Sea Change: Alone Across the Atlantic in a Wooden Boat (Paperback)

by Peter Nichols (Author) "I flip through Watt's book while waiting for the water to boil..." (more)
Key Phrases: miles noon, pilot charts, wind vane, Captain Johnson, Robin Knox-Johnston, Virgin Islands (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
When your marriage fails and life in England gives no solace, the solution, thought Peter Nichols, is to take his beloved boat Toad and sail across the Atlantic to Maine. Nichols, who has spent years sailing small boats but who is far from a wealthy yachtsman, had lovingly restored his 27-foot boat with his former wife. At sea, he reflects upon the busted marriage and upon the odd turns his life has taken. He also engages in some fascinating thoughts detailing the rigors of sailing single-handedly across an ocean. This book is very well written, and as Nichols slowly realizes that Toad has a flaw below the waterline making her less than seaworthy, it turns into a poignant battle for survival on the open ocean. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
The author, ostensibly a resident of Northern California who has worked in the film industry but who is obviously at ease just about anywhere, set sail from England in an old but elegant wooden boat named Toad and heads for Camden, Maine, by way of the Azores and possibly Bermuda. The trip is meant to retrace a similar voyage Nichols took years before with his wife (known only to readers as "J"), but because they divorced in the interim, this particular solo trip becomes a reflective one. There are dangers involved in sailing alone across the Atlantic, and we become privy to Nichols's gradual realization that tragedy is ready to strike. This highly introspective work by a gifted author portrays an experience that most of us only dream about and makes it palpably real. Libraries in seafaring locales will definitely want this title, but even landlubbers will find it entertaining.?Joseph L. Carlson, Vandenberg Air Force Base Lib., Cal.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140264132
• ISBN-13: 978-0140264135
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #646,551 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sea Change-A book that spoke to me, calling me to the sea., June 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Sea Change: Alone Across the Atlantic in a Wooden Boat (Hardcover)

I wandered into a book store to find Peter Nichols there for a book signing, he spoke of his journey, his life before and after setting sail, he read from his book and I was glad I had the chance to meet him. I found the book riveting at times and a comfortable cruise at other times. I recomend it not only to someone who has an interest in the sea (I never did before this book) but to anyone whoever loved or hopes to love for I found it as much of a love story as a journal of the wooden ship of days goneby, now crossing the ocean. Get and read this book

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy-to-read honest slice of life, August 9, 1998

By	[e-mail] "russellgarbutt" (Dunedin, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sea Change: Alone Across the Atlantic in a Wooden Boat (Hardcover)

Reading this book, I could easily envisage the events that were described. This is no account of survival at sea, far from the land. The last journey of Toad is a journey of reflection.

What differentiates Peter from the hundreds of other sailors bumming their way round the cruising world is his ability to open his heart and, it seems, openly display his emotions. I felt uncomfortable in some ways that he read his ex-wife's diaries through his last solo voyage, but then it was only then that he could discover part of himself I suppose.

He travelled unprepared and I think that he also travelled a little foolishly, but I also didn't get the impression that he was relying on others to save him.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it to those who enjoy reading a range of books on ocean voyaging in small boats.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, September 19, 2000

By	wrenhunter (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

I also stayed up until 3 AM to finish this very enjoyable book. Nichols writes about his nautical journey with a wry humor, and his personal one with a fine honesty and lack of self-indulgence. By the end of the book you're just about as attached to Toad as he is, and sad to see her go.

As someone who has recently taken up sailing, I also found his writing on techniques and attitudes of sailing and cruising to be interesting, quite apart from the very enjoyable vicarious journey itself.

Finally, he makes reference in his tale to other authors who sound like a good read in their own right. Can you ask more of an author than to write a good book and give you ideas for your next readings? Borges would be proud.