Comments on: Miss Tippy Drama!

By: alice derrick

alice derrick — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:56:25 +0000

hello.

I read that story ages ago but it still creeps me out.
How scary it must be to see your dad badly hurt.
But it happend so lon ago uncle Brian must be O.K.

miss you!!!!!!!!!!!

By: dxpvvmcc

dxpvvmcc — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 05:55:38 +0000

dxpvvmcc…

dxpvvmcc…

By: Cat

Cat — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:53:48 +0000

u guys handled that like a pro! Well, to me u r pro’s! Poor uncle Brian! u should all get a medal for ur bravery and quick thinking! xxxxxxxxxxx

By: georgina frith

georgina frith — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:30:18 +0000

Oh my god… i am crying…. that must have been so scary. What amazing kids you have,, it must have shaken you all. The kindness of the people that helped you is just amazing. I really hope Brian is ok and you too Sheila. Please take care and Im just about to read the your recent diary entries. Love to you all as always
Georgina, Dickie, Eddie and Henry xxxxxxxxxxxx

By: Jean-Pierre

Jean-Pierre — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:20:53 +0000

A very happy ending to an accident which could have turned seriously bad. The way you all handled the situation is exemplary to anyone considering this type of adventure. It also highlights the benefits of years of family sailing and preparation that went prior to this journey. We clearly all need a nurse on board! and the children, well… I suppose every parent reading this story will have an idea of how proud of them the two of you must be.
but from now on, only happy stories please

By: julia

julia — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:30:45 +0000

Just noticed how colourful Brian’s brain is!

By: Michael, Julia and girls

Michael, Julia and girls — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:20:12 +0000

Oops – orgot to add Manuel Franceschi and the Ponce motor boat police unit to our thank you list – cheers guys for helping out!

By: Michael, Julia and girls

Michael, Julia and girls — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:16:09 +0000

We just want to say a HUGE thank you to all those people involved in looking after our family on the high seas.

Jayson Rodriguez, Captain John and the USCG , David, Fernando, Cocqui and Marilyn (and anyone else who helped) – you are all true life Guardian Angels!
Beers are on us if you ever make it to England.

Michael, Julia, Cat, Alice and Lucy

By: Paul Blower

Paul Blower — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:17:06 +0000

Glad to see you are OK Brian. Well done kids for looking after your Dad so well, he must be very proud of you!
Hope your trip through the canal is not quite as exciting.

Take care

Paul (Jackamy Atlantic Crew)

By: Manuel Franceschi

Manuel Franceschi — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:41:58 +0000

Nice to see everything is all right and heading to Panama,nice voyage and Good bless you all, from the Ponce,Puerto Rico motor boat police unit.

By: MarBelle

MarBelle — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:10:43 +0000

Wow, what a scary time it must have been for you all, but congrats on keeping your heads – literally in Brian’s case. Glad you’re well Brian! On the positive you now have a battle scar to back up any tall tale you choose to spin, “There were 50 blood thirsty pirates”.

I’ll have to mentally prepare myself for possible drama before checking back in next time.

By: Barry Ashmore

Barry Ashmore — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:21:16 +0000

To the awesome crew of Miss T. You handled a horrible situation brilliantly. So pleased to hear Brian is OK. All the best to you. Barry (Crashmore??)

By: Hans Kampers

Hans Kampers — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:09:50 +0000

My God, how lucky you are that it was only a cut and bloody mess. A nightmare and shocking to read. How must this have been for you all. Well handled and I am impressed with how the familly handled all this.
Stay well and prudent!! kindest regards Hans

By: caitlin and Meg

caitlin and Meg — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:25:03 +0000

hey guys ,

Were just catching up when we saw this shocker of a story. Am so sorry Brian x hope you feel better. Good work guys you must have been so supportive you lot x we love you and really miss you!! x

Lots of love Caitlin and Meg

P.S Annie I really really miss you can’t wait until you get back next year Lots of Love MEGxxxxxxxxxxxxxx!!!!!!!!

By: John

John — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:56:16 +0000

I’m the skipper of the USCG Cutter that arrived on scene with you. I am glad to see that all worked out well. Good luck with the rest of your trip. Fair winds and following seas…

John

By: Rob Lythgoe

Rob Lythgoe — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:20:48 +0000

You don’t know me, I’m following a few blogs as we are considering doing the Blue Water Rally, we’re not stalking you, honest!

Just read your blog about your accident and just had to say “Well Done!” to all of you, very impressed. That’s all, good luck with the rest of your trip, if you don’t mind we’ll be following with interest.

Rob

By: Mike & Maria Bulley

Mike & Maria Bulley — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:32:40 +0000

As they say, “things happen quickly at sea”, but glad to hear you are on the mend Brian. Well done family, you’ll be grown ups by the time you get home!
It’s a long way from Christmas Day at the dockyard in Antigua!
God speed and keep safe.

Mike & Maria

By: Jayson

Jayson — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:25:28 +0000

Hi Sheila,
I was the person you were speaking with throughout the night. Hope all is well with your husband. Have a safe and good trip to San Bias. Take care

Regards,
Jayson Rodriguez
USCG Sector San Juan

By: Jim Shurvell

Jim Shurvell — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:49:59 +0000

Hi to the very brave and courageous crew and wounded captain of ‘Miss Tippy’

I have been reading all about your adventures on line since the the article in the Sunday newspaper.

After the incident with the spinnaker pole I just had to write a note to praise the crew. I hope nothing like this ever happens to me but if it does I hope I have a crew that can care for me like you cared for Brian. It was very brave of Sheila to so brilliantly to tale control, contact the Coastguard and set a new course for Puerto Rico. Brian you must be so proud of your wife and children.

I will continue to follow your adventures whilst we continue following our dream sailing at the moment in the Med. on ‘Ariel of Hamble’

Best Wishes to you all

Jim Shurvell

By: Rob Avery

Rob Avery — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:22:36 +0000

Sheila & Brian

Brian – so so pleased to see you are on the mend after what must have been a terrible time. Kids well done for looking after Dad so well. Sheila – you are just brilliant. Love to all Rob & Sheila

By: Alice

Alice — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:01:32 +0000

the nortons were realy good at the team work and saved uncle brian.I want to do that when I grow up.

By: Aunty Julia

Aunty Julia — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:59:02 +0000

The girls said yuk! and ran away.
You are all so clever and quick thinking, what a great team and what a terrifiying ordeal. I was reading out loud and couldn’t speak for the emotion. You really are all terrific. We hope and pray that it’s all plain sailing from now on. God bless you all and your wonderful Miss Tippy. XXXXX

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:33:20 +0000

Hi Auntie Shiela, Uncle Bri, Charlie, Fredster and Annie, I hope your having a lovely time sailing on the open seas. I love you all so much. I can’t wait to see you when you come back xxx

By: Amy (Jackamy)

Amy (Jackamy) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:39:14 +0000

Very pleased to hear you’re ok Brian, I was very shocked and worried when my mum and dad told me so I’m relieved to see you’re on the mend! And well done to Sheila, Charlie, Annie and Freddie, it sounds like you all coped brilliantly. I don’t think you could have handled it any better!

Can’t wait to see you all in a couple of weeks! xxx

By: Uncle Michael

Uncle Michael — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:58:26 +0000

We think Uncle Brian looks awfully like a Bond villain with no hair and a scar. Please save the next scary moment until AFTER we meet up in Oz.
Lots of love
Cat, Alice, Lulu, Michael and Julia xxxxx

By: Coqui & Marilyn

Coqui & Marilyn — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:34:34 +0000

Happy Birhday on the high seas Hello from Ponce, hope al is well, please be safe.

Marilyn & coqui

By: Andrea (little sis)

Andrea (little sis) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:45:57 +0000

To Miss Tippy’s precious cargo,
You’re the bravest family I’ve ever heard of! What a fantastic team, we’re very proud of you,
love and miss you,
Andrea, Simon, Thomas, Daniel and Emily xxx

Happy Birthday big sis!

By: Maddie Sturgess

Maddie Sturgess — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:30:09 +0000

Brian
What a fantastic Mahi Mahi do you remember catching it though?
Glad to hear you are on the mend
My favourite photo was of Freddie holding your hand whilst helming or were you holding his?, bit of both i suspect, must have made you very proud how they all coped
Safe passage to Panama

Regards
Nigel

By: Anthony Royle

Anthony Royle — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:33:44 +0000

ahoy Miss Tippy

Saw your article in the Sunday Times a few weeks back and visited the London Boat Show after that. Will hopefully be joining the 2011 BW rally with my family (boy aged 6 and girl 9).

Glad to see everything worked out after the accident (though I’m sure the skipper will have a sore head for a while!). Good to see strangers being so incredibly helpful!

Some questions about your trip: How are kids adjusting to life at sea? Do you have regular “school” or are they still on “holiday”? My wife is a teacher so planning on home (boat!) schooling whilst we’re on the rally. I’m sure they’ll learn a tremendous amount whilst on the cruise! Are there similar aged children on other boats in the rally for company?

Any items you wish you fitted to Miss Tippy? Anything that’s seen little use? How did you go about budgeting (diesel, food etc?) for life aboard? I’ve heard a water-maker is a good investment.

Great web site btw.

All the best and look further to reading further of your travels.

Regards
Tony

By: RON & LYNN

RON & LYNN — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:24:58 +0000

What a wonderful family – great kids. Best wishes to the patient from Ron & Lynn (friends of Fai Tira)

By: Jaime

Jaime — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:55:36 +0000

Glad that everything work out fine and the Mr. Brian is doing fine. We hope your family have a very good trip down to Panama. If you came around Puerto Rico again we will be listening, but this time we hope there is no emergency on board. Take care. USCG Search and Rescue Coordination Sub-Center San Juan, Puerto Rico.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:49:17 +0000

Now that is an impressive set of stitches. The spilt vintage claret around the deck must have been an equal shock. Put the glass down next time!

Seriously, all the Smiths glad to see a smily Brian, and cue a virtual round of applause for Sheila and all the kids (it’s in situations like this the ‘children’ become young adults and surprise us).

By: David a.k.a. Day-B

David a.k.a. Day-B — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:19:42 +0000

I’m glad everything came out alrigth and Mr.Brian is out of any danger, I wanted to see you before you left the marina but unfortunately job kept me very busy and I didn’t want to bug in the evening. I hope you a very good trip down to Panama cant Wait to See the pictures and I really hope you come around again sometime you’re new friend from Ponce Puerto Rico take care guys

By: Lottie Roberts

Lottie Roberts — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:08:02 +0000

By: Lottie Roberts

Lottie Roberts — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:32:32 +0000

I feel so sorry for all of you hope your alright Brian xxx well done Freddie, Charlie and ANNIE !!!!! Hope your alright as well Sheila ……. i am sad as well as you i bet you all
worked together as a team……

P.S hope you like Honey i got you and i have 11 blue noses now

ALL MY LOVE

Lottie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:03:31 +0000

My heart beat faster and faster as I read your diary, what an absolute disaster. We are so relieved that you are all OK. Take it easy from now on eh?! Lots of love to the patient and all his helpers x

By: Jim,Suzanne,Libbie(12)Freddie(3)

Jim,Suzanne,Libbie(12)Freddie(3) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:47:42 +0000

Hi Tippys glad youre on the mend read from Roundabout about the accident on 22nd all been anxious since, Libbie asking have you heard from Brian yet. We have all been following since Aug and are affectionatly known as the Tippys. Spoke to Tony (BWR)at boat show & Barry (crashmore)all enjoy great movies & diary,you must be so proud of the crew and them of you keep up the good work.
All the best, Jim Suzanne Libbie(12)Freddie(3)Spindlow

By: Adrian Roberts

Adrian Roberts — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:35:46 +0000

You made a grown man cry (me not Brian)as I read the email Sheila sent and then to see the photo’s – what a family – brilliant Kids – brilliant mum, bald dad.
I bet Brian’s pleased you didn’t cut the line on the pole!
Did you realise in the photo of Brian’s head from above he looks just like David Beckham.
We have the web cam URL for panama canal ready and waiting to watch – lets hope its not night time when you transit.

love to all and keep being the Nortons we know.

Adrian Nicola Alex Brittany & LOTTIE (who hasn’t been sea sick since 24 July)it’s another record.