but one way or another I got challenged into sailing the Atlantic single handed for the first time. It seemed like a good idea when I did it, but in fact I didn't enjoy the trip tremendously because I was a bit frightened.
Presenter asks
13:20You had your self-steering device, but even so, how long could you sleep at a time?
Well, I chose to sleep only one hour at a time, at the very most, because I felt I should look for ships, which are the greatest danger of all.
Presenter asks
19:02You have shown what a resourceful lady you are. No particular problems in looking after yourself on a desert island, I'm sure you could rig up adequate shelter.
When faced with a situation like that, Anybody would do all they could to make themselves busy. And I would certainly be no exception. I think I'd I'd rush around finding wood and trying to make a shelter. And trying to fill my time. It's back to what I was saying, that the best thing is not to think too much.
“I think the secret is not to think too much, actually.”
“I didn't enjoy the trip tremendously because I was a bit frightened.”
“It was just a private adventure.”
“I chose to sleep only one hour at a time, at the very most, because I felt I should look for ships, which are the greatest danger of all.”
“Metal work is not exactly my forte.”
“I didn't ex exactly go out to beat it. I I went out to do what I th thought m I and the boat could do together.”