Maiden Voyage [Paperback]

Tania Aebi (Author), Bernadette Brennan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 29, 1996

Tania Aebe was an eighteen-year-old dropout and barfly. She was going nowhere until her father offered her a challenge. He would offer her either a college education or a twenty-six-foot sloop in which she had to sail around the world alone. She chose the boat and for two years it was her home, as she negotiated weather, illness, fear, and ultimately, a spiritual quest that brought her home to herself....


From the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Challenged by her German-Swiss father, an 18-year-old New York City bicycle messenger in 1988 became the first American woman, and the youngest person, to sail alone around the world. In this jaunty account of her journey, she veers between the perils of solo sailing, her relationships with her separated parents and the death of her mysterious mother. Aebi, writing with freelancer Brennan, reveals her lack of sailing knowledge and experience, describes the heavy seas and weather she endured, her numerous problems with malfunctioning equipment, the countries, people and cats she encountered and a sympathetic French-Swiss whose boat sometimes accompanied her own. The story is so compelling that sailing enthusiasts will read avidly on to the triumphant finish. Literary Guild alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This is the story of an 18-year-old New York City girl and her exciting solo circumnavigation of the globe on a 26-foot sloop with only a cat for company. Aebi had little previous experience, so most of what she learned was "on the job" and from people she met en route. One of the most appealing aspects of this particular single-handed sailing account is Aebi's naivete and the caring response that she encountered all over the world. Her 27,000-mile, three-year trek is usually attempted only by practiced sailors, and her survival was achieved by pluck, inventiveness, helping hands, and a good deal of luck. Armchair sailors will cheer and dream a little and veterans may only shake their heads. Recommended.
- Susan Ebershoff-Coles, Indianapolis-Marion Cty.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (September 29, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345410122
• ISBN-13: 978-0345410122
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Solo Travel
  • #16 in Books > Teens > Sports & Hobbies > Girls in Sports

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply amazing diary! August 1, 2001

By Steve Bradford

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Tania Aebi's "Maiden Voyage" depicts a troubled teen's real life circumnavigation of the Earth on a small sailboat. She knows little of sailing but quickly masters her boat and the wind that takes her around the world. She meets plenty of friends throughout her real life journey that took place in in the late '80's. Several close calls make sure the journey never goes quite as planned.

Good book for those who are interested in sailing or dream of adventure abroad. Ms. Aebi's circumnavigation is a learning experience not only for her, but for all of those who read her book. "Maiden Voyage" is one of Amazon's best kept secrets! A great book!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You gotta read this book! March 22, 2000

By Monica

Format:Paperback

I love this book! I love the balence of sailing, romace, and of Tania's coming of age through her experiences of her travels. I just read this and immediately started to read it again. It was a great insperation. I could relate to the pitfalls of her highschool experience with school and family. And even could when she was at sea.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Probably not fot the older male August 17, 2009

By Christopher Ohlgren

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I thought this was a good book, but not a great one. I plan to give it to my 15 year old niece and I think it will be perfect for her. The book is a coming of age adventure about a late teen girl setting out on an adventure sailing around the world. For me, I wished she would have come of a little more age. The book felt like it was written by a person younger than the author actually was. The author seemed incredibly ignorant and naive at the opening of the story, and though she grew, those traits irritated me throughout. The last line of the book made me groan out loud. I loved the sailing and adventure aspects, I liked the family background stories, I hated the teen girl drama. I believe I am the wrong audience, but still. All that aside, from a story point of view, I felt the book ended really flat. I thought there was another chapter and was surprised to see it was actually the end.