Alone: The Man Who Braved the Vast Pacific and Won [Hardcover]

Gerard D'Aboville (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 11, 1993

A man who rowed eight thousand miles across the Pacific describes his harrowing journey, battling currents that moved him backward, cyclones with one hundred mph winds, and waves that capsized his boat.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On July 11, 1991, d'Aboville set out from Chosi, Japan, to row across the Pacific Ocean. One hundred and thirty-four days later, he entered the harbor channel of the Columbia River at Ilwaco, Washington, having rowed some 8000 miles. Although he had rowed the Atlantic from Cape Cod to Brest, France, 12 years earlier, the Pacific proved a greater challenge, with vicious currents, cyclones with 100 mph winds and towering waves that battered his 26-foot boat, Sector . But Sector had been designed to be self-righting--a vital feature, since it capsized more than 30 times. D'Aboville rowed 10 to 12 hours a day and lived in a watertight space 31 inches high, containing a bed, one-burner stove and communications equipment. Two desalination pumps provided fresh water, while solar panels fueled a ham radio and a computer telex. D'Aboville's description of his journey is a gripping story not just of physical endurance but of mental and spiritual fortitude. Photos not seen by PW .
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In 1980, d'Aboville crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a rowboat and lived to tell about it. Eleven years later, he yielded to his insatiable desire for adventure and, once again, on July 11, 1991, attempted to repeat the feat by rowing across the Pacific Ocean. The treacherous adventure took almost five months (134 days) to complete. D'Aboville's account of his voyage is a classic tale of man against the elements. Recounting incredible odds--typhoons, cyclones, numerous capsizings, and high winds, among other things--d'Aboville tells a tale of courage, adventure, hope, and survival. What his writing style lacks in excitement is more than made up in inspiration. For popular collections.
- Ann E. Cohen, Rochester P.L., N.Y.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 167 pages
• Publisher: Arcade Publishing; 1 edition (July 11, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559702184
• ISBN-13: 978-1559702188
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,628,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A logbook that leaves reader wanting more, December 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Alone: The Man Who Braved the Vast Pacific and Won (Hardcover)

The logbook style of D'Aboville's book doesn't lend itself well to a deep understanding of what goes through the mind of a solo rower travelling across the ocean. The reader gets glimpses, but not a coherent narrative. The terse entries make for a fast read and the subject matter is interesting.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read, October 29, 2009

By 

Fred A Serra (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alone: The Man Who Braved the Vast Pacific and Won (Paperback)

I had never heard about Gerard d'Aboville when I bough the book. I found out about him reading A Pearl in the Storm by Tori Murden. I though that Tori Murden book was a good read but I enjoyed Alone even more. It is better written (may be because it is an english translation written by a professional writer) and quite funny and insightful. It not only covers the technical information about the boat but also describes how he got the idea, planned the trip, got sponsorship and what went through his mind during the 134 days he was rowing alone across the Pacific. A very philosophical book (in a good way). I plan to re-read it again in a year or two.