I've always like stories about voyages and the sea. I grew up in the province in my Grandmother's home offshore that overlook the wide sea where I can smell the ocean breeze and hear the sound of waves. While reading this book, I imagined every words of adventures each of the sailors had gone through in almost a year of racing out of the sea.
This is a book that tells about an extraordinary story of bravery, determination and profound madness of nine sailors who set out of race in a single-handed circumnavigation around the globe nonstop. Peter Nichols, chronicles details of the contest and the experiences of each one of them. I've discovered something while reading this book and it was called, Ulysses Factor, a powerful drive and a genetic instinct in all of us but dormant in most. This word explain why people can't understand other people's desire to risk their lives, do extraordinary challenges and adventures in life. For instance, George Mallory, a mountaineer who in his own words before he disappeared to mount Everest was asked why he wanted to do it. He answered the question with "Because it's there."The same goes into the other sailors when ten months later after all their navigation, nine men set out to race and only one made it back. Those who had pass through the finish line earn wealth, fame and glory while for the others; madness, failure and death. We'll never really can't explain why. Is it for excitement, a thirst for adventure, a fulfilling soul searching challenge etc. While reading, I had a mixed emotions. I felt inspired for their courage and the way they've believed in themselves. Although there were times of hardships and difficulties, they found their way to manage their goals and set out the real meaning of courage and the true nature of being a sailor. Others may have failed, driven by their own demons yet we define our own happiness and success. This book conveys vividly the details of 1968 Golden Globe race in a time before phones, satellite dishes etc. where you could only wish for luck and do the best you can with what you've got.
