When they set sail from Long Beach, CA in 1949 on a 65 foot barkentine to sail around the world, they forgot their navigation maps, unknowingly skewed the boat's compass, had too little money ($500), and insufficient sailing experience. All six of the crew had no idea of the life-threatening challenges they would face. Five years later the crew will have proven their mettle as they successfully and ceremoniously returned to Long Beach harbor having survived encounters with cannibals, a venomous snake in a sleeping bag, malaria in Panama, worm holes in the hull of their boat, passage through an unpublicized revolution in Indonesia, sand storms in the Red Sea, blown out sails, loss of an engine, cabin fever, spies, smugglers, and the departure and arrival of new crew members. Through it all, they persevered by writing about their adventures and selling them to magazines such as Reader's Digest so there would be a check waiting for them in the next port to pay for paint, engine parts, sails, or some other repair. By the time they returned to a rousing welcome, TV stations were broadcasting how this crew survived their circumnavigation exclusively on their wits and wind.
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About the Author
Dr. William W. Vickers was born in San Francisco in 1923. He attended Cal. Tech. before enlisting as a Marine pilot in WW II where he flew Corsairs off of air craft carriers. After his circumnavigation he became a Fulbright Scholar in Norway and a Research Scientist in Antartica during the 1957-'58 International Geophysical year. He then worked as an Atmospheric Physicist for MITRE Corp. in Massachusetts for almost 3 decades. Upon his retirement, he moved to southern California to live on an avocado ranch near a few of his crew mates from the "California". He and his wife whom he met on the voyage have been married for over 50 years and enjoy their 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
5-star treasure,
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This review is from: On Wits and Wind (Paperback)
A true adventure story of a round-the-world voyage by four men and a dog on a three-masted schooner. With many ports of call and stays ashore of varying lengths to earn money to continue their journey, provision and repair the schooner's wind-battered sails, have fun, see the sights and explore remote and dangerous areas, William Ward Vicker's account of this epic voyage is a fascination. Lavishly illustrated with 161 photographs, the majority memorably captured by crew member Art Teets, "On Wits and Wind" is a unique five-star treasure.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating Journey in Life,
By cmb "cmb" (Grand Rapids, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On Wits and Wind (Paperback)
I'll read this book several times-the story, the character development, the scientific info--and more. Well written, stirs my sense of adventure. It is a pleasure to "accompany" these men on their journey-almost a journey to manhood.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The last voyage in the old world,
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This review is from: On Wits and Wind (Paperback)
We now live in a very different world than that which existed following the end of World War II. After six years of unimaginable tumult, chaos and destruction, there was a short period of time when much that survived the war but which has now passed forever away was still available to be explored and experienced.
William Ward Vickers and a small group of companions - having served in the military but having never seen combat and knowing that the world and they would soon change forever - were determined to see as much of the world and learn as much as they could about themselves before the forces of change reshaped the world and themselves. In his book, "Of Wit and Wind", Mr. Vickers tells the story of an unforgettable voyage put in motion by desire and audacity and sustained by an unquenchable spirit of adventure and resourcefulness. He tells it in the first person - and in his telling of his story - it is easy to forget that you are reading words on a page and to feel instead that he is there with you as his tale unfolds - a master storyteller spinning a yarn that enthralls and ultimately exhilarates as you realize that every word of the yarn is true. The book is handsomely illustrated with photographs that document the various - and at times unbelievable - stages of the voyage and is a wonderful history of places and peoples that are now long gone. Do yourself a favor and sign on for a weekend with the crew of The Cal - you will be very glad that you did.
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