What I was imagining was an area on the website labelled something like "Members' Information"  with say four sub areas for "Junk Heroes" "Junk Boats", "Photos" and "Junk Related Documents".  In these the Committee could seed them with albums for their take on which heroes and boats are suitably important, and Members can ask for a new album to be started for other heroes and boats not already included.  The sub areas would be seeded, each album being titled with the name of a hero or boat.  Members would be free to post within the albums, or upload photos or document scans in PDF format.  This would make it simple for the information to be found by looking in the relevant album, and the albums could be sorted alphabetically, making them easy to navigate.  It would also be hard for anyone posting to get information in the wrong place.

This and other threads seem to indicate there are lots of personal memories, photos and documents out there relating to junk heroes and events.  Information that is vulnerable to complete loss when Members go the way of all flesh.  Is there scope for a project inviting members to upload their information?  One thought is for various albums for photos, reminiscences and document scans.  These should be largely self managing, perhaps with some oversight by a Committee Member for occasional tidying up.  Also, it might be useful for some co-ordinator to approach Members seeking their participation.  Thoughts? 

I met him in '74 when I had just got to Gib in my little Timaran. Rowing through boats anchored just off the airstrip I spotted his boat. "Your boat looks like Eric the Red" It was and he invited me aboard. The wire holding the sails to bamboo battens cut rips out of me  Eric rolled like mad with any movement, There was hardly any room below and she leaked! But he loved her and we spent a happy day ashore drinking, talking and drinking some more.  Great guy.

Peter Scandling wrote:

Thanks for sharing this sad news but through his book I know he inspired others to adventure across oceans.  

Did he ever write about the circumnavigation?

Peter

I have just read a notice from Crispin Thurlow Faber, nephew of Donald Ridler, that Donald died in January this year, estranged from his siblings and extended family.  Crispin says that it is a complicated story, but he feels that Donald never recovered from the crushing blow of losing Erik the Red in the Cape Verde Islands near the end of his circumnavigation.  RIP Donald, you were a voyaging legend. (via intheboatshed.net)