Into the Wind, Around Alone: The story of the world's longest race [Hardcover]

Tony Bartelme (Author), Brian Hicks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 21, 1999

Last summer, 16 skippers set off from Charleston on a 27,000-mile ocean odysey around the world. Each one alone in a boat powered only by the wind.

Battling time, frigid cold, isolation and waves as tall as buildings, they've raced from South Carolina to South Africa, New Zealand and South America, experiencing adventures they never expected. A former Russian commando was forced to perform surgery on himself while his yacht crashed through the Atlantic. A world-famous female skipper found herself upside down in her boat in the frigid waters off Antarctica, while a wiry Italian braved furious seas to come to her rescue.

This month, a few of the original 16 will sail the final leg back to Charleston. One will be the victor. But all are heroes.

An award-winning team of Post and Courier writers and photographers has tracked these daring solo sailors, recording the triumphs and terrors of their trek in hundreds of interviews and vivid color photographs. This action-packed coverage has been compiled into a collectible, hardcover book titled Into the Wind.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In Into the Wind, journalists Tony Bartelme and Brian Hicks produce a remarkable behind-the-scenes account of the fifth running of this offshore classic. The next best thing to being there!" -- Herb McCormick, executive editor of Cruising World magazine

About the Author

Tony Bartelme is a senior writer with The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, where he reports on a wide range of complex community topics. In 1994, he covered the BOC around the world race and is lead writer covering this year's Around Alone race. He is a former South Carolina State Press Association Journalist of the Year.

Brian Hicks is a general assignment reporter for The Post and Courier who has been involved in a number of previous special projects. He is the 1998 South Carolina Press Association Journalist of the Year.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Evening Post Publishing Co.; 1ST edition (May 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934870942
• ISBN-13: 978-0934870948
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,614,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkably well written!, July 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Into the Wind, Around Alone: The story of the world's longest race (Hardcover)

It takes special people to write about these outstanding sailors. Tony Bartelme and Brian Hicks have put together a gem of a book, providing a fantastic, 'drivers seat' insight into what it is like to solo circumnavigate our planet. I feel that people from all walks of life will enjoy this fine book, as it makes one appreciate the levels of courage, endurance and creativity needed to compete in such an event. Well done!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tale of human spirit, courage and discovery. "A must read", December 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Into the Wind, Around Alone: The story of the world's longest race (Hardcover)

Have you ever wondered how fast flying fish fly? How about being given a black eye by one of these fish! Answer to the first statement, at least 28kts., Clocked by a GPS as one sailed the same course and kept pace with one of the 60' carbon hulled racers as
it scooted south on the edge of hurricane force winds. The black eye is a true story, simply being in the wrong spot on deck when
the fish took flight,this occured on a different boat. Can you even begin to imagine being bumped by a whale while in mid-ocean?
One of my favorite stories is told by one of the captains who for five days had the pleasure of a small sea bird paying him a daily visit dropping a small fish on deck, the captain surmised that the bird must have felt as if he was hungry and was bringing him a fresh seafood meal.

These are not your everyday tales, but those of solitary sailors crossing open seas. Anyone who ventures forth on the water,from a rowboat to the cruise ship worshiper who understands the freedom that the being on the water brings, will be unable to put this book down. I had a colleague once tell me that she never understood why I enjoyed being on my boat so much,that was of course,until she took her first cruise ship ride and experienced the calm and freedom which comes from being at sea.

Anyone interested in personal discovery,and the limits of mental and physical endurance will find this a must read! Yes, there was modern technology onboard to help guide these sailors, but reading through some of their accounts, sealed in spartan cabins, while 80-100kt. winds blow, seas outside passing by that are the size of small mountains or rolling hills 50'and taller.

The first hand accounts from several of these captains, describing the unmitigated fear they felt for days and nights on end,some seemingly having surpassed their limits, but through the uncanny fellowship of their fellow sailors, who kept a vigil via radio contact,these explorers were able to endure.

You needen't be a sailor to enjoy this book, not by any means.
The book is about the love of life, and the challenge of living it to it's fullest,in this case, on the edge the very edge to say the least. Of course it's about boats and racing,but even more so,it's about courage,conditioning,determination, achievement, endurance and ones personal quest for realizing that their dreams can and will come true.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, September 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Into the Wind, Around Alone: The story of the world's longest race (Hardcover)

I liked this book a lot and would recommend it whether you enjoy sailing or not.