In Sea Foam, a 36-foot ketch, Herb and Nancy Payson and their large brood of teenage children cruised the Pacific for six and a half years. They experienced a certain a mount of stark terror, but their delights far outbalanced the drawbacks. The result is Blown Away, a kind of Swiss Family Robinson with overtones of the MArx Brothers. The situation aboard Sea Foam may frequently be desperate but is seldom serious as Herb Payson carries his readers to Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand and dozen sof other islands.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
Herb s self-deprecation is a wonderful counterpoint to his serious seamanship. Blown Away lets the reader laugh as he learns. A classic comedy of riches. --Sail, July 1995
To the South Sea islands with a family aboard a 36 ketch; entertaining, witty story. --Wooden Boat, March/April 1996
Getting away from it all was not an impossible dream for Herb and Nancy Payson, a California couple: they sold their belongings, purchased a ketch, SEAFOAM, and sailed for the Southern Seas. In their workaday lives Herb was a nightclub pianist and Nancy a cocktail waitress; he was an experienced sailor; she was eager to learn. So they set out with their children, one just 10 years old. And they enjoyed their journeys. When cash ran low everybody went to work: he and a son worked at carpentry in New Zealand: nancy and a daughter made blouses for a boutique in Papeete and the 10-year-old made tourist souvenirs from coconut shells. The story is a realistic portrait of an adventurous, enterprising family, with enough sailing lore to satisfy most bluewater buffs. --Publisher's Weekly, April 1980
To the South Sea islands with a family aboard a 36 ketch; entertaining, witty story. --Wooden Boat, March/April 1996
Getting away from it all was not an impossible dream for Herb and Nancy Payson, a California couple: they sold their belongings, purchased a ketch, SEAFOAM, and sailed for the Southern Seas. In their workaday lives Herb was a nightclub pianist and Nancy a cocktail waitress; he was an experienced sailor; she was eager to learn. So they set out with their children, one just 10 years old. And they enjoyed their journeys. When cash ran low everybody went to work: he and a son worked at carpentry in New Zealand: nancy and a daughter made blouses for a boutique in Papeete and the 10-year-old made tourist souvenirs from coconut shells. The story is a realistic portrait of an adventurous, enterprising family, with enough sailing lore to satisfy most bluewater buffs. --Publisher's Weekly, April 1980
To the South Sea islands with a family aboard a 36 ketch; entertaining, witty story. --Wooden Boat, March/April 1996
Getting away from it all was not an impossible dream for Herb and Nancy Payson, a California couple: they sold their belongings, purchased a ketch, SEAFOAM, and sailed for the Southern Seas. In their workaday lives Herb was a nightclub pianist and Nancy a cocktail waitress; he was an experienced sailor; she was eager to learn. So they set out with their children, one just 10 years old. And they enjoyed their journeys. When cash ran low everybody went to work: he and a son worked at carpentry in New Zealand: nancy and a daughter made blouses for a boutique in Papeete and the 10-year-old made tourist souvenirs from coconut shells. The story is a realistic portrait of an adventurous, enterprising family, with enough sailing lore to satisfy most bluewater buffs. --Publisher's Weekly, April 1980
To the South Sea islands with a family aboard a 36 ketch; entertaining, witty story. --Wooden Boat, March/April 1996
Getting away from it all was not an impossible dream for Herb and Nancy Payson, a California couple: they sold their belongings, purchased a ketch, SEAFOAM, and sailed for the Southern Seas. In their workaday lives Herb was a nightclub pianist and Nancy a cocktail waitress; he was an experienced sailor; she was eager to learn. So they set out with their children, one just 10 years old. And they enjoyed their journeys. When cash ran low everybody went to work: he and a son worked at carpentry in New Zealand: nancy and a daughter made blouses for a boutique in Papeete and the 10-year-old made tourist souvenirs from coconut shells. The story is a realistic portrait of an adventurous, enterprising family, with enough sailing lore to satisfy most bluewater buffs. --Publisher's Weekly, April 1980
To the South Sea islands with a family aboard a 36 ketch; entertaining, witty story. --Wooden Boat, March/April 1996
Getting away from it all was not an impossible dream for Herb and Nancy Payson, a California couple: they sold their belongings, purchased a ketch, SEAFOAM, and sailed for the Southern Seas. In their workaday lives Herb was a nightclub pianist and Nancy a cocktail waitress; he was an experienced sailor; she was eager to learn. So they set out with their children, one just 10 years old. And they enjoyed their journeys. When cash ran low everybody went to work: he and a son worked at carpentry in New Zealand: nancy and a daughter made blouses for a boutique in Papeete and the 10-year-old made tourist souvenirs from coconut shells. The story is a realistic portrait of an adventurous, enterprising family, with enough sailing lore to satisfy most bluewater buffs. --Publisher's Weekly, April 1980
To the South Sea islands with a family aboard a 36 ketch; entertaining, witty story. --Wooden Boat, March/April 1996
Getting away from it all was not an impossible dream for Herb and Nancy Payson, a California couple: they sold their belongings, purchased a ketch, SEAFOAM, and sailed for the Southern Seas. In their workaday lives Herb was a nightclub pianist and Nancy a cocktail waitress; he was an experienced sailor; she was eager to learn. So they set out with their children, one just 10 years old. And they enjoyed their journeys. When cash ran low everybody went to work: he and a son worked at carpentry in New Zealand: nancy and a daughter made blouses for a boutique in Papeete and the 10-year-old made tourist souvenirs from coconut shells. The story is a realistic portrait of an adventurous, enterprising family, with enough sailing lore to satisfy most bluewater buffs. --Publisher's Weekly, April 1980
About the Author
From their first seven-year voyage throughout the Central and South Pacific, to their 26,000-mile trailersailer cruise of North America, to their nine years spent cruising the East Coast and the Caribbean from Canada to Brazil, Herb and Nancy Payson have grown from stumbling neophytes to experienced sailors. Herb was a professional musician before retiring (ha!) to cruising. Nancy gave up house, job, and all familiar safety nets to join him as a voyaging partner. They've been regular contributors to SAIL magazine for 24 years and Herb is presently editing the popular SAIL page &Things That Work.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hope for us all,
By
This review is from: Blown Away (Paperback)
This book is one of the best all-around, just-your-average-guy, kind of sailing story. There are many, many books about guys who have been sailing their local waters all their life. They have always owned a sailboat and have always known that some day they would take off over the horizon. That is not the kind of guy Herb Payson was. The author and his wife just happened to decide that sailing was the answer to a life that did not seem to be giving them the joy they were seeking. Nevermind that between them they had very little sailing experience. It's this type of spirit for adventure and desire to explore the unknown that many of us aspire to. The book is well written and truly a joy to read. The author takes a witty and low-key approach to their sometimes eventful escapades. What this book represented most of all, however, was that you don't have to have decades of sailing experience or incredible endurance to take to a life of cruising. It is an inspirational piece and required reading for anyone thinking of doing the same.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best sailing adventure my wife and I have read,
By A Customer
This review is from: Blown Away (Paperback)
We purchased the book from Herb at the Annapolis Boat Show, she read it to me as we drove home and we laughed at almost every paragraph she read. It sealed our desire to join the crusing world, we soon began our search for a suitable crusing boat and began making plans to sell the house, quite the jobs, and take off for the South Pacific. If Herb could make it to "paradise" then we can too. His writing style will keep you laughing...
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you love sailing, you'll love this book.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Blown Away (Paperback)
My dad gave me this book to read during our first week-long cruise on the Chesapeake with his new 34 Catalina. Not only was this book an instant favorite of mine, it was a perfect selection while I was enjoying the sea myself. It made me want to buy a boat and cruise the world. I'm envious of his travels! It's an endearing and hilarious read.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
It's been 22 years since we cast off Sea Foam's lines and headed south from San Diego; 17 years since the original publisher of Blown Away sent us an advance which found and cheered us, broke and discouraged, in the Gilbert Islands; 15 years since the book was published; 15 years since we sold our beloved, old, wooden ketch, Sea Foam, and moved to Maine. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sea Foam, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Los Angeles, Phil Walker, San Diego, Fatu Hiva, South Pacific, Nuku Hiva, Bora Bora, Father Christmas, Wreck Bay, French Polynesia, Hana Vave, Mexico City, Post Office Bay, Robinson's Cove, Southern California, Turtle Bay, Academy Bay, Bay of Islands, Cape Brett, Coast Guard, Hana Menu, Bahia Elenas New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
It's been 22 years since we cast off Sea Foam's lines and headed south from San Diego; 17 years since the original publisher of Blown Away sent us an advance which found and cheered us, broke and discouraged, in the Gilbert Islands; 15 years since the book was published; 15 years since we sold our beloved, old, wooden ketch, Sea Foam, and moved to Maine. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sea Foam, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Los Angeles, Phil Walker, San Diego, Fatu Hiva, South Pacific, Nuku Hiva, Bora Bora, Father Christmas, Wreck Bay, French Polynesia, Hana Vave, Mexico City, Post Office Bay, Robinson's Cove, Southern California, Turtle Bay, Academy Bay, Bay of Islands, Cape Brett, Coast Guard, Hana Menu, Bahia Elenas New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 8
books:
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8
books
cite this book:
See all 8 books citing this book
- Cruising in Seraffyn by Lin Pardey in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Around the World (Fantastic Journeys) by Steve Skidmore in Back Matter
- Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum in Back Matter
- Sailing Alone around the World (Penguin Classics) by Joshua Slocum in Back Matter
- Handbook of Offshore Cruising: The Dream and Reality of Modern Ocean Cruising 2nd Edition by Jim Howard in Back Matter
See all 8 books this book cites
- Advice to the Sealorn by Herb Payson on 5 pages
- Sailors' Secrets by Mike Badham in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat by Jerry Cardwell on page 169, and Back Matter
- You Can't Blow Home Again by Herb Payson in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Sailors' Secrets: Advice from the Masters by Mike Badham in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 8 books citing this book
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