A Voyage for Madmen
In 1968, nine sailors set off on the most daring race ever held: to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe nonstop. It was a feat that had never been accomplished and one that would forever change the face of sailing. Ten months later, only one of the nine men would cross the finish line and earn fame, wealth, and glory. For the others, the reward was madness, failure, and death. In this extraordinary book, Peter Nichols chronicles a contest of the individual against the sea, waged at a time before cell phones, satellite dishes, and electronic positioning systems. A Voyage for Madmen is a tale of sailors driven by their own dreams and demons, of horrific storms in the Southern Ocean, and of those riveting moments when a split-second decision means the difference between life and death.Product Details
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.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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
Review
A haunting story...[that] succeeds on the grandest scale. -- The Oregonian
A riveting account of the triumphant human spirit. -- Publishers Weekly
Extraordinary ...One of the most gripping sea stories I have ever read. -- Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm
Fascinating...A great story...an excellent examination of the world's first nonstop, solo race around the world. -- San Diego Union Tribune
Reads like a suspense novel. -- Booklist
Spellbinding. -- Wall Street Journal
Customer Reviews
All armchair sailors must read this book - Required !
The epic drama that unfolds within this book will blow you away. The pure entertainment value of each sailor's story will grip you until the very end. A crazy cast of characters, the title is a perfect fit.
Good Read
I thought this book was a very good and quick read. It kept my interest and I was able to finish it in what seemed like no time at all. I'm not a sailor and I was not confused by technical terms and was able to follow the story throughout the entire book! I truly enjoyed this book!
Fantastic Read!
I found this book captures the spirit of the adventurers, provides insightful background and provides the reader with whit filled, memorable insights into the adventurer's hearts. I thoroughly enjoyed this read! Highly recommend.
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