First published 2023
William F. Buckley Jr. assembles a crew of friends for an ambitious Atlantic crossing in 1980. The thirty day voyage becomes what Buckley calls a celebration of sailing, friendship, and adventure on the open ocean. The crew faces periods of dead calm and violent storms as they navigate thousands of miles of water. Between the technical demands of seamanship and route planning, moments of quiet reflection alternate with lively conversation over wine and shared meals. Buckley captures both the physical challenges of ocean sailing and the social dynamics of being confined together on a small vessel for weeks. The account appeals to experienced sailors familiar with navigation and weather, while also drawing in landlubbers who dream of blue water adventure. Some readers will wish they had joined this particular crew, while others will appreciate the voyage from the safety of dry land.
Genres: adventure, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, man-vs-nature
Setting: Atlantic Ocean
Period: 1980
282 pages · Paperback · Lyons Press