I found this one of the best written books on sailing I have ever read - and I haven't had a moment's hesitation in recommending it to all my friends - even to those with barely any interest in sailing. And I think that is the magic of Crispin Latymer's writing. He turns what could be a rough-tough all masculine adventure into a fascinating insight into taking on an adventure into, literally, the unknown.
I think one of the best ways to start the book is to read his wife's view of the whole adventure, encapsulated in a few pages at the back as an Appendix. I defy anyone not to be touched by the humour, love and dedication that shines through.
For those that want to hear about his adventure, it's there too, and plenty of it. As a self-confessed sailing enthusiast I loved the story and the detail. I was right there as he strapped himself into his berth and rode out Hurricane Delta; hopefully as close as I ever want to be to a hurricane. I hope too, never to be confronted with a boat shadowing me and behaving very like a pirate. If you want exhilaration, his description of surfing his 40 foot yacht down 4 metre waves at nearly 12 knots takes some beating. Solo too! But then, perhaps that was why he ended up surfing in 20 knots of wind!
I think the combination of humour and humility turn this from another me-too adventure story into something much more. What starts as a tale of an ordinary person tackling an adventure turns into a remarkable tale of an extraordinary person going out there and actually grabbing his dream.
I'm not sure which is the better endorsement; that I couldn't put it down or that my wife swiped the book off me and read it throughout too!
I have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending it.