Customer Reviews

Fastnet, Force 10

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From reading Perfect Storm two years ago I have started reading adventure stories at sea. This is a fascinating race in extreme conditions which the author describes very well based on his first hand knowledge. But he also analyzes what went wrong and where the blame should be placed if anywhere. The pictures are exceptional and this is an excellent read with a few slow spots.

However, it is not my favorite sailing adventure. That would be Fatal Storm, the Inside Story of the Sydney-Hobart race. While it may not have taught as much, the stories were more in-depth and mesmerizing.

This book has historical importance from a sailing perspective as it was one of the first races of the modern era with catastrophic results and much was learned for equipment development. A must read for sailors and adventure junkies. Also good for someone wanting to learn about the technical side of racing and weather.

This book is superb, the best I have ever read on sustained rough weather sailboating and what really happens onboard 30 to 80 foot sailboats in very strong storm conditions at sea. The book is very well written and the author's words allowed me to come quite close to feeling the wet, windy, bouncing, noisy and scary conditions experienced by the people on the boats in that terrible storm. It is highly gripping as an adventure, and unusually informative on how to properly prepare a yacht for offshore sailing where threatening storms are always a real threat. Very enjoyable. by Allen Hobbs, Lt. USN (ret)

I have read this book multiple times and I have loaned it out to every one I know. It is my favorite adventure book. The writing is superb and John's analysis is spot on. The storm is reviewed from its beginnings over Minnesota, its brush with the J/24 world championship off New England and on to its fateful meeting with the Fasnet fleet. He tells a compelling story about the race and the horror of the sea in a state of rage - this is better than Into Thin Air and the Perfect Storm. Best of all John tells his story with compassion and sensitivity and shows that sometimes no matter what you do you may find yourself in an impossible situation. . Buy this book! You will not be disappointed! Thanks John for a great book.

I read this book a couple of years ago and still think about it often. It is meritorious on two levels. First, it is a gripping account of ocean racing in fierce storm conditions, and secondly, it is a dramatic series of the personal stories of the various people who survived, died, completed the race, and won the race. Most memorable was the author's description of media tycoon Ted Turner (who was at the time also an expert sailor) and his response to the race and it's disastrous aftermath. I wont spoil it for you, but that section really was illuminating. The pictures are incredible

A well written book. The book is easy to ready, but it still has lots of frightening information. The author describes the Fastnet disaster. He sailed himself on one boat, but he has solid information from several boats. The book has good photographs, in addition to the excellent text.

Everyone who is involved in offshore sailing (or considers taking up offsore sailing) should read this book.

(This review is based on the hard-cover version of the book.)

If you are looking for a good guys vs. bad guys screed; if you are looking for a juvenile, sensationalistic piece, look elaewhere. This is an intelligent, objective documentary of sea disaster in which boats were lost and people died. You don't have to be a yachtsman, just a muture student of the human experience.

John Rousmaniere has done a super job in explaining what ocean sailing is all about. Even though I have never done ocean sailing, I feel I have learned valuable lessons of what to do and not to do. Mr. Rousmaniere gives actual details of what these sailors go through so you feel you are right with them. I also recommend reading his other book, Rescue in the Pacific.

As a sailor that sails the Atlantic coastal waters in a 26',water ballast sailboat,I was in awe reading Mr. Rousmaniere's great work on the Fastnet disaster. The amount of information gathered required much in depth interviewing no doubt. I found it difficult to put the book down once I got into the story.I found the accounts of the incidents of the various boats to be very vivid, and easily pictured. Anyone who sails,or feels the lure of the sea should definitely read this book!

Although I am not a sailor (and was occasionally left beind by Rousmaniere's use of sailing terminology), I thoroughly enjoyed this account of the deadly 1979 Fastnet race. The book is a narrative of a summer sailing race turned disaster off the coast of England and Ireland. As a bonus Rousmaniere is a good writer unlike so many other adventurers.

One of the most striking elements of the storm is that its effects varied so much over a very small distance. The author, who took part in the race on a larger yacht, was never really in life-threatening seas, while other boats just a few hours away pitched and rolled themselves to pieces. Rousmaniere tells his story along with accounts from the yachts that had crewmembers perish. He also describe the rescue effort in detail and gives some explanation how more than 300 yachts could have been surprised by one of the largest summer storms in history. The most interesting chapter at the end is his attempt to explain the lessons learned during the storm.

A good account of a hideous sailing adventure that will be enjoyable to sailors and land-lubbers alike.

This is my favorite non-fiction book, and a worthy gift for any serious sailor.

I just finished my third reading of FF10 and as with the first two, couldn't put it down throughout. In my first reading, the story of this tragedy captured me. The second time I focused on the technical aspects and the weather discussions, and the rescues - a sailor's study. This last time I grappled with Rousemaniere's questions concerning decision making and preparedness by sailors and crew.

In light of the recent (2000) film, A Perfect Storm, I wonder whether it would be at all possible to make this story into a movie, and how difficult such a task would be. Those not familiar with the 1979 Fastnet Race would think Hollywood had gone too far in its imagination...truth in this case is stranger than fiction.