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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In the psychedelic summer of 1968, as Apollo 8 soared toward the moon and the Democratic Convention crashed in Chicago, nine men tried finally to accomplish the sailor's age-old ultimate goal: a solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the world. Nichols (Sea Change) deftly introduces myriad aspects of a voyage that promised "dubious, unquantifiable" rewards. He insightfully contextualizes the endeavor as an offshoot of Sir Francis Chichester's famous 1967 solo circumnavigation (with one stop), which represented to England a "longed-for" heroism. Detailing the British media's successful exploitation of the so-called race, he approaches the voyage as the remarkable result of nine men wishing to outdo Chichester. Nichols painstakingly describes the enormous difficulty of solo navigation in the pre-global positioning system of the 1960s. These "hardcase egomaniacs driven by complex desires and vainglory to attempt an extreme, life-threatening endeavor" used only rudimentary equipment and their wits. Nichols is at his liveliest when describing the only two participants who "were really happy aboard their boats": the French-Asian Bernard Moitessier, the most skilled sailor, whose mystical seamanship brings surprises, and the British Robin Knox-Johnson, who was energized during his journey by the memory of "the Elizabethan sea heroes of his youth." Nichols also delivers a compelling portrait of English Donald Crowhurst, an electronics engineer whose "supercharged personality" wreaked havoc on the entire race. While Nichols's pace is neither breakneck nor suspenseful, his careful details and psychological insight make for a riveting account of the triumphant human spirit. 16-page photo insert, 8 maps.
From Booklist
In 1968 there remained one major nautical challenge yet to be accomplished: sailing single-handedly nonstop around the world. Nine men set out to achieve it in one of the most widely publicized yacht races. What could possess nine otherwise sane and responsible men to risk their lives, careers, and the well-being of their families by undertaking such a reckless endeavor? Nichols introduces the reader to the contestants, giving a vivid portrayal of the men attempting the feat. He expertly tells their individual stories in great detail: why they entered the race, what they had staked on winning, and their struggles at sea. He weaves their story together to form a comprehensive account of the race that reads like a suspense novel. Readers will eagerly turn the pages to discover how some were defeated by the ocean or the race's harsh rules and the lengths to which one contestant went to be declared the winner. An interesting slice of history that makes for a worthy seagoing adventure story. Gavin Quinn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Editorial Reviews
In the psychedelic summer of 1968, as Apollo 8 soared toward the moon and the Democratic Convention crashed in Chicago, nine men tried finally to accomplish the sailor's age-old ultimate goal: a solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the world. Nichols (Sea Change) deftly introduces myriad aspects of a voyage that promised "dubious, unquantifiable" rewards. He insightfully contextualizes the endeavor as an offshoot of Sir Francis Chichester's famous 1967 solo circumnavigation (with one stop), which represented to England a "longed-for" heroism. Detailing the British media's successful exploitation of the so-called race, he approaches the voyage as the remarkable result of nine men wishing to outdo Chichester. Nichols painstakingly describes the enormous difficulty of solo navigation in the pre-global positioning system of the 1960s. These "hardcase egomaniacs driven by complex desires and vainglory to attempt an extreme, life-threatening endeavor" used only rudimentary equipment and their wits. Nichols is at his liveliest when describing the only two participants who "were really happy aboard their boats": the French-Asian Bernard Moitessier, the most skilled sailor, whose mystical seamanship brings surprises, and the British Robin Knox-Johnson, who was energized during his journey by the memory of "the Elizabethan sea heroes of his youth." Nichols also delivers a compelling portrait of English Donald Crowhurst, an electronics engineer whose "supercharged personality" wreaked havoc on the entire race. While Nichols's pace is neither breakneck nor suspenseful, his careful details and psychological insight make for a riveting account of the triumphant human spirit. 16-page photo insert, 8 maps.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.From Booklist
In 1968 there remained one major nautical challenge yet to be accomplished: sailing single-handedly nonstop around the world. Nine men set out to achieve it in one of the most widely publicized yacht races. What could possess nine otherwise sane and responsible men to risk their lives, careers, and the well-being of their families by undertaking such a reckless endeavor? Nichols introduces the reader to the contestants, giving a vivid portrayal of the men attempting the feat. He expertly tells their individual stories in great detail: why they entered the race, what they had staked on winning, and their struggles at sea. He weaves their story together to form a comprehensive account of the race that reads like a suspense novel. Readers will eagerly turn the pages to discover how some were defeated by the ocean or the race's harsh rules and the lengths to which one contestant went to be declared the winner. An interesting slice of history that makes for a worthy seagoing adventure story. Gavin Quinn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Editorial Reviews
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In 1966-1967, a 65-year-old Englishman, Francis Chichester, sailed alone around the world. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
nonstop circumnavigation, transatlantic row, lying ahull, port hull, starboard hull, wind vane, main hull, pilot charts, pilot book, fortieth parallel, trim tab Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sunday Times, Southern Ocean, Cape Horn, Donald Crowhurst, Golden Globe, Robin Knox-Johnston, Nigel Tetley, New Zealand, Teignmouth Electron, Bill King, Cape Town, Chay Blyth, Rodney Hallworth, Bernard Moitessier, Galway Blazer, Stanley Best, Indian Ocean, Roaring Forties, South Africa, South Atlantic, Gypsy Moth, English Channel, Sir Francis Chichester, Sunday Mirror, John Ridgway New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In 1966-1967, a 65-year-old Englishman, Francis Chichester, sailed alone around the world. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
nonstop circumnavigation, transatlantic row, lying ahull, port hull, starboard hull, wind vane, main hull, pilot charts, pilot book, fortieth parallel, trim tab Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sunday Times, Southern Ocean, Cape Horn, Donald Crowhurst, Golden Globe, Robin Knox-Johnston, Nigel Tetley, New Zealand, Teignmouth Electron, Bill King, Cape Town, Chay Blyth, Rodney Hallworth, Bernard Moitessier, Galway Blazer, Stanley Best, Indian Ocean, Roaring Forties, South Africa, South Atlantic, Gypsy Moth, English Channel, Sir Francis Chichester, Sunday Mirror, John Ridgway New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 30
books:
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6
books
cite this book:
See all 6 books citing this book
- Cape Horn: The Logical Route ; 14,216 Miles Without Port of Call by Bernard Moitessier on 18 pages
- Teignmouth Electron by Tacita Dean on 4 pages
- Golden Globe by Peter Nichols in Front Matter, page 79, and page 111
- The Long Way by Bernard Moitessier in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The South Pole: An Account of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition in the Fram, 1910-1912 by Captain Roald Amundsen on page 9, and page 131
See all 30 books this book cites
- Adrenaline 2001: The Year's Best Stories of Adventure and Survival by Clint Willis on page 309, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Moitessier: A Sailing Legend by Jean-Michel Barrault on page 96, page 116, and Back Matter
- Strange And Dangerous Dreams: The Fine Line Between Adventure And Madness by Geoff Powter on page 72, and Back Matter
- Stolen Water: Saving the Everglades from Its Friends, Foes, and Florida by W. Hodding Carter in Front Matter
- London Goes to Sea: Restoring and Sailing an Old Boat on a Budget by Peter J. Baumgartner in Back Matter
See all 6 books citing this book
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