Tom Robinson has been well-beyond the reach of any modern communication as he weaved his way through the Louisade Archipelago of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on a local trading vessel.
He was headed to remote Panawina Island, 190 miles from mainland PNG, where there is no electricity and no internet or phone service. According to the cryptic communications he had received from locals in PNG while he was still at home in Australia, MAIWAR had washed up onshore and was in decent shape.
Tom was going to be out of touch for a few weeks, so when I received a message from his shore team (Mum and Dad) that Tom wanted me to help communicate something important to those following his adventure, it came as a surprise.
Tom arrived on Panawina Island with wood, glue and tools, only to find MAIWAR in much worse condition than he had hoped. His parents recounted their brief conversation with Tom that he managed to make from a nearby island: “Before washing ashore, MAIWAR must have spent some time crashing on the reef that borders this group of islands, because a two-foot section of the bow is gone and the cabin has been mostly torn away”.
MAIWAR was designed and built with the utmost of skills. She was robust and seaworthy, and she brought Tom thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean. The capsize off of Vanuatu in the Coral Sea was caused by a moment of human error from a capable captain (leaving the hatch open and susceptible to a rogue wave on a calm day). The design of the boat and the flotation he carried aboard coul have allowed a self rescue if an 856-foot 14-story cruise ship had not arrived for a rescue. But no boat is a match for pounding on a reef upside down. The fact that MAIWAR was still afloat after such a beating is yet another testament to the capability of these well-designed small boats.
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William Schleuse says:
Wow–that’s what resilience looks like!
It took me too long to take the lesson from my Dad’s life. He lost an eye in a shop accident a month after finishing his apprenticeship. His award from the railroad allowed him to go to pharmacy school, later teach, and later still join a company he’d consulted for, from which he retired as president. You never know what door opens when one closes. Hurrah for Tom!
Julia Graves says:
Thank you Steve for helping us to Use the Difficulty! Quite real and helpful. Tom will continue being his best self. Helps me in my reflection on life … and so it goes. Look forward to the Worldwide Classic Boat Show.
Cheers, Julia
Richard Angelis says:
Bravo Tom Robinson and Maiwar!!
Catherine Hackett says:
While I am sorry to hear of Maiwar’s condition, I am uplifted by Tom’s ever present enthusiasm. Life always throws us curveballs and it is how we respond that proves our measure. Tom is a marvelous example of how to face the change that is inevitable in our lives. I love the clip from Michael Caine as well.
GEORGE Ireland says:
With young men like Tom around, I don’t worry so much about the direction of the world. What delightful young man. His wisdom goes well beyond his years. Whatever choice he makes I believe in him. Thank you so much for the emotional physical and tangible journey.
Bob Wallace says:
We do need photos to wrap out heads around Tom’s boat damage but missing part of the bow, etc, would be substantial. There is a slipway/shipyard at Alatou (plus the beach). There’s electricity there and all the tools and local experience in maintaining and repairing reef damaged boats. Just got to get the thing back there… been there, done that.
Steve Stone says:
Hi Bob. Thanks for your comment here and offer to help via email as well. Tom has a friend at the boatyard in Alatou and one of the crew of the yard is with him out on Panawina to act as guide and interpreter. I’ve passed along your info to his shore team, and they expressed thanks. I suspect that the decision to leave MAIWAR on Panawina is final and peace has been made with that as well. I’m sure they appreciate your offer and will keep your email handy just in case though.
Jonathan Margolis says:
What wonderful spirit. In his (relative) youth, Tom has learned that we cannot go back, so we have to go forward. In Carl Sandburg’s words, “Where to? What next.” Carry on, Tom!
Doug Day says:
Apropos Tom’s model, Michael Caine’s aphorism, I’m reading Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford, about to enter the previously unknown reaches of the transmission on my 1972 BMW motorcycle, steeled by two months under a rusted “barnfind” Volvo that my daughter loves. I’m astounded how I’VE come to appreciate the work on the car. I’m actually going to finish the rear axle today instead of skiing! Many times as I’ve been following Tom’s journey I’ve found myself using the difficulty as the Volvo rust beats me down; then the nut/bolt that is finally released and opens up the (fill in the blank — there are so many projects open at the same time) guts of the DIFF or the transmission or the brakes… I have a zip to my step even though the project should have taken much less time, had I had any experience at all! So, thanks to Tom and to the Sunday Videos I’ve come to look forward to. Good on you, mates!
Jonathan Lewis says:
From tragedy to treasure hunt. A more laudable lad is hard to find. Inspirational.
Scott Sellick says:
Things can trap us; leaving things behind (sometimes) frees us. Seems that Tom lives that philosophy to the fullest. I’m twice his age; oh, maybe three times (!) — ha. What an example he is. Thanks Tom . . .
Rod McLaren says:
Onward ever. Embrace all life offers for a good outcome. Thank you, Tom for setting the example.
David and Margaret Tew says:
So sorry to hear, but it would be hard to fathom if MAIWAR hadn’t suffered significant damage coming ashore through the surrounding reefs (see satellite view). But it does sound worse than I’d imagined. Best of luck with whatever comes next for you,Tom !
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Panawina+Island/@-11.1795418,153.006382,9679m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x6924720d4d67bea7:0xac2dded3be180a2e!8m2!3d-11.1757384!4d153.0088712!16s%2Fm%2F0x1_gsq?entry=ttu