I am pleased to announce publication of The Voyage #2: Falmouth to Grenada. This follows the success of The Voyage #1 which told the story of my crossing of the Atlantic going the other way. That was something of an experiment: Would anybody be interested in a day-by-day account of an old man all alone on an old boat in the middle of nowhere – especially when nothing much happened and he spent most of his time counting Pringles?
But, as one Amazon reviewer put it: “The man can write. Entertaining and fun. Makes you wish you had the courage to do this too. He turns every disaster into an opportunity. Great character and great attitude.”
And sure enough, the book sells consistently in the wake of the original best-seller (in the sailing category) Old Man Sailing – and that’s important because I’ve just realised how hot it’s going to be in the Caribbean in the summer and ordered a rather expensive awning.
However, The Voyage #2 is a very different beast – for a start it’s a good deal longer. And this time something did happen: A knockdown, a broken rudder – 1,500 miles with the steering held together with string…
Believe me, this one’s got the lot!
You can find it on Amazon in Kindle edition and paperback at: https://amzn.eu/d/cMaUG1s
It’s on the way. Look forward to reading it.
Would enjoy another engagement with Jeremy Vine, so to speak.
Best Wishes
Liam
I’d love to buy it, but Amazon says not available for purchase…
Other people have been able to buy it. Please try again.
Hello John! When the book is so good as the last book I will forward to read it! Just got it! Cheers Marco
Hi John, so pleased you have brought out a new book. Sincerely hope that you will narrate an audio version soon. Looking forward to it. Nick.
Grandad always said carry a bit of string, pocket knife and a nail in your pockets. Looks like the big Of string might have been useful on your rudder.
Hello John,
I have followed your exploits with interest since newspaper days – am loving following your experiences but I don’t do Kindle !
I don’t happen to agree with carrying tons of chain especially at the end of the boat – but then I only sail coastally / cross Channel in my Anderson 22 ( 24 crossings to date but then my health put a spanner in ) have had larger cruisers but the A22 for 46 years, longest serving boat at my club in Chichester Harbour ) so speed dodging the weather is primary, have spent a few times at anchor in Studland Bay in F8-10—
In that place, sheltered from the SW’ly gales despite quite wild conditions – the strong Katabatic gusts from the hills were by far the main concern, with other boats dragging ( we set off in rescue, long story but all was fine ) I was OK with my – real, original – 7.5 kg Bruce anchor, 20′ or so of 1/4″ heavy chain, 30 m of 14mm nylon warp and a 7kg folding grapnel kedge let down the bower line in folded state as an ‘ angel ‘ to take the shock out of the waves – I know Angels aren’t fashionable any more but it worked for me.
The reason I carry a folding grapnel as kedge on holiday cruises – normally I just potter around the Solent – is apart from its’ primary role as angel, in unfolded pointy state might grab a toehold through weed onto rock, ie in emergency in a place I’d never contemplate anchoring usually !
BUT the folding grapnel relies on relatively weak hinge pins, so definitely if it held in an emergency just a case of getting one’s breath before the next plan, not an overnight stay if one could avoid it.
Hope you are well and shipshape and your accounts may be on here sometime soon – look after yourself,
Andy
The Rival 32 is a particularly good load carrier – particularly in the bow. By the way, if your health is interfering with your sailing, have a look at https://oldmansailing.com/good-health.