Howard Rice talks about his life before the wind

This presentation by Howard Rice ‪@howardrice7280‬ was given to an online audience comprised of members of the Dinghy Cruising Association in February 2023. The session was chaired by Roger Barnes ‪@RogerRoving‬, President of the DCA.
In his talk Howard firstly talks about his life sailing and his approach to dinghy cruising. Then he takes us through a comparison of cruising two different dinghies in the southern ocean and finally recounts his journey down the Strait of Magellan in a Scamp.
Howard Rice is a lifelong sailor, sailboat racer, voyager, boat builder, sail-maker, hiker, climber, long-distance swimmer, global adventurer, and a former college professor. He built his first boat as a junior high school shop class project at age eleven. Since then he has built, restored, instructed the builds of, or had a hand in the modification of over 160 boats.
He is currently living and working in the Oki Island UNESCO Global GEOPARK. He joins us today from the boat shop he developed for a non profit organisation he helped set up on the remote island of Nakanoshima, Japan.
His work is focused on bringing the sea and small boats to the people of Japan and features small boat building classes, the restoration of traditional Japanese Kanko workboats, a student-focused GPS mini boat tracking project, and the development of an Optimist Pram instructional program. As always he has a voyage in the planning stage and looks forward to the next horizon soon.

[@jimmysqueezyronin5623]

I've just watched the whole thing. Blimey! What a fella.👏

[@cricciethcastle5077]

"The wrong boat for the wrong place". I had a chat with a local fisherman on the Norfolk coast, outside his shed with his boat hauled up alongside. He said that up and down that coast, maybe over distances of only 10 or 20 miles, the traditional hull forms differed significantly, reflecting variations in sea state, topography, etc.

[@garyhardy3810]

Thankyou to Howard Rice for this fascinating, informative and inspiring presentation, and to the DCA for organising and making this available.

[@johnryan2193]

I love your philosophy, never mind the discomfort ! This is my type of mindset. I've always liked to stretch my boundaries. Thanks for the video.

[@Ramenscooter]

Incredible ❤

[@redoleary4]

Truly fascinating! I could listen to this all day long. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@stevelindeman1709]

Amazing stories and knowledge shared. Thank you for taking the time and effort. The 2+ hours flew past! I will be eagerly waiting for more adventure stories. As the owner of a Gig Harbor SCAMP, I can speak to its amazing capabilities in much calmer waters. It is definitely a rugged vessel that will take care of its crew. Well done! Thank you!

[@LuckyTown77]

From 🇨🇦

[@howardrice7280]

Clarification on one image---Full credit to my friend Terry for the innovative rotisserie build method. Not my invention and a great build tool that I utilized.

[@sickoftheheadswerve]

Wow, what a great presentation and insight into Professor Howard's sailing philosophy and practice. I remember following the Scamp expedition on line at the time. I wonder if the more adverse conditions on the second trip; the increase in the strength and frequency of the williwaws winds and profuse kelp beds is a result of climate change ?

[@rockykoast7065]

Thanks for sharing some remarkable experience! 👍

[@georgewashington7444]

Very cool! Wow in your talk I see a mirror image of myself. I am from NE Ohio and have been fascinated with Robert Manry’s voyage for many years. I had the opportunity to see Tinkerbelle at Crawford museum. I have sailed a Compac 16 from Largo Key west ans back in my youth. I currently have a Montgomery 17 and plan to recreate Manry’s Fairport Harbor Ohio to Port Colborne CA voyage in a couple weeks! I am also 1/2 the way into a Matt Layden Paradox micro cruiser build which I hope to do a month cruise from Largo Fl to Berry Islands Bahamas and back February of 26’ getting her Newfound to Baffin Island is one of my goals also! Once again thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge!

[@shanepinner2637]

Will there be a book written about the adventures in South America? Would make a great read.

[@jahwatarjahwatar5462]

@time1h20sec - regaring the redesign. It's funny how that works - If you prepare for something, it will probably happen. It's one of those wierd things, and it works even for the good things in life ;)

[@seer6961]

Why do some people love boats so much but don't live on them as your primary residence like others do? That's where somewhat bigger boats are better.

[@styx85]

Bananas :)

[@billmeadslessons1547]

This was good. But the end of the Scamp adventure was completely brushed over. Seems like this would been the real learnings for us viewers. It's not adding up. I'm puzzled. Why conceal this part of the story?

[@howardrice7280]

Nothing was concealed. "It's not adding up" you write? I did this as a favor to DCA members. There was ample time for Q/A and no one asked. I did mention the final day during Q/A

[@billmeadslessons1547]

@@howardrice7280 maybe you can do another vid on the ending of the voyage? Getting into what went right and wrong, how the boat faired, lessons learned etc, this would be most helpful, thank you brother!

[@user-it3rq9qs5n]

Yes, thank you for sharing this amazing adventure. I took about 50 screenshots, hope that’s okay. 🫡