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Straight Dope forum [1] has a number of comments indicating it's not unusual given circumstances. [1] http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=8401

by Steko 9y ago

Straight Dope forum [1] has a number of comments indicating it's not unusual given circumstances. [1] http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=840124&page=6 http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=840124&... Thread has many interesting insights and links. I've previously bought into the full blown planned hoax explanation but it seems like 'Appel was completely incompetent as a sailor and more than a little bonkers and a huge bullshitter' is perhaps more likely. She crashed her previous boat on the rocks at Magic Island [2] (Ala Moana Beach Park). Daily Mail (ugh) ran a (NSFW) article [3] that focused on her BDSM activities but also gives some relevant background on her general sailing incompetence and perhaps impairment of her judgement due to a previous motorcycle injury. Apparently she also had no experience in open ocean short of taking her new boat from Kauai to Oahu [2] http://www.kitv.com/story/30425516/sailboat-runs-aground-off-magic-island http://www.kitv.com/story/30425516/sailboat-runs-aground-off... [3] NSFW http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5063707/Bungling-yachtswoman-kinky-sailor-dominatrix.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5063707/Bungling-yac...

acqq 9y ago
Yes, everything fits, seeing what Appel actually wanted, if I understood correctly: her wish was anyway to sail with the boat to some inhabited island and live on it for as long as it would be possible. Therefore it wasn't an accident for her to have the food "planned for a year" on the boat, she prepared for that. Then as she failed to reach an island, she figured out it's not much worse simply floating as long as they can, and kept the "call for help" option for as late as possible. Therefore she didn't want to even try to send a help signal too early. Then even if the "details" (storms, sharks) turn out to be lies, what remains should be enough for her to enjoy a little more being "famous." I would like if she'd sell the rights for a movie about all what she did. However, what definitely doesn't fit the story of being five months at the sea in any form is Appel's skin. I can imagine that she managed to spend good amount of time just as she wished: on some inhabited island. Which would also explain the green stuff on the ship: it could have mostly grown while they were on the island. But I believe everybody would catch a lot of sun on an inhabited island too. So if they haven't been on some island, they must have then really spent most of the time inside of the boat, being satisfied with floating. Once one doesn't care about actively navigating the boat she doesn't have to be too much exposed to the sun. Then the growth on the ship maybe originates even from the time before they started sailing: if the most money and energy was invested in the food "enough for one year" then it wouldn't be surprising.

by Steko 9y ago

acqq 9y ago

Yes, everything fits, seeing what Appel actually wanted, if I understood correctly: her wish was anyway to sail with the boat to some inhabited island and live on it for as long as it would be possible. Therefore it wasn't an accident for her to have the food "planned for a year" on the boat, she prepared for that. Then as she failed to reach an island, she figured out it's not much worse simply floating as long as they can, and kept the "call for help" option for as late as possible. Therefore she didn't want to even try to send a help signal too early. Then even if the "details" (storms, sharks) turn out to be lies, what remains should be enough for her to enjoy a little more being "famous." I would like if she'd sell the rights for a movie about all what she did. However, what definitely doesn't fit the story of being five months at the sea in any form is Appel's skin. I can imagine that she managed to spend good amount of time just as she wished: on some inhabited island. Which would also explain the green stuff on the ship: it could have mostly grown while they were on the island. But I believe everybody would catch a lot of sun on an inhabited island too. So if they haven't been on some island, they must have then really spent most of the time inside of the boat, being satisfied with floating. Once one doesn't care about actively navigating the boat she doesn't have to be too much exposed to the sun. Then the growth on the ship maybe originates even from the time before they started sailing: if the most money and energy was invested in the food "enough for one year" then it wouldn't be surprising.