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A Voyage For Madmen
 
 

A Voyage For Madmen (Paperback)

by Peter Nichols (Author)
4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Profile Books; New Ed edition (16 May 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1861974655
  • ISBN-13: 978-1861974655
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.4 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 14,678 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #11 in  Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Other Sports > Sporting Events
    #27 in  Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Water Sports > Boating > Sailing

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Rich with excitement, accomplished, gripping and authoritative, A Voyage for Madmen is the story of the yachting tournament from hell written by a man who is himself a gifted sailor as well as writer.

Peter Nichols' previous book, Sea Change, was the telling account of his own crossing of the Atlantic in a ridiculously small wooden boat. Now he's taken the skills he employed in that much-praised slice of autobiography to relay another quixotic tale. The subject this time is the infamous Golden Globe yacht race of 1968, when nine men, some French, some English, all bonkers (hence the title), undertook the most challenging adventure of their lives. The goal was to sail around the world solo, a feat no one had yet achieved; to make matters just that extra bit tricky some of the sailors were total novices.

The book analyses the fate of each sailor in turn. Using polished, craftsman-like, clear and sometimes moving prose, Nichols describes how the nine fought through storms and collisions, through the roaring 40s and the furious 50s, and how each man experienced those moments of solitary despair, lonely disappointment and occasional mystical elation that are unique to long-haul solo sailing. One of the most commendable features of the book is the way Nichols discusses the technical side of yachtsmanship with verve and passion without ever turning into an anorak. This is a fine and absorbing true-life tragicomedy, suitable for landlubbers and sea dogs alike. --Sean Thomas --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
'A must for would be sailing adventurers.' Chay Blyth 'Told with verve and riddled with the drama of being overwhelmed by the sheer bloody-mindedness of the sea itself. Delivering shiploads of tension, Nichols makes sure we feel the loneliness, pain and struggle. You can smell the salty air and feel the spray on every page' Sunday Times 'What a tormented-looking hunk! But more to the point, Nichols is a very good writer' Daily Mail

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A superb journey into the oceans of the mind, 26 Jun 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: A Voyage for Madmen (Hardcover)
This is "can't put down" read, about the rather disjointed Golden Globe circumnavigation race of 1968-9 in which 7 sailors risked everything for themselves rather than for fame and fortune. You do not have to be a "Yachty" to read this! the book is about the drive and determination of men to reach inner goals. Peter Nichols writes in an easy to read and at time quite light hearted way. One suspects that he himself has had brushes with madness on his various trans-ocean treks, Libby Purves comment that Nichols has a distain for Robin Knox-Johnson is in my opinion something that was not obvious. I would recommend this book as a 5 star plus read ideal for the beach !!!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant insight into public ocean racing. Must read story., 31 Aug 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: A Voyage for Madmen (Hardcover)
More like fiction, but its accurate. The author has captured the spirit of ocean racing and the reason why men put to sea. I knew most of the yachtsmen he writes of, and for me it was a journey back in time. I too sailed some of the oceans and his descriptions are vividly real.

It's a must read for sailors, and for anyone interested in the sea and yachting. I was sorry to finish the book which read more like a fiction than fact, but its real though and as the nautical descriptions have been simplified for landlubbers its an easy and capturing read for anyone.

It's a good literary piece.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for sailors or anyone interested in adventure, 4 Jan 2002
By Mr. R. Holden "roger" (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: A Voyage for Madmen (Hardcover)
What made 9 men set off around the world non-stop single handed in 1968?

Nichols superbly delves into the minds and motivation of these men, what drove them and (in some cases) what killed them.

From the triumph of Knox-Jonhston to the tradegy of Crowhurst, Nichols gives enough facts to interest anyone and doesn't go into too much sailing details that might bore non-sailors. There are astonishing facts given (e.g. Blyth had only sailed 6 miles by himself when he set out), humourous accounts and eye-watering tales that make this book superb.

Nichols style is not to everyone's taste. A friend found "Sea Change" rather too sentimental but the emotion with which he writes is a real quality of the book.

It would make a GREAT film!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Title says it all
Gripping read, well constructed. Like an adventure story with added adrenaline.
I was loaned a copy before doing the ARC - a bad move! Read more
Published 5 months ago by S

4.0 out of 5 stars Madness
I bought this as a xmas gift for my brother-in-law, when he picked it up he didn't put it down untill he had finished it. Now I want to read it.
Published 5 months ago by Mr. M. J. Driver

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant.
Gripping and dramatic. I read the book in two sittings a few hours apart. I am sure I would have finished it in one but I was dragged away to cook dinner. Read more
Published 8 months ago by A. R. T. Ormsby

5.0 out of 5 stars Well crafted
I am a small boat sailor and I loved it. This was a documentary that read like a novel and I was totally absorbed by it. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. P. Owen

5.0 out of 5 stars A first class read ...
I hate writing reviews, but a book this good deserves to be commended, and for the pleasure it's given me, I feel I owe it to the author, in some small way, to show my... Read more
Published 20 months ago by ladybegood

5.0 out of 5 stars They'd never allow it today...
A fellow crew member brought this on board for a recent sail. It lives up to the cover hype - 'unputdownable', 'gripping'. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2007 by Cookie SKYC

5.0 out of 5 stars Great writer
The difference with Nichols and the authors of books on a similar topic, e.g., Perfect Storm, is that he can write. Read more
Published on 18 Jul 2006 by Gary B

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written Gripping Account
I'm not a sailor but I loved this book. It's really good to have the story of the whole race brought together in one book rather than having to read all the individuals... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2005 by Charles Perry

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent gripping story
I read this book with a little trepidation some time ago, but was instantly gripped by the storytelling. Read more
Published on 25 Dec 2004 by Mr. D. J. Waddell

5.0 out of 5 stars Spellbinding
As a sailor myself, I found this book to be the best one I have read about the sport, and the mad people who share this passion with me. Buy It, Read it , tell people about it. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2004 by Jo

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