I read the books, but this is the first time I have seen the movies. This footage is the real deal, featuring a man that lead a remarkable life. Thanks for sharing.
This is fantastic and I have never seen this. He was lost sailing to Smith Island Antarctica. Sailing with Simon Richardson all crew lost. We took two expeditions to climb the island and left a memorial plaque. He is not forgotten by those that care and know his achievements.
Read Tilman's Sailing and Climbing books back in the 70s when my high school & rugby mates and I were doing alot of climbing including a grand 6 man one month expedition into the Wyoming Wind River Wilderness including Cirque of the Towers and topping it off with an ascent of Gannett Peak. I was the photographer and captured almost 200 treasured photos with my Canon F! Epic Times!😬🤪🍺🌲⛰🔃🚙🦬🐾
Wow I am on my 34ft 1962 cutter-rigged yawl in Nelson, New Zealand, repairing the steel hull and wooden spars before I will learn to sail her properly. Currently re-reading all of Tilman's books. Like him I was a mountaineer who took up sailing in his 50s. That's where the comparison ends. I am in awe of his achievements! Seeing footage is very special to me, thank you Bob for posting!
Thanks for the feedback. When time permits and with the necessary permissions, I'll try and add more footage to this edited set and at the same time add a soundtrack with appropriate extracts from the books. All now lovingly restored and republished by lodestarbooks.com/ with new forewords and afterwords.
I just recorded this on my laptop--and tonight I am going to show it to my old friend, Hans Hoff, who was on one of those trips--the first, I think. He is 91, now. He spent his entire career at sea after that voyage with Tilman, skippering charter yachts on both sides of the Atlantic. Thank you so much for posting this!
Hi Bob, Thanks, so much, for posting! My husband and I have read and re-read all of Tillmans books. He has been a great inspiration to us as we've spent the last 30+ years building and cruising aboard our own gaff rigged sailboat... Really enjoyed the footage:)) All the best!
I too read the mountain and sailing books by Tilman many years ago. Incredibly detailed and evocative expedition accounts which provide a unique window on the world frequented by Tilman, and Eric Shipton. Absolute classics of adventure/exploration literature. Amazing that 30 years after reading these accounts, I could watch some footage of the people and places involved. Congratulations to all responsible 👍👌👨🏻☘️
Like many of the people posting here I was inspired by the books of Tilman but until now had not seen other than still photos of him. I was always inspired by his answer to a question from a young would be adventurer when he was giving a lecture to a school. He was asked "How do you prepare for an expedition?" Tilman's answer was "You put on your boots and you go!".
Some wonderfully evocative footage here, some of which I hadn't seen before. I have read and re read every book many times and he remains one of, if not the most influential sailing, mountaineering hero of my life. For someone who fought through both World Wars, sustained a serious back injury, cycled across Africa and pioneered some of the wildest routes in the Himalaya, that would have been more than a life for some!! He then decides to take up sailing and venture to some of the most extreme, remote and unforgiving places on the planet and find the energy to climb more mountains. He not only copes with the hardship, but truly revels in it and is serene in the autumn of his years. Staggering, Amazing, legendary are but a few words to sum up this giant of a character who was vastly underrated in his time. Deserves far more attention and a more prominent place in History. I have done a fair few ocean watches on the old cutter 'Dolphin' skippered by the great R.Capps whom for me was of a similar character and has spent the last 15 years navigating the far north. Though Dolphin being smaller than Mischief, Baroque or his last cutter, she had the same Appledore reefing gear at the foot of the mast. Every swell that hit the starboard quarter, more water than I was happy with, would leech freely through the exposed planking under the galley sink and have one wishing every good fortune to the health of the engine and the bilge pump. Every moment onboard that vessel brought to life the books I had read. They truly are a beautiful boat with wonderful lines and forgiving in a sea way. Thank you so much for posting this.
How great. I just stumbled upon this video and it brightened my day beyond words. I'm digging out the Mischief series of books tonight and reading again! Many thanks to Bob.
Thank you for posting this. I first read all of The mountain and ocean books a number of years ago. Very inspirational. It was great to be able to view footage from these voyages.
Perhaps the greatest adventurer of the twentieth century. David Lewis, who I sold my boat to, told me about going mountain climbing with Tillman in Wales. I have a chapter on Tillman in my book A Passion for Sailing. One of my heroes. Read all his books if you ever get the chance.
Great to see on film some of what I've been reading about in the eight sailing and mountaineering books since I first heard of Major Harold William Tilman, CBE, DSO, MC and Bar, about 40 years ago. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this, I've read Tillman's Seven Mountain books & I'm almost with his sailing books. I also read Shipton's mountain books. These two two men were amazing, I could talk for hours about them, what explorers they were.
@@BobComlay There was a time when all of the best boats had roller reefing, some very elaborate with the crank ahead of the mast or an otherwise compact gooseneck universal designed to roll in direct line with the luff track riser. But what worked for the mains with little or no roach, or battenless leech hollow, was perhaps not so well suited to the large roach racing mains started to appear in the sixties and seventies. Even with a tapered boom, it was quite an ordeal to prevent the sail from walking forward as it rolled up, and the leech seemed to suffer from bearing more than its share of the load, and stretching out. We would stuff blankets, sailbags and whatever else was available into the forward part of the roll trying to ease some of that leech load and make it stop walking forward. We came to prefer the style of "slab reefing" shown on Pantanela for its simplicity. But one thing that was never improved upon was our trusty Walker Logs, shown here as the common denominator sort of "stitching" the various scenes together. Sure, you would lose an occasional "fish" to a strike, or rack up miles simply going up and down in light conditions, but the Bowden Cable Sumlogs always seemed flimsy in comparison. The Walker Logs were built like a robust chronometer. Thank You, Bob! PS: However, we drew the line at what got stuffed into the roll; never once sacrificing sleeping bags, cabin boys or the donkey's breakfast just to get some shape into the sail!
I was an avid follower of Tilman's travels back in the 60s and 70s.. I remember the last photograph I saw of him, printed in Yachting Monthly, setting out for South America. He'd obviously given up on buying another Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, maybe due to finances or simply that there were few around in decent shape by that time.. The photo was of a boat that looked like a converted, small harbour tug, very little freeboard, I thought of how unseaworthy it looked.. Sadly he and his crew were never seen again. Amazingly accomplished man, a Very tough cookie !
Having climbed with Tillman for some years, Eric Shipton difidently suggested that they might be on first name terms. The reply:" but its such a damn silly name" (Eric)
Stiff upper lip! I’m more in to the Mountain Adventure accounts but also owned firsts of the Mischief books. His high altitude buddy, Eric Shipton, is an interesting comparison.
I read the books, but this is the first time I have seen the movies. This footage is the real deal, featuring a man that lead a remarkable life. Thanks for sharing.
Love the elegant nonchalance of these tweed and wool adventurers. No fuss, no issues, just get on with it. Tillman and Shipton, lived.
Along with Eric Shipton one of the greatest explores ever.
This is fantastic and I have never seen this. He was lost sailing to Smith Island Antarctica. Sailing with Simon Richardson all crew lost. We took two expeditions to climb the island and left a memorial plaque. He is not forgotten by those that care and know his achievements.
Drop me a note if you fancy catching up over a pint or two! Looks like we're within hailing distance! The email address is at the end of the video.
Tilman and Shipton seem to be almost forgotten. A great shame.
Tom Weir, Gavin Maxwell and Mike Tomkies, too.
@@kaikito7662, I agree with the above and welcome links to the adventurers you reference!
Read Tilman's Sailing and Climbing books back in the 70s when my high school & rugby mates and I were doing alot of climbing including a grand 6 man one month expedition into the Wyoming Wind River Wilderness including Cirque of the Towers and topping it off with an ascent of Gannett Peak. I was the photographer and captured almost 200 treasured photos with my Canon F! Epic Times!😬🤪🍺🌲⛰🔃🚙🦬🐾
Wow I am on my 34ft 1962 cutter-rigged yawl in Nelson, New Zealand, repairing the steel hull and wooden spars before I will learn to sail her properly. Currently re-reading all of Tilman's books. Like him I was a mountaineer who took up sailing in his 50s. That's where the comparison ends. I am in awe of his achievements! Seeing footage is very special to me, thank you Bob for posting!
Look up Rob Kirkaldi. He would be one of the few that could show you how to sail her. Yes that one.
Thanks for the feedback. When time permits and with the necessary permissions, I'll try and add more footage to this edited set and at the same time add a soundtrack with appropriate extracts from the books. All now lovingly restored and republished by lodestarbooks.com/ with new forewords and afterwords.
I just recorded this on my laptop--and tonight I am going to show it to my old friend, Hans Hoff, who was on one of those trips--the first, I think. He is 91, now. He spent his entire career at sea after that voyage with Tilman, skippering charter yachts on both sides of the Atlantic.
Thank you so much for posting this!
Is Mr. Hans Hoff still living ?
What an incredible link to history
Thanks for posting! Read the epic books and great to see actual footage.
I named my sailing yacht Mischief, after Tilman and his cutter. A Nauticat 39 based in Patagonia, so she is another and current Mischief in Patagonia.
Hi Bob, Thanks, so much, for posting! My husband and I have read and re-read all of Tillmans books. He has been a great inspiration to us as we've spent the last 30+ years building and cruising aboard our own gaff rigged sailboat... Really enjoyed the footage:)) All the best!
I too read the mountain and sailing books by Tilman many years ago. Incredibly detailed and evocative expedition accounts which provide a unique window on the world frequented by Tilman, and Eric Shipton. Absolute classics of adventure/exploration literature. Amazing that 30 years after reading these accounts, I could watch some footage of the people and places involved. Congratulations to all responsible 👍👌👨🏻☘️
What other titles/videos would you recommend?
Like many of the people posting here I was inspired by the books of Tilman but until now had not seen other than still photos of him. I was always inspired by his answer to a question from a young would be adventurer when he was giving a lecture to a school. He was asked "How do you prepare for an expedition?" Tilman's answer was "You put on your boots and you go!".
Wonderful. Thank you. Tilman is and always will be my sailing hero. Phenomenal seaman.....
I loved HW's advert in the Times for crew " Hands wanted for long voyage on small boat. No pay, no prospects, not much pleasure" !!
This is absolutely brilliant! Bill Tilman was an amazing adventurer and I love his books. This is great! Thank you ..
Legendary Bristol Pilot cutter!
Some wonderfully evocative footage here, some of which I hadn't seen before. I have read and re read every book many times and he remains one of, if not the most influential sailing, mountaineering hero of my life. For someone who fought through both World Wars, sustained a serious back injury, cycled across Africa and pioneered some of the wildest routes in the Himalaya, that would have been more than a life for some!! He then decides to take up sailing and venture to some of the most extreme, remote and unforgiving places on the planet and find the energy to climb more mountains. He not only copes with the hardship, but truly revels in it and is serene in the autumn of his years. Staggering, Amazing, legendary are but a few words to sum up this giant of a character who was vastly underrated in his time. Deserves far more attention and a more prominent place in History.
I have done a fair few ocean watches on the old cutter 'Dolphin' skippered by the great R.Capps whom for me was of a similar character and has spent the last 15 years navigating the far north. Though Dolphin being smaller than Mischief, Baroque or his last cutter, she had the same Appledore reefing gear at the foot of the mast. Every swell that hit the starboard quarter, more water than I was happy with, would leech freely through the exposed planking under the galley sink and have one wishing every good fortune to the health of the engine and the bilge pump. Every moment onboard that vessel brought to life the books I had read. They truly are a beautiful boat with wonderful lines and forgiving in a sea way.
Thank you so much for posting this.
How great. I just stumbled upon this video and it brightened my day beyond words. I'm digging out the Mischief series of books tonight and reading again! Many thanks to Bob.
Thank you for posting this. I first read all of The mountain and ocean books a number of years ago. Very inspirational. It was great to be able to view footage from these voyages.
Perhaps the greatest adventurer of the twentieth century. David Lewis, who I sold my boat to, told me about going mountain climbing with Tillman in Wales. I have a chapter on Tillman in my book A Passion for Sailing. One of my heroes. Read all his books if you ever get the chance.
Great to see on film some of what I've been reading about in the eight sailing and mountaineering books since I first heard of Major Harold William Tilman, CBE, DSO, MC and Bar, about 40 years ago. Thanks!
I still love watching the footage.
What an inspiration Tilman (and Shipton) is . What a life they carved out for themselves.. phenomenal heroes. Salute. Thanks for uploading.
After reading the many books of Tilman and shipton i found that they had shaped my life,
Thank you for the upload.
Fantastic footage. Thank you very much.
Thanks for sharing this, I've read Tillman's Seven Mountain books & I'm almost with his sailing books. I also read Shipton's mountain books. These two two men were amazing, I could talk for hours about them, what explorers they were.
Thanks, brillant footage!
Wow, a roller furling boom back then! Love it.
That'll be 'Appledore gear' John!
@@BobComlay There was a time when all of the best boats had roller reefing, some very elaborate with the crank ahead of the mast or an otherwise compact gooseneck universal designed to roll in direct line with the luff track riser. But what worked for the mains with little or no roach, or battenless leech hollow, was perhaps not so well suited to the large roach racing mains started to appear in the sixties and seventies. Even with a tapered boom, it was quite an ordeal to prevent the sail from walking forward as it rolled up, and the leech seemed to suffer from bearing more than its share of the load, and stretching out. We would stuff blankets, sailbags and whatever else was available into the forward part of the roll trying to ease some of that leech load and make it stop walking forward.
We came to prefer the style of "slab reefing" shown on Pantanela for its simplicity.
But one thing that was never improved upon was our trusty Walker Logs, shown here as the common denominator sort of "stitching" the various scenes together. Sure, you would lose an occasional "fish" to a strike, or rack up miles simply going up and down in light conditions, but the Bowden Cable Sumlogs always seemed flimsy in comparison. The Walker Logs were built like a robust chronometer.
Thank You, Bob!
PS: However, we drew the line at what got stuffed into the roll; never once sacrificing sleeping bags, cabin boys or the donkey's breakfast just to get some shape into the sail!
@@martyspargur5281 that what I always say ;^)
Thanks! I’m looking forward to reading about this guy! I just heard about him from one of his quotes: IF IT’S OBSELETE, IT WORKS.
I was an avid follower of Tilman's travels back in the 60s and 70s.. I remember the last photograph I saw of him, printed in Yachting Monthly, setting out for South America. He'd obviously given up on buying another Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, maybe due to finances or simply that there were few around in decent shape by that time.. The photo was of a boat that looked like a converted, small harbour tug, very little freeboard, I thought of how unseaworthy it looked.. Sadly he and his crew were never seen again. Amazingly accomplished man, a Very tough cookie !
I always wanted to try a duff. They made it sound so good. Though from experience anything hot and filling when you have been cold tastes great.
He was a tough old sod for sure.
Having climbed with Tillman for some years, Eric Shipton difidently suggested that they might be on first name terms. The reply:" but its such a damn silly name" (Eric)
Stiff upper lip! I’m more in to the Mountain Adventure accounts but also owned firsts of the Mischief books. His high altitude buddy, Eric Shipton, is an interesting comparison.
"Деревянные лодки для железных мужчин"
"Wooden boats for iron men" - Well said!
Is some of this filmed by Mike Edwards, cameraman on the Mischief goes South voyage?
Yes indeed, extracts towards the beginning of the compilation.
@@BobComlay Thanks! Trying to find the original footage Mike (my uncle) took on that trip.
@@tim3057 Drop me a note - comlay.net/tilman/contact/