New AcquisitionsRed Sky in Mourning; Tami Oldham Ashcraft; Simon & Schuster, 2002; £15.99; CA 16102
The author and the friend she expects to marry leave the Southern Pacific for San Diego, delivering a powerful Trintella 44 ft ketch in mid September. They leave their own, much smaller, cruising home in Tahiti. 15 days into the voyage, tropical storm Raymond develops into a hurricane and they suffer a knockdown. Tami comes to some time later - she thinks in a couple of hours but later it appears to have been more like at least one day - and discovers that her companion's harness has snapped and he has disappeared.
The book tells of the subsequent struggle to put up a jury rig, and the heroic efforts put in to survive until reaching Hawaii. The impact of the perils in which she finds herself is mitigated by the constant dialogue with a "Voice". This may be that of the missing Richard, her alter ego or deity; whatever, this is what maintains her spirits.
The narrative is somewhat elaborate at times, and the constantly reported discussions with "the voice" are stylistically rather wearing. Nevertheless, it is an amazing story of survival, the practical difficulties and the solutions to the problems faced. - PDD
Page created 11 March 2003
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