I Have Lost All Faith

Venture capitalist Tom Perkins says Patrick O'Brian didn't know much about sailing, in this BBC account of a forthcoming Yachting World article not available online (YW seems to like keeping its content for print subscribers only).

O'Brian then suggested a cruise circumnavigating Sicily, a stop in Greece, dropping by Beirut and winding up with a comprehensive tour of the Balearic islands... I was stunned! How, I wondered, could this old salt possibly comprehend a tour of over 3,000 nautical miles with numerous ports of call, in 14 days in a yacht capable of only about 12 knots? As I began to explain the physical limitations of time and space, he added a desire to drop the hook in Naples, Capri and Tangiers as well.