Since meeting
Reid Stowe a few years ago on a dock at Chelsea Piers I've felt the need to come to some sort of conclusion about him. I saw him as a call to define my world view and choose sides: was he a deranged fruitcake or a visionary mystic? It had nothing to do with any other people, just the impression that what I had to say about him would say something about me.
The setting of that first close encounter was a wild west-side party on the Hudson river with all sorts of psychotropic stuff floating around. I knew this guy was consuming but I also knew that nobody can get high enough to say the kind of crazy shit that was coming out of his mouth. His self-built 30 year old, 60 foot long, steel schooner was tied up a few feet away from us as he explained how he was going to sail it to no place in particular for 1000 days. He and his wife had just returned from their honeymoon cruise of three months tracing the outline of a continent sized sea turtle in the middle of the Atlantic. They were getting a divorce. His new big idea was to sail this funky boat, telephone pole masts and all, out of sight of land, alone, or with another willing soul if one was to be found, for just over three years. He was looking for sponsorship, contributions or volunteer support in the boats preparation. Among other ideas, he thought NASA could learn from him when they planned a trip to Mars.
We had been introduced by a mutual friend, Reid had no reason to believe I could be of any help to him at all but he made his version of a sales pitch just as he would have presented to a Nike exec. He was enthusiastic, sincere, arrogant and over the top. He had some sort of past relationship with the great sailing vagabond philosopher Bernard Moitessier and Reid obviously fancied himself a disciple of that hero of mine. I had avidly read all Moitessier’s books and was sympathetic and open to his premise of harmony with the sea and self sufficiency. I even liked the story of dolphins warning him about a navigation error. But, on that night and in meetings to follow, I was not as receptive to the persona of Reid delivering that message. I still can’t put my finger on it but he just seemed too damned flakey to be undertaking what could otherwise be such a fantastic trip. Despite reports of his vast sailing experience he seemed all romanticism and no reality. The great solo ocean voyager I imagine goes largely unsung and is certainly never caught self promoting. Just shy of winning the first solo circumnavigators race Moitessier turned around and headed for Tahiti; he shunned the attention and sought the solitude.
Had he had his way I believe Reid would be sailing under the banners of Fortune 500 companies, but that was not to be (GE doesn’t bring lunatic sailor men to light, they bring good things). It seems he did manage some corporate support from the sailing world and some organic food vendors, among others… impressive really when you consider he invented a dream and got someone to pay him to live it. He also managed to get a 23 year old girlfriend (I think about 30 years his junior) who is going with him. She has absolutely no sailing experience other than a few trips up and down the Hudson. Most people would apply their righteous indignation here and say that it is terribly irresponsible to bring that poor girl along. Maybe as dangerous as hurdling down the freeway at 80 mph while talking on a cell phone and drinking coffee.
Professionally, I can find a thousand flaws with his boat, his preparation and execution. My sensibilities can find his behavior and cloths outrageous and his personality ridiculous. But, here I am several paragraphs in and still writing about his crazy scheme. I find myself daydreaming about it. 1000 days from land is an interesting, creative endeavor and I’m glad their trying it. As for my passing judgment on him, I have decided deranged fruitcakes can occasionally do great things. The ultimate judgment will be whether he makes it or not.
On that note I can’t resist adding my prediction: If she does not break an arm in her first rough seaway, they will return in a few months due to a contaminated freshwater supply… I hope I’m wrong.
