Full Description
A lone man in a small sailboat races around the world with no competitors and gives birth to an exciting new sport; a teenage New York City bicycle messenger circumnavigates the globe alone in lieu of going to college; a series of minimalist sailors compete to see who can cross the Atlantic in the smallest boat: these are just a few of the dauntless adventurers whose stories you'll find in "Intrepid Voyagers." This inspiring collection of modern nautical adventures introduces daring men and women from diverse backgrounds who embarked on epic voyages across great oceans and around the globe. Each of these mariners went to sea for personal reasons, but at the center of each tale is a pure love of sailing coupled with a relentless urge to live large and explore.These true stories, all but one of which were written by the sailors themselves, are filled with their authors' passion and enthusiasm for sailing, the sea, and the process of discovery itself.Separated into four categories, Singlehanders, Long-Distance Racers, Little Boats, and Human Drama, these rousing accounts describe some of the most notable and celebrated achievements in recent nautical history - fastest times, smallest boats, youngest sailors, and more. You'll meet Vito Dumas, who challenged the riotous seas of the Roaring Forties and became first person to round Cape Horn alone and survive; Alain Bombard, who tested his theories about surviving a shipwreck by crossing the Atlantic in a tiny sailing raft without taking food or water; and Naomi James, who became the first female solo circumnavigator and beat Francis Chichester's time in the process.You'll also find riveting accounts of: Hugo Vihlen's Atlantic crossing in the 6-foot April Fool; Dodge Morgan's record-breaking circumnavigation; Val Howells' voyage of self-discovery during a transatlantic race; Ellen MacArthur's thrilling finish in the Vendee Globe Donald; Crowhurst's strange final voyage; and many more.Brimming with the independent spirit of the small-boat mariner, these vivid tales create a striking portrait of the challenges, labors, fears, and rich rewards of long-distance sailing."Intrepid Voyagers" offers instructive, compelling reading, whether you're planning an epic voyage of your own or prefer to challenge the elements from the comfort of your armchair. Eighteen chronicles from men and women who sailed to the ends of the earth and returned to tell about it. Eighteen windows to life on a big sea in a small sailboat. Fasten your safety harness!
Contents
IntroductionSinglehandersHarry Pidgeon. Around the World Single-Handed". . . any landsman who builds his own vessel and sails it alone around the world will certainly meet with some adventures . . ."Vito Dumas. Alone Through the Roaring Forties"Wave after wave broke over my wretched waterlogged carcass."Val Howells. Sailing into Solitude"There's still one devil of a long way to sail . . ."Alain Bombard. The Bombard Story"The castaway must never give way to despair . . ."Tania Aebi (with Bernadette Brennan). Maiden Voyage"My heart is thumping so hard in my chest and I can't stop the tears of fear. Varuna is carried and thrown with each breaking wave . . ."Anne Miller. Out of the Blue"The noise of the surf was deafening, and I prayed that if I died the noise would go away, because I did not wish to leave the world in chaos."Long-Distance RacersFrancis Chichester. Gipsy Moth Circles the World"What had I expected from the Roaring Forties? . . . life is never quite like the tidy pattern that imagination makes of it."Bernard Moitessier. The Long Way"When you have long skirted vast expanses stretching to the stars, beyond the stars, you come back with different eyes."Nicholas Tomalin and Ron Hall. The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst"By now he had lapsed into a deeper madness . . ."Naomi James. Alone Around the World"I felt the shock, a mountain of water crashed against Crusader's hull, and over she went."Dodge Morgan. The Voyage of American Promise"There is something very satisfying in dealing with the quick and certain victories and defeats of sailing a small boat alone. There is also the danger and fear of sailing alone."Ellen MacArthur. Taking On the World". . . wow! It was amazing, as we just picked up a wave and accelerated, getting faster and faster . . ."Little BoatsRobert Manry. Tinkerbelle"Clutched in a welter of sizzling foam, we surfed giddily down the forward slope of a breaking wave . . . It was exciting. It was also dangerous."Hugo Vihlen. April FoolThe way things are going now, I would welcome a nice cockroach for company."Gerry Spiess (with Marlin Bree). Alone Against the Atlantic". . . there was no ship. There would be no ship. I was alone, in the here and now, and I could do was hope to survive."Human DramaMiles Smeeton. Once Is Enough". . . the time . . . would pass quickly as we settled down to our sea-going routine, and cups of tea would follow cups of tea, at about this time, on each succeeding day. . . . another marvellous day of sailing."Lin and Larry Pardey. Seraffyn's Oriental Adventure"Up until that moment the Arabs had been just a nuisance. But after that round of gunfire we were scared."Deborah Shapiro and Rolf Bjelke. Time on Ice"'Bring me to the midnight sun!' she cries. . . . What an amazing person. Even when injured, she has more spirit than most people."Appendix 1. BibliographyAppendix 2. SourcesNER(01): WOW
