I guess everyone’s good book is different from everyone else’s; some people like masses of description, of characters, locations, scenery, weather – whereas others like it more pared down. Some people enjoy the conversations between characters, other readers like a minimalist amount of chat. Lots of action vs very little happening at all but all poetically and elegantly described… and so on…
I do like a story where there is action and pace; I like characters i can elate to , some I might empathise with or admire, some I might hate and want to see them get their just rewards – or maybe there is a secret aspect to their personality which will explain why they are as they are.
I have just read such a good book; it’s not a novel but a true story the account of nine men who took part in the first Sunday Times Golden Globe round-the-world yacht race in 1969, the story of their boats and the story of their race. It follows them from when they decided to compete, includes their back story and their personal situations and family, the history of their different boats – and that’s before it gets to the actual race. The sailors could leave port anytime between 1 June and 31 October 1968, and prizes were awarded for the first home and the quickest.
I actually don’t have much interest in sailing, and the couple of times I have done it I was disappointed that I didn’t enjoy it more as I loved other times on the water – and in the water!
“Nice? It’s the only thing,” said the Water Rat solemnly as he leant forward for his stroke. “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolute nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,” he went on dreamily: “messing—about—in—boats; messing—”
However, I do remember the round the world race when it happened, seeing the reports in the newspapers and i also read a biography of Donald Crowhurst one of the competitors, so I picked up ‘A Voyage For Madmen’ – Peter Nichols and having bought it I opened it and then it was unput-downable. Not only is it a gripping read with adventure and excitement, but it has a cast of characters – sailors, boats, families, sponsors, associates and the relationships between them – especially the boats and sailors is engaging, engrossing and very moving.
What the men went through, what they suffered and endured is incredible; the route they took was south from the British Isles, round the Cap of Good Hope, across the Indian Ocean, south of Australia and New Zealand, round Cape Horn and then back up across the Atlantic, back to where they started – that was the intention, but I won’t spoil it by revealing what happened to these nine courageous souls, nor who won.
Here are the men and their boats:
- John Ridgway – English Rose IV
- Chay Blyth – Dytiscus III
- Robin Knox-Johnston – Suhaili
- Loïck Fougeron – Captain Browne
- Bernard Moitessier – Joshua
- Bill King – Galway Blazer II
- Nigel Tetley – Victress
- Alex Carozzo – Gancia Americano
- Donald Crowhurst – Teignmouth Electron
It is a complicated story, keeping track of the competitors over the time it took from the announcement of the competition, their entering and preparing their boats, to them setting off – and then the vile and violent weather they endured and the terrifying, monstrous seas. The youngest man was Chay Blythe who was only 27 at the time, the oldest was Bill King who was 57. The story starts with their background, and it finishes with what happened to them afterwards, a complete story.
However, what kept me so focused on this book that I read it as we were driving to places and read it when normally I would have been working, was the writing – it was so clear, so well paced, so lyrical in places, humorous in others, so compelling – and yet I wasn’t rushing to finish and skipping parts as sometimes happens. It’s complicated with so many characters and the different times-scales of their journeys one starting on June 1st, the others through the summer and the last two departing on October 31st, and the different routes they took, and yet it was easy to follow.
I think I might have to read it again – and it has certainly prompted me to read other books about the 1969 race, and also follow the fiftieth anniversary race which is taking place right now!
Lois Elsden 