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“A masterfully curated collection...You don't have to be a sailor to be blown away by this fascinating, bighearted book.” —Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea, Travels with George, and Second WindA story as vast and exhilarating as the open ocean itself, SAILING ALONE chronicles the daring, disastrous, and often absurd history of those who chose to sail across the ocean, in very small boats, alone.Sailing by yourself, out of sight of land, can be invigorating and terrifying, compelling and tedious - and sometimes all of the above in one morning. But it is also a wide expanse of time in which to think. Sailing Alone tells the story of some of the remarkable people who, over the last four centuries, have spent weeks and months, moving slowly over the world's largest laboratory: a capricious and startling place in which to observe oneself, the weather, the stars, and countless sea creatures, from the tiniest to the most massive and threatening. Richard J. King profiles characters famous, diverse, international, and obscure, from Joshua Slocum of 1898 to modern teenagers daring to take the challenge. They see strange hallucinations, lie to us (and themselves) on their travel logs, encounter sharks, befriend birds, and experience ESP, all part of the unnerving reality of extended isolation. And some disappear altogether. Sailing Alone also recounts the author's own nearly catastrophic solo crossing of the Atlantic, and the mystery of his inexplicable survival one sunny afternoon. An enormously engaging new book for skippers and armchair voyagers alike.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stone Barrington series tells the story of his own life from childhood to the present, and chronicles the journey that made him the writer he is today.Over the last forty years, Stuart Woods has written more than ninety novels of suspense and intrigue, beginning with the award-winning Chiefs. Featuring iconic crime-fighting and jet-setting leads, the plots are masterfully conceived and wonderfully escapist. What many readers don't know is that Woods's very own life was filled with similar stories of adventure. Born in Georgia, Woods worked in advertising in New York, served in the US Air Force, and had a short stint as an advance man. At the age of 37, he found himself in a transatlantic sailing race, and pursued writing as a full-time career shortly thereafter. Along the way, Woods has lived all over the world, from New York to London, Santa Fe to Ireland. Incorporating his iconic sailing memoir Blue Water, Green Skipper, this is the story of a life well-lived, and a special inside look into the beloved author's many exploits.

This is the story of two single-handed non-stop round-the-world voyages: Robin Knox-Johnston's in 1968/69 and Ellen MacArthur's in 2004/05. Although there were similarities – both voyages started and finished in Falmouth, for instance, and neither sailor was in a conventional race – the story is mainly one of contrasts, mostly as a consequence of thirty-six years of technological developments. These gave MacArthur the opportunity for a considerably faster voyage, but that didn't necessarily make things any easier for her. When Knox-Johnston set sail in Suhaili, no one knew if it was possible for a human being or a boat to survive such a voyage; and when MacArthur commissioned her boat B&Q, many considered that a high-performance trimaran of that size could not be safely sailed around the world by one person. Whatever comparisons are made, the question as to which was the greater achievement is futile: both voyages were utterly remarkable. MacArthur is no longer'the fastest', of course – her time has since been beaten by three Frenchmen – but she is still the fastest British solo circumnavigator, while Knox-Johnston's record as'the first'will be there for all time.

This is the story of a sailing odyssey, but also of an inward journey into deep truths about who we are and how we belong in the universal scheme. A meditation on sailing and life, it is a hugely enjoyable and thought-provoking book for landlubbers, sailors, philosophers and naturalists alike.Mostly sailing alone, Peter Reason invites us to share in the minute-by-minute challenges of seamanship and navigation, on his journey in his yacht Coral from Plymouth across the Celtic Sea and back again.Exploring far more than the seaways, the author successfully manages to tell the story of a journey with another dimension - that of investigating and reflecting on our human place in the ecology of the planet. Above all, this book shows us that Nature is not just a place to visit, but our home.

First published in 1900, “Sailing Alone Around the World” is the detailed account of how Joshua Slocum would become the first person to circumnavigate the globe by himself. Aboard a sloop named the ‘Spray', which Slocum himself rebuilt and refitted, he would depart from Boston on April, 24th, 1895 on this remarkable journey. Over the course of the next three years the boat would take him to Gloucester, Nova Scotia, Azores, Gibraltar, Morocco, the Canary Islands, the Cape Verde Islands, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Maldonado, Montevideo, through the Strait of Magellan, through the Cockburn Channel, Port Angosto, Juan Fernandez, Marquesas, Samoa, Fiji, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, Cooktown, Christmas Island, Keeling Cocos, Rodrigues, Mauritius, Durban, Cape Town, Transvaal, St Helena, Ascension Island, Devil's Island, Trinidad, Grenada, Newport, and finally back to Fairhaven in Massachusetts. Filled with numerous illustrations, “Sailing Alone Around the World” is a real-life nautical tale of adventure filled with perilous encounters and challenges. A classic story of self-determination, “Sailing Alone Around the World” has inspired generations of sailors and adventurers alike ever since its original publication.

Nova Scotia's maritime heritage is brought to life in the story of an adventurer who traveled the world on an epic solo voyage in a 23-foot sailboat in the 1930s. With only his dog, Togo, as a companion, Captain William Crowell overcame the challenges of an unforgiving ocean. Decades later, his grandson Frank Leaman helped him tell the story of his travels. The Roar of the Sea explores not only his family's history, but also Nova Scotia's seafaring heritage. After the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax included Captain Crowell's solo voyage as part of its permanent Days of Sail exhibit, Frank continued to gather Crowell family history and dig deeper into his grandfather's life. Together with Allison Lawlor, Frank has created a story that weaves Captain Crowell's life into his family's Loyalist roots and personal reflections. The resulting book stands as one grandson's loving tribute to his grandfather - a daring mariner who saw the end of a golden era of wooden ships and iron men

'It takes thousands of hours of sailing to get the kind of knowledge contained in this book.'-- from the Foreword by Bruce Schwab The ONLY bible for how to sail your boat fast, safe, and alone Solo sailing is within any sailor's grasp with a little forethought--and this essential guide. Got a 35-foot sailboat? No problem. Is the wind blowing 20 knots? No problem. Are you racing offshore overnight? Even better. Singlehander Andrew Evans learned the hard way how to sail and race alone--with lots of mishaps, including broaches and a near tumbling over a waterfall--and in Singlehanded Sailing he shares the techniques, tips, and tactics he has developed to make his solo sailing adventures safe and enriching. Learn everything you need to know to meet any solo challenge, including: Managing the power consumption aboard a boat to feed the electric autopilot Setting and gybing a spinnaker Finding time to sleep Dealing with heavy weather

'Mike's final 12 days at sea... remain a testimony to his almost superhuman ability to drive one of the fastest sailing boats ever built, in extreme conditions, and survive for as long as he did. When the boat was found, it proved that, despite everything, Mike had kept Coyote on course. Or maybe Coyote had kept them both on course, as long as she was able.'-- Julia Plant Coyote Lost at Sea is the story of Mike Plant, one of the most exciting and daring round-the-world solo sailors of his time. Mike's untamed courage and charismatic personality naturally drew fans and admirers who wondered what kind of risk he would take next. His younger sister, Julia Plant, had been one of those admirers until Mike's flame burned too brightly and she needed to find her own way. This distant, yet ultimate, love for her brother makes Julia the perfect one to tell his story. She reveals a vivid, raw version of her brother--a boy who spent most of his teen years and twenties getting in trouble with the law, but who later grew up to be a sailing living legend. Her insight into his personality and what made him so fearless helps us understand why Mike would take such a gamble with a boat like Coyote. Her research and interviews with Mike's friends, fellow competitors, and sailing experts paints a clearer picture of Mike's last days with the controversial Coyote, a mystery that has intrigued the world of sailing for two decades.

The actual experiences during cruise around the world in the Spray with a crew of one, 1895-98.

Captain Joshua Slocum's solo voyage around the world in the 37-foot sloop the Spray in 1895 undoubtedly stands as one of the greatest sea adventures of all time. His classic narrative of this 46,000 mile circumnavigation of the globe continues to enjoy immense popularity throughout the world.

A teen girl who attempted to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone recounts her adventure in this memoir of faith and courage.Abby Sutherland grew up sailing. Her father, Laurence, a shipwright, and her mother, Marianne, wanted their kids to develop responsibility, to see other cultures, to experience the world instead of watching it on TV. So they took them sailing down the coast of Mexico... for three years.When Abby was thirteen, she began helping her father deliver boats and soon was sailing solo. She loved being on the open ocean, the spray in her face, the wind in her hair. She began to dream of sailing the world. On January 23, 2010, sixteen-year-old Abby Sunderland set sail from Marina del Rey, California, in an attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the world. Immediately, her trip sparked controversy. What was a girl her age doing undertaking such a voyage? What were her parents thinking?Abby's critics predicted she'd make it a few weeks at most. But sailing south, she proved them wrong and became the youngest person to solo around Cape Horn, the “Mt. Everest of sailing.” Crossing the Southern and Atlantic oceans, she battled vicious storms and equipment breakdowns—making one critical repair literally with a nail file and some line. Abby bested the wicked waters at the southern tip of Africa and then entered the Indian Ocean—all twenty-seven million square miles of it. It was here that Abby Sutherland encountered the violent storms that would test her mettle and her will to survive—and change her life forever.

Three thousand people have climbed Everest; four hundred and fifty have traveled into space. Only two hundred fifty have sailed round the world alone. The youngest of these was a teenager. When he set out on his attempt, Mike Perham was just sixteen years old.At first, his mother was against the whole thing. The experts said it could be suicidal. The head of Britain's venerable Royal Yachting Association told him not to go. Mike Perham persevered, and in August 2009, at the age of just 17 years, 5 months, and 11 days, became the youngest person to have sailed solo around the world.His yacht was knocked over, battered by waves, and repeatedly damaged, but Mike battled on, at times surfing down 50-foot waves in 50-knot winds at speeds of up to 28 knots. Despite these conditions, and suffering from sleep deprivation and extreme physical exhaustion, Mike maintained a positive attitude. His cheerful resilience continually shines through as he describes his adventures and also talks about the team behind his trips, both when sailing round the world and in his earlier journey across the Atlantic at the age of fourteen, and the stresses and sacrifices involved for his family and friends.Mike's achievement is placed in even sharper relief by another young sailor's more recent, failed attempt at solo circumnavigation that nearly ended in tragedy. Sailing the Dream is an inspirational as well as thrilling story, and one for all ages.

'An incredibly moving and inspirational book'Boat MartIn 2006, Dee Caffari became the first woman to sail solo round the world against the prevailing winds and currents. Her story is an adventure in the true sense of the word. It is about physical hardship in terrible conditions, overcoming sleep deprivation, 34 days of gales, 12 metre waves and cyclones. It is also about a woman who stepped outside her safe zone and dared to dream. Her courage resulted in a place in the history books alongside a handful of men, having achieved something truly extraordinary. More people have walked on the moon than have successfully completed a westabout circumnavigation, and in this inspirational book Dee shares the story of her journey from beginner to record breaker. A new chapter for this paperback edition recounts Dee's experiences since her Record and her preparations for the Vendee Globe Race.'We can do more than we think we can. We just have to dare to dream.'Dee Caffari'Dee has inspired the imagination of a worldwide audience. She has joined only four men who have achieved this feat. Other women may follow, but she will always remain the first.'Sir Chay Blyth

Joshua Slocum's epic solo voyage around the world in 1895 in the 37 foot sloop Spray stands as one of the greatest sea adventures of all time. It remains one of the major feats of singlehanded voyaging, and has since been the inspiration for the many who have gone to sea in small boats. Starting from Boston in 1895, by the time he dropped anchor in Newport, Rhode Island over three years after his journey began, he had cruised some 46,000 miles entirely by sail and entirely alone. Slocum's account of his epic voyage is a classic of sailing literature, acclaimed as an unequalled masterpiece of vital yet disciplined prose. It will be welcomed by admirers of his legendary achievement.'It is a timeless work that can be read again and again, and a story that totally absorbs the reader with it's enormity and honest endeavour'RNSA Journal'Slocum's prose is a model of its kind: honest, vivid, salty, and at times, lyrical'Traditional Boats and Tall Ships'One of the all-time classic sailing narratives'Classic Boat

The biennial Around Alone yacht race (now known as the 5-Oceans Challenge) is the most thrilling adventure in the world for the sailors passionate enough to undertake it. Among the competitors in 2002 was Derek Hatfield, a former fraud-squad Mountie, whose forty-foot Spirit of Canada had cost him almost everything he had. In this nail-biting account of the race, Adam Mayers brings to life the joys and the agonies of racing alone — and the dreams that drive these men and women to sail around the world solo. Watch for Hatfield when he competes again in 2006.

The true story of Canada's greatest sailor, the first to sail around the world single-handedly.When Joshua Slocum sailed into port in Massachusetts on June 27, 1898, he was the first man ever to have completed a voyage around the world without technology, money or companion. It took him three years to cover the 46,000 miles, and along the way he was chased by pirates, buffeted by storms, and narrowly escaped death by sharks. When a goat ate his charts, he managed to navigate through the Caribbean by memory and intuition.This is the true-life adventure story of an extraordinary man, who ran away to sea at sixteen and never looked back. Born on a farm in Nova Scotia, he apprenticed on voyages to China, Hong Kong and Indonesia; met and married his wife in Sydney, Australia, and raised his family aboard sailing vessels in ports around the world. He survived mutinies, lost cargoes, terrible storms, and treacheries at sea before resolving on his voyage around the world in a dilapidated oyster sloop he named The Spray. After settling down and writing his memoirs, he set sail on November 14, 1909, and was never seen again.