Andrew Simpson, GB Olympian, dies as America's Cup boat capsizes

It is a shame the guy drowned but for heaven's sake, they weren't carrying the world's commerce or fighting to keep the nation's sea lanes open, they were playing with a flimsy sailbote in a bay 7 or 8 miles inland from the sea.

Just a shame ......

I have always respected and or had a good laugh at your posts. Your caustic humour is always appreciated and your depth of knowledge is of great value.

This time, Marmot, you are being flippant and just plain wrong.
So this Gold Medallist, a sailor at the peak of his career has little value in comparison to someone who was killed while shipping containers across the oceans.
Quote:

So if he were shipping washing machines it would be more tragic?
In your opinion, because this world champion was “playing around in a flimsy sailboat” it is not worth a mention?

Had to read this a few times to check you were not being sarcastic!
Maybe Andrew Simpson was just enjoying his passion and nothing more, however people like him, the few who are courageous enough to take their abilities and machines to and past their limits are to be respected and admired. Without them, whether on a racetrack, or navigating the unknown seas centuries ago, or those who blast into space, we, the everyday people, would still be dreaming of flying, or travelling faster than a horse or just the basic “stuff” like seat belts, ABS braking systems, winged keels so many other inventions that started their lives on the racetrack, regattas and dreams of the courageous.
May he rest in peace and he deserves more than a few flippant comments from someone held in such respect.

My comment was in response to the non sequitur about the sea being a "cruel mistress."

The unfortunate loss of a sportsman in inland waters has no connection or bearing on the hazards of the sea or the risks to those who sail upon it for their livelihood for military, commercial, or even recreational purposes.

In keeping with my reputation for "caustic" humor ... this nation would quickly become an unpleasant place without merchant mariners delivering container loads of washing machines. The lack of a sailboat race would pass unknown and un-noted by virtually everyone in the hemisphere.

His death is a tragedy for his family and friends and I have no desire to trivialize his loss. But, like those "free climbers" who scale vertical cliffs without benefit of ropes until the nearly inevitable occurs, those who crew the ultra-light, highly stressed and marginally stable vessels that pose as sailboats in this version of the Americas Cup race are in no position to blame a mountain or the sea when competitive drive and cutting edge technology lead to disaster.

Perhaps if those boats were designed to court the "cruel mistress" he would be alive today.

Just putting it in perspective.

Webb Chiles (multiple circumnavigations, including one in a 14-foot open boat), quoted an article in Wired magazine:

His comment was: