Chichester

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 12

Chichester

Sir,— According to “M.T.” Sir Francis Chichester took a “calculated risk” in sailing round Cape Horn. Sir Francis Chichester’s own statement—“ Wild horses would not drag me down to Cape Hom and that sinister southern ocean again in a small boat ... I had a feeling of helplessness”—reveals, however, that he took a miscalculated risk against the best advice. Why should he be praised for doing this when others, such as trampers who go tramping alone with far less risk than Sir Francis Chichester incurred, are castigated as “selfish and stupid” (as by Mr J. Ede, reported in "The Press” on March 22)? If a tramper carries a map, a compass, adequate food reserves, clothing, and footwear, and a means of generating warmth, there Is no sensible reason why he should not tramp alone (as the writer has often done) provided he avoids obvious dangers. Serious accidents involving groups are quite frequently reported, but how often does one read of a lone tramper in trouble? The rare case is almost invariably due to lack of preparation at the oufset—Yours, etc., LONE TRAMPER. March 31, 1967.