By the Grace of the Sea - Pat Henry

[Captain Smollett]

Moments ago, I finished reading Pat Henry's account of her 8 year solo circumnavigation.  It was with considerable anticipation that I began this book, but I must confess it left me a little disappointed.

Before I comment on my disappointment, let me say a few positive things.  First, there is no doubt that she accomplished a wonderful feat - she has done something I can only day dream about.  Her stories and descriptions of people from all over the world are mostly quite touching (at least when she is describing women...more on this in a bit).  Finally, though she has been technically 'stripped' of her title as "First Woman Solo Circumnavigator" due to the mandatory 'aid' she received in the Canals, she WAS a pioneer and explorer in the truest sense.

The book could have been called "A Women's Journey into Self Discovery" and would make a good basis for a Lifetime movie.  I found much of it a bit New-Agey and "touchy-feely" like her descriptions of reading a book about her broken thumb being connected to disappointment in her life.  What does that even mean?  Or how about her arthritus having metaphysical causes as well...Man.  Sometimes a broken thumb is just a broken thumb, for crying out loud.

We also get a nearly three page account of a bad haircut she recieved in Venezuela, and how THAT effected her self worth at the moment.

Now, what I really found annoying was how narcissistic she presented herself as being in this book (I don't know her, and I do NOT make the assumption she is this way she is in real life - but in the book, she did not paint herself in a very good light, imo).  Equipment damage and things done 'wrong' aboard her boat were virtually always someone else's fault, especially if the someone else was a man.  The first third or so of the book was very, very good.  It did not start going downhill for me until about the time of her second failed 'relationship' and everything seemed to become about women vs. men.

Oh yes, with the women of the world, she made "our souls touched" connections after mere moments, but men were throw-away characters without hopes, dreams or fears of their own.  Divorce was almost exhaulted - her husbands, her daughters' husbands, etc never had a "side."  A gear shifted between Malaysia and the Med from which all the men she encountered were rapists waiting only for the opportunity to brutalize her.   And in the description of the final day of her passage, we learn the whole process was about not living up to Daddy's expectations.  Good grief.

In reading these pages, we get treated to endless rambling about how she must find the truth within herself, and discover her own self confidence.  But, her self-worth as an artist only comes after another artist (a man) tells her she is 'ready.'  I'm sorry, but it does not seem like that self-worth is coming from within.

My hat is off to Henry and what she accomplished.  I even think it is cool that she uses her trip as encouragement for other young women and girls.  But I don't know if I can recommend this book as a sailing book, or even as one of personal discovery.  It did not leave ME feeling uplifted or even all that proud of her; I rather simply finished it just because I started it - I was sick of it by the time I finished.

Sorry.  I know others will disagree.  But that's my take on the book, and again, I am making NO assumptions about Henry the person.  These comments only reflect what I read in this book.

[Fortis]

Read "Into The Light" by dave and Jaja Martin. Not only were their circumnavigations in boats that are very much within the scale of this site, but they did it as a family on equal terms without any of the victim mentality or similar bull.

They did it as a strong functional unit that knew it had to be that way in order to succeed at what they set out to do, and who were willing to maintain that cohesivness with humour and goodwill and active involvement.

Or in other words, sailing without angst and drama...which is what most of us go sailing for. Some poeple just bring the drama along where-ever they go.


Alex.

[Captain Smollett]

Thanks!

That's actually a perfect next book; just two days ago, my wife was asking about cruising with the kids - at what ages do people start, etc.  Ours are presently 1 and 4.

Grog for Alex!   ;)

[CharlieJ]

Actually they didn't HAVE the first two kids when they started out. I read that Dave wryly said the only system on the boat that failed was the birth control system. While Jaja was pregnant with the third, they sold Direction ( the Cal 25) and moved to Driver- a steel hulled 33 footer.

This is in no way intended to make light of the accomplishments they have made. Cruising round the world starting with one, becomming two and ending up with 4 and one on the way, and still being happy and content, is a remarkable accomplishment.

They have a website by the way, where they answer questions from people, when they have internet capability. They have seemingly become fond of high latitude sailing so don't always have that.

http://www.setsail.com/s_logs/martin/martin.html

[Fortis]

Actually, they have been back form the arctic and living in the US for over a year now (nearly two, I think). Nice poeple, spoken to them a few times on the net.

Although some of the bits on their website area appear in the book, the book itself is well worth it and really fills things out nicely.

The bit about needing to find a TROPICAL medicine expert in Norway (or was it Weden) was kind of fun...and very illustrative of a major aspect of cruising...you do take it all with you, albeit slowly.

Alex.

[CharlieJ]

Yeah - saw that after I posted. It had been a while since I went to their site.

You wanna read something really remarkable? Take a look at this online article-

http://www.atomvoyages.com/articles/albertotorroba.htm

Amazing.

[Captain Smollett]

Thanks for posting the link, Charlie.  I found the site after Alex's first post - pretty cool site - and should have posted it.

I did notice they HAD their children 'under way.'  I cannot imagine that, but we won't be in that situation.  We already have two, and should not go further.   ;)

The Martin's should know about THIS site!   ;D

[Fortis]

They do. It was one of their posts that directed me here.


Alex.

[AdriftAtSea]

One book I'd recommend is North to the Night by Simon Alvah.   Very good book about one man's experiences above the Artic circle in a sailboat. 

The Martins, IIRC are on the hard currently, up in Maine. 

Pat Henry's book, while tangetially related to sailing, is IMHO not really a sailing book.  It is a book about her growth and journey after losing much of what she thought made her a successful person.

[Captain Smollett]

Pat Henry's book, while tangetially related to sailing, is IMHO not really a sailing book.  It is a book about her growth and journey after losing much of what she thought made her a successful person.

True enough, but I will say that I did not really "require" it to be a sailing book.  I don't mind reading about a person's growth.  But a good bit of this one was psychobabble gobbledegook, and all the anti-male stuff REALLY put me off.  She really misread a lot them, but never really apologized for it, or even said "hey, I was wrong about thinking that about them."

Just my opinion.  The geography and many of the stories make the book worth reading.  I just don't want to mislead anyone abount what this book is REALLY about, which is (in my view) akin to a man-bashing script for the Oprah Winfrey show.

[AdriftAtSea]

Pat Henry's book, while tangetially related to sailing, is IMHO not really a sailing book.  It is a book about her growth and journey after losing much of what she thought made her a successful person.

But a good bit of this one was psychobabble gobbledegook, and all the anti-male stuff REALLY put me off.  She really misread a lot them, but never really apologized for it, or even said "hey, I was wrong about thinking that about them."

Just my opinion.  The geography and many of the stories make the book worth reading.  I just don't want to mislead anyone abount what this book is REALLY about, which is (in my view) akin to a man-bashing script for the Oprah Winfrey show.

I think you'll like North to the Night then.... one of the central characters is a somewhat exuberant cat named Halifax.  :D  My favorite character of the book I might add.

Another excellent book, that I just finished, but is in no way sailing related is "Marley & Me".  Definitely would recommend it to anyone, especially dog owners...

[s/v Faith]

Another excellent book, that I just finished, but is in no way sailing related is "Marley & Me".  Definitely would recommend it to anyone, especially dog owners...

Second that.  Great book (about 1/2 through).

[Frank]

Capt. ...another book to consider for your wife is 'changing coarse'....a women's perspective of 'taking off'.Good read for a man also if he wants to understand a womens point of view better. Remember the ole saying....."if mama ain't happy....nobodies happy'

[Zen]

indeed, I read it also Frank

[oded kishony]

I enjoyed reading "Sailing Promise" about a circumnavigation by a young couple in a catamaran. I thought it was a very enjoyable read (read it several times)

oded

[AdriftAtSea]

Changing Course is an excellent book, and gives a lot of insight into the issues faced by women, when asked to go cruising by their significant others.   It was recommended to several of the people I sailed with on my Cape Ann trip and was something I read a few days ago.   I would highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about moving aboard and going cruising for any extended period of time, especially if they want their partner to go with them.