Like with a grape, you don’t really know what it is made of until it is squeezed. One thing all these stories have in common is that, in each case, every one of these individuals was squeezed to within an inch of their life, and they all had to plumb untold reservoirs of courage, tenacity and fortitude.

By now, his body and mind were closing down. He later spoke of feeling the ghosts of all those who had ever been lost at sea surrounding him. Waiting for him to become one of their number. But they would have to carry on waiting. Steve wasn’t quite beaten yet.

He was a man on a mission. I know that feeling. Obstacles don’t matter. Nor does the prospect of pain and hardship. The goal is all-consuming.

He said that to go to sea was a way of reminding himself how insignificant all humans are in the face of the natural world. That it is a way of glimpsing the face of God.

She needed a clear head and a calm mind. She needed to be alert, and to consider her every move carefully. If she allowed herself to freak out, she’d probably never make it through a day.

When you’re fighting to survive, morale is everything. Despite the disappointment, Nando didn’t allow himself to be downhearted.

And a little dose of eccentricity so often goes hand in hand with such endeavours.

True grit isn’t just about endurance. It’s about ingenuity too.

True to form, less than three months later, Stuart was off – again.