an extraordinarily well-told story a humbling, exhausting, necessary book" Paul Watkins, The Times. This is an enthralling account of the 1996/7 Vendee Globe round-the-world yacht race. It is a story of heroism, adventure and tragic loss of life on the high seas - a book that should be bought by all those who enjoyed A PERFECT STORM or INTO THIN AIR.
Derek Lundy is the author of six books. He lives on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
A gripping and poetic evocation of the terrible and seductive power
of the sea
*Independent on Sunday*
One of the best books ever written about sailing
*Time*
Eloquent... Lundy explores how and why humans feel drawn to the
extreme risks and almost inevitable disasters that single-handedly
sailing the Southern Ocean entails... A stirring narrative
*New York Times*
Contains all the tension of a thriller
*Independent*
[An] excellent book
*The Times*
On November 3, 1996, the 16 solo sailboat racers of the third Vende Globe contest left the little French port of Les Sables dOlonne for a four-month round trip whose most trying feature would be a circumnavigation of Antarctica. Lundy, an experienced amateur sailor, followed the race on its Web site, on which the race organizers provided regular updates and on which some of the sailors posted bulletins. From the beginning, its obvious that the competitors are a bit more committed than your average weekend sailor. They hire sleep specialists to determine their personal best-sleep periods so theyll know when to put their boats on automatic pilot for a quick catnap. One sailor, Pete Goss, took a scalpel to his inflamed elbow, following a doctors faxed instructions while his boat heeled and all his instruments slid off their tray (so now Im frothing at the mouth, and it was quite funny, really). As Lundy describes these sailors encounters with the raging southern ocean and waves like a never-ending series of five- or six-story buildings... moving towards [the boat] at about forty miles an hour, readers will get caught up in the race and in the fates of the 16 racers. Despite all the excitement, the book has a buffered feel. Quite simply, Lundy wasnt there. Its a measure of his skill, then, that he manages to make the action as palpable as he does, lacing his report of the race with a little maritime history, ocean science and allusions to the likes of Conrad and Joyce. This literate adventure book was a bestseller in Canada. $50,000 ad/promo; BOMC selection; author tour. (May)
YA-Arguably the most extreme sporting activity of any kind, the Vendee Globe is the "Everest of sailing races." In this four-month, single-handed circumnavigation, the competitors follow a hazardous route down through the Atlantic to the bottom of the world, around Antarctica, and back again. In the "godforsaken" Southern Sea, it is difficult just to survive, let alone race. In continuous gales unimpeded by land masses, hurricane-force winds whip up waves several stories tall. Freezing temperatures, poor visibility, icebergs, and sleep deprivation compound the challenge to the sailors, who hurtle through these waters at top speeds in lightweight 60-foot boats. To stay in the race, competitors must not accept help with repairs or stop for supplies. Lundy relates the suspenseful tale of the 1996-97 race, in which there were a string of disasters, several thrilling rescues, and one competitor lost at sea. Radical new boat designs were put to the test and humans were pushed beyond what would seem possible (one even performed emergency surgery upon himself). The author writes with such skill that even non-sailors will appreciate the conditions and feats he describes. He is equally adept at showing the personalities, motivations, and gifts of the men and women drawn to this challenge, and brings these unusual individuals to life. Musing on the meaning of it all, Lundy extends the perspective beyond the world of sports, and gives readers plenty to think about. This fine work of journalism should have broad and strong appeal.-Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
A gripping and poetic evocation of the terrible and
seductive power of the sea * Independent on Sunday *
One of the best books ever written about sailing * Time
*
Eloquent... Lundy explores how and why humans feel drawn to the
extreme risks and almost inevitable disasters that single-handedly
sailing the Southern Ocean entails... A stirring narrative *
New York Times *
Contains all the tension of a thriller * Independent *
[An] excellent book -- Matt Dickinson * The Times *
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