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Merry Christmas Richard
Sorry about the loss of your friend and fellow adventurer Steve Fosset. Still, he seems to have had a very full life. He and his boats were a big inspiration to me - starting with the tiny proa "Cheers", way back when, and including, most intensely, the 130 ft catamaran "Playstation". To paraphrase "Crocodile Dundee" - "Now, that's a boat!!".
I have believed, for the last 50 years or so, that the "only way to travel" was in a mega multihull and that was confirmed in spades by "Play Station" and other subsequent mega catamarans. Of course, the Polynesians knew that a thousand years ago - but I guess we westerners are slow learners.
Unlike many other fans of these boats, however, my interest has allways lied with more utilitarian uses - rather than setting records and winning races. My beef with most boats, from a utilitarian perspective, is that they are: 1) too small, 2) too slow, 3) too power demanding and 4) too expensive.
No doubt, Playstation and the current crop of luxury mega sailing catamarans do not fit the first 2 categories. They do however fit category 3 - not in terms of mechanical horsepower perhaps but in terms of enormous and costly (in every sense) sail rigs. In regard to category 4, I guess it depends on one's perspective, but from my perspective they are way, way too expensive.
As stated on our web page <Keystone>, our modest goal is to provide boats, at a modest cost, that: "Within reason, enable those aboard to travel where they choose, when they choose - without being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment." No doubt, there are many, who would say, that there are already plenty of such boats around.
We would beg to differ, however, and I am sure there are many family members, friends and acquaintances of such spokespersons who would be quick to join our ranks. There are many persons who have crossed oceans in ridiculously small boats and even more that cruise the oceans of the world on what are considered "sensible size boats".
To claim , however that sailing or motoring to windward, in 25 knots of wind and 8 ft seas, in a 40 ft boat of any description, is a comfortable situation to be in, is the height of absurdity and macho posturing. No land, air, or even space, traveller would dream of labeling such a way of traveling "comfortable".
Which leads in nicely to your current space tourism project. You speak of space as "the last frontier" From our perspective however, until small groups of people can wonder about the liquid 70% of the earth's surface (relatively freely, quickly, comfortably, economically and safely) the seas remain very much a frontier.
This is the frontier on which we are focusing our attentions and which, we hope, will attract
a few frontiersmen who are:
Curious enough to visit our web site.
Persistent enough to read the pertinent information.
Rational enough to understand this information.
Visionary enough to agree with this information.
Bold enough to act on this information.
We said earlier, that we are not really geared towards setting records and winning races. However, it may proof useful (and indeed"utilitarian") to employ our current prototype Grand Illusion in exactly these type of activities - in order to generate interest and capital for the expansion of our project. Naturally, we are well aware that such activities are right down your street.
All the best for the New Year
Magic carpet catamarans
Grand Illusion X.L.
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2009 - Merry Christmas Richard - 2009
Believe it or not, I am still trying - Some of us are just too stupid to know when to quit.
Escape! Runaway! Getaway! - - to a
Faraway Pristine Paradise, where
Light dances with crystal seas - Time flows at a gentle pace -
Space goes on forever and
Grace reaches out to all.
Stretch your horizons!
We can take you there!
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Green eco adventure jobs abroad in a - Caribbean Paradise.
Christmas Card - Richard
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