Well the past two months have been very interesting. Lots of debates on Boatdesign.net and all I can say is thank goodness that thousands of people all over the world are supporting and following this project. The irony is that the critics have very little positive to add, and this has given me more confidence that we are on the right track. When a critic cant fault the design – other than saying that the boat is ugly and small, you have done me a huge favour, because it means that the design is both functional and inherently safe. My team and I simply did not spend hundreds of hours designing a TEN to be pretty. The TEN is designed and built as a Ten Foot Micro Yacht, that is the challenge, and that is the purpose of this boat. The TEN is meant to be safe. Function above form, functionality as the keyword.
What we can debate until the cows come home, is whether the captain of this vessel will be able to withstand the rigours of the Southern Ocean. That I cant answer, time will tell. The boat is safe and capable, the human inside is just that – human. My team and I are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of this sailor on this perilous journey, which we believe could be done in under eight months. We have got much younger and fitter sailors than myself willing to do this trip, but I am first in line and I will most definitely be doing all the testing myself. I do have the health and mental stability to go into cold isolation for 8 months, facing the onslaught of the Southern Ocean, but only time will tell if my body at 62 years old, can still take a hammering. Living inside a tiny boat is like getting a hiding every day of your life, its just not easy. The Southern Ocean between the Roaring Forties and Filthy Fifties is a very cold, overcast wet place. Why do we climb the mountain – because it’s there, that’s why. If you ask the question why, you wont understand the answer.
The build is progressing nicely, even with the distractions of the December festivities and the launch date is still April next year. The plan is to do the first “float” at the Vaaldam and then have a fully functional boat in Houtbay next year July. That is to do ocean testing in the cold and wet, when Cape Town weather is at it’s worst. There is no point in this exercise for me to go and test this boat in sunny warm weather, then I am just bullshitting myself that I am ok for this challenge. So cold and wet is how I test.
Many thanks for the private messages from all over the world, your continued support and encouragement is the fuel that fires my soul.
Manie HJ Botha 