Good book for winter reading

[Sea Hunt Video]

I just finished reading Godforesaken Sea by Derk Lundy (1998). It is the story of 1996-1997 Vendee Globe race that goes from France south around Antartica (Southern Ocean) and then up through Cape Horn and back to France. Compelling reading. Difficult to put the book down.

[Carl Thunberg]

You're kidding, right? Winter? Miami? That's a good one!!

[Sea Hunt Video]

You're kidding, right? Winter? Miami? That's a good one!!

Carl:

If you check weather history websites you will find that South Florida has very cold temps in the winter months. Nighttime lows average only 50-55 degrees (burrr ) and daytime highs are only 70-75 (another burr ).

[Richard G.]

I met Derek last summer on Saltspring Island, BC where he lives. He was on a dock I was visiting working on his Bristol Channel Cutter.

I remembered that I had his book on my shelf and read it when I got home. Yes, it is terrific. I also just finished "CLOSE TO THE WIND" by Pete Goss who was one of the competitors in that Vendee and who's role in that race was very heroic. Also a good read.

Richard

[hilbert]

More books for short days and long nights:

"The Boat Who Wouldn't Float" by Farley Mowat
This is a fun book with lots of schadenfreude for anyone who paid too much for their boat, has engine problems or just can't get to their destination. Behind the humor, there is interesting insight into the demise of the people of Newfoundland, following their union with Canada.

"Ten Degrees or Reckoning" by Hester Rumberg
Tragic story of the Sleavin family and their 47ft Melinda Lee that went down off the coast of New Zealand, after being struck by an unlit merchant ship.
A sad end to an experienced and well prepared cruising family and some bitter truths about maritime law.

"Journey Of A Hope Merchant" by Neal Petersen
Inspirational story of Neal Petersen, who grew up in a poor family under the oppression of South African apartheid. This is a story of overcoming obstacles on boats, at sea and in life.

[M. R. Bober]

"In Harm's Way" Doug Stanton--The story of the battleship INDIANA & her crew. A horrifying tale of a torpedoing, lost life, heroism, Naval failure and cover-up, ...

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster, (Where we might not have winter this year.) VA

[Neil Gordon]

"In Harm's Way" Doug Stanton--The story of the battleship INDIANA & her crew. A horrifying tale of a torpedoing, lost life, heroism, Naval failure and cover-up, ...

Mitch is 100% right, except it was USS Indianapolis and not Indiana and a cruiser not a battleship.

[tjr818]

"The Boat Who Wouldn't Float" by Farley Mowat! It is a legendary book in our family, required reading, that and any of the Glencannon stories.

[Steve Laume]

My buddy's, buddy, lent this to to us this summer. He would not let us read it until after I had successfully completed my Bermuda trip.
http://www.amazon.com/Overboard-Blue-w ... B0048ELECW

The captain of the stricken vessel had made 30 Bermuda trips prior to this voyage. I found several faults, as is easy to do when not directly involved. It seems the keys were, concern for his crew and a schedule that he had to keep.

The author is very good, both in his knowledge, research and writing style. He also wrote Ten Hours Until Dawn about a rescue crew during a nor'easter in Mass. I would highly recommend both of these books, Steve.

[hilbert]

If you want to be a sailor, you have to go to sea! Here are a few good reads about people who had large adventures, with little or no knowledge of the sea:

"Desperate Voyage" by John Caldwell. Set off from Panama in a 29ft cutter for Australia with a couple books on how to sail. Supposedly a true account by John Caldwell, who went on to become know in the Grenadines Islands as "Johnny Cocunut", for planting some 8,000 palms in the Island chain.

"The Water In Between" by Kevin Patterson. Purchased a 37ft ferro cement ketch in Vancouver to change his life with a trip to Tahiti.

"Maiden Voyage" by Tania Aebi.

And then there are the books where one can only think that if their boat can do it, why can't mine:

"The Brendan Voyage" by Tim Severin. Sailed from Ireland to North America in a boat made of leather. What the boat lacked in integrity was made up for by men who endured long periods of cold in wet clothing. They proved it was very possible that North America had been visited by Europeans, before Vikings.

[hilbert]

Judging by the weather, it is winter again on the Chesapeake.

I've enjoyed reading "Across Islands And Oceans" by James Baldwin.
He made a solo circumnavigation in his youth on a 28-foot Pearson Triton, with a shoestring budget.
Interesting experiences with and observations of the people of Papua New Guinea.

[Paul D.]

I would add an off the beaten track book called Sheila in the Wind by Adrian Hayter. It is well written and tells of his small boat solo voyage in 1959 from England to New Zealand.

Also, if you like humorous investigative reporting with a bit of a story to it, Blue Latitudes: Boldly going where Captain Cook has gone before. Tony Horwitz. Part travelogue, part investigation into Captain Cook, who mapped nearly all of the Pacific, and what he means to modern cultures of the region. Horwitz is an old WSJ reporter so he has the knack of going the distance to find things out, even if it gets him into strange situations.

[Skeep]

Regrets to my literary colleagues, but I've little time for such great reading. I'm still sailing!

[gates_cliff]

"In Harm's Way" Doug Stanton--The story of the battleship INDIANA & her crew. A horrifying tale of a torpedoing, lost life, heroism, Naval failure and cover-up, ...

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster, (Where we might not have winter this year.) VA

I worked on a contract at VA and I was told about a Vet who needed assistance and all he could ever say was "I was a cook on the Indiana" and for a long time nobody could figure out what the problem was, until some retire Naval Officer who knew about the Indiana heard about it.

[Joe Myerson]

I'd add "Berserk" by David Mercy. It's a strange but fascinating book about a voyage from Tierra del Fuego to Antarctica and back aboard an Albin Vega. It's a book that clearly should come with the warning, "don't try this at home." But it's a great read. BTW, Mercy and his Norwegian friend, owner of the Vega, have since been lost at sea south of New Zealand.
--Joe