Sailing Alone Around the World Paperback – 17 Nov. 2015

To say this book is very interesting is an understatement. To think that more than a hundred years ago Capt Slocum sailed without GPS and Navtex, no laptop navigational chart software, his difficulties in acquiring a chronometer, no apps to predict wind direction and strength, is just so inspirational. In addition, Capt Slocum has a flair for writing! His prose at times was amazing, in the early sections as he sets off on his voyage, he says "waves dancing joyously across the bay met her coming out of the harbour to dash them into myriads of sparkling gems..." and "the day was perfect, the sunlight clear and strong. Every particle of water thrown in the air became a gem., and the Spray bounding ahead snatched necklace after necklace from the sea and as often threw them away"...and later another "when I sang a favourite chant a porpoise jumped up from the water higher than the bowsprit!"... Also amazing was how in several places where he visited people seemed to already know he was on a world voyage, all in an age where communications were at snails pace with just postal delivery from place to pace (on horseback??). Hats off to how he managed to keep the boat on the same track without steering for extraordinary distances and time lengths,several hundred miles and weeks, he accomplished by trimming and setting the sails to do was a testament of his experience and sailing abilities. Did he have a secretly hidden away Aries wind vane (lol). After all he was not entirely new to sailing...he was already an accomplished sailor a master mariner by profession...yet admitted to the world his mistakes e.g. taking the paint off another boat while setting off in limited room. He used copper paint on the bottom hull shows his wisdom, you can learn so much from reading this book, amusing items pop up like his arrangements for washing (half a dory!), not that anyone would plan to do that! His respect that he showed to peoples he met (unlike some very famous mariners and explorers of the past who suffered the consequences) showed the strength of his character and humanity. Capt Slocum, we who have read your book, salute you.

This version has NO illustrations at all. No drawings of the Spray, no chart(s) to indicate the route, no photos and none of the delightful Fogarty illustrations that I have seen in other versions. It is of course a marvelous read as I already knew and I bought this for someone else as a present. This edition is a sad version and I am returning it. Specifically If you look at the appendix for the body plan and Lines and sail plan of the 'Spray' , detail of the self steering, the cabin layout & accommodation, they have put all the text and cut all six plans that the text describes. There are other editions of this great yarn, which I think are far preferable.

Having read a dozen or so accounts of circumnavigators, including the likes of Robin Knox-Johnston, Hall Roth and Laura Dekker - all heroes of mine - I really believe Joshua Slocum was in a league of his own. With no experience of sailing a sloop before setting off on his three year voyage, he not only made the sailing itself seem effortless, but fills his pages with self-deprecating humour that made me laugh out loud again and again. From his hilarious encounters with hapless Fuegian pirates, to the goat which devoured Joshua's ropes, hat and charts, and the sea port which thought the devil himself had sailed in, every chapter of this beautifully written book is a delight to read.

The importance of this early account of the first solo navigation cannot be over emphasised. The detailed accounts of balancing the Spray to sail her self, connect with a deep understanding of ocean behaviour must still be of much benefit to modern sailors. In preparation for the retro Golden Globe 2018 competitors could do well by using this book as a useful guide, where no modern equipment was available or invented, yet Joshua Slocum and the Spray got home safely. What happened to him in 1909, can only be surmised.

I'm assuming that this has been scanned from the original but it hasn't worked. For example for some reason "ship" comes out as 'deliver". "I was born in a cold spot" becomes " I turned into born" etc etc, and this in just the first couple of paragraphs! At first I thought it was some strange maritime dialect, but a quick search found the original which you can view free with original drawings, much better, has none of these errors, a fascinating read by the way.. Its amazing that the seller didn't try actually reading before listing it for sale. I'm going to try and get a refund!

Poor quality paperback printed by Amazon; excellent story. I have a hardcover copy of this book that I have read many times and heartily recommend it. This is an A3 size flimsy paperback of very poor quality unlikely to last more than one read. I bought it for my daughter and returned it without it being read and bought a secondhand hardcover copy fromna well known internet auction site instead.

An amazing tale to hold ones interest throughout but spoilt by the lack of relevant illustrations. To call it "illustrated" stretches the trades description act. It is illustrated but the pictures bear little relevance to the story. There are picture captions but no pictures to accompany them. I had to Google a map of Slocum's route, it should have been included in the book.

Amazon print so there are random bits of text or even pages that are not at all related to the book.Great story and incredible adventures.

Written in props of the late 1890's and dramatized in the same period, this self written account by the captain of the Spray is an glimpse into the socials d cultural climate of the times as he travels around the world on the oceans to achieve the first solo ocean circumnavigation. I give it one star short of 5 only because it falls precious short of detail in places of the ports of call, possibly to avoid criticism of his hosts or to accommodate the writing style of the period. Not a fault of the author, so in fairness should be rated higher. A short read. Illustrated. Find maps on line of the route and ports of call and you can easily follow along on the voyage yourself. Enjoy.

Viene tal cual está indicado en los detalles. Tapa blanda con una buena calidad de impresión. El tamaño de letra es perfecto para la lectura. Nada negativo que objetar.

This is a story about events in the 1800sNot up to date

I read this in Italian 10 years ago, and I changed life...I read again this splendid book in english, and i will stay on my way for other 10 years

Oooooo very fast delivery amazon ordered yesterday received todayFor the hindi sahitya lovers a must readLanguage, words, humor a perfect mixture of all these

good book for children and for those who are not good in Hindi language. Easy to read.

What a great book.

Increible asaña de navegación ul libro unico. el inglés es antiguo cuesta trabajo enteder partes...

Nice

Nice book

I love tales and historical accounts of seafarers. Slocum's story is incredibly engrossing; a good read indeed.

An amazing tale, by a great adventurer and a fine sailor, Slocum moves his story along at a good pace, keeping his reader engaged. His solo sailing around the world deserves a read by all lovers of the sea and its challenges.

classic

Most excellent adventure by one man and his hand built boat to his specifications...........interesting mind chatter and intuitive actions!

A friend told me of this book and claimed it was his favorite read, I am not disagreeing with him. So well written.