Thursday, May 18, 2006

Hans Horrevoets

Hans was only 3 years older than I am now. He also has a young daughter (his is 11 months old, mine is 5 1/2 months old).

I suppose as armchair and internet sailors we had become used to these boats sailing around the world at incredible speeds with no casualties. Given a few changes in my own sailing history I might have been in Hans' place. Perhaps my summer job with Young America could have become more than it was...maybe if I had taken that job in Maine as a sailing coach and sailmaker...I might have had the opportunity to sail in the Volvo Ocean Race.


Although Hans' tragic death makes me feel thankful for my safe life here in Massachusetts, where the most dangerous thing I deal with is the traffic on I-95 on the way to work, I am still envious of his courage in pursuing his dream.

It's tough when someone so young loses their life...but at least we can take comfort in the fact that Hans was chasing his dream.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well said Litoralis.

Anonymous said...

I wrote the above comment before you added the article I wrote on Friday 12th May.

Thanks for sharing that with your readers...

Litoralis said...

Sorry, I was adding to the post after you commented. I have no idea what your May 12th article was about, I just thought it seemed to capture some powerful emotions that were relevant and added it to the original post.rhup

Litoralis said...

In response to OG, the article she mentions has been moved to a new post.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Litoralis.

The orgininal article was for someone special who took his own life one week ago.

He never sailed...
He never had the chance to be on the water...

He was not as lucky as Hans who got to experience the amazing world of yacht racing...