A Single Wave: Stories of Storms and Survival

by Webb Chiles

Overview

Webb Chiles set several records while bailing his way through cyclones, capsizes, cold and wet terror. Whether rounding Cape Horn or circumnavigating in an 18-foot yawl, he frequently sailed at the edge of death—but lived to write about it in this unique book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781574090727
Publisher:	Sheridan House, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/25/1999
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

Editorial Reviews

Webb Chiles first set out in 1973 in EGREGIOUS, a 37-foot cutter. His aim: a solo circumnavigation via Cape Horn. Despite frequent rigging damage and a hull cracked in a gale, he became the first American to round Cape Horn alone. He looked for new challenges, and set another record. He was the first person to cross the Pacific in an open boat, CHIDIOCK TICHBORNE, an 18-foot open undecked yawl. On the way from Fiji to Papua New Guinea, CHIDIOCK was pitch-poled and swamped. He was adrift for two weeks. Reaching Vanuatu he was swept over the reef and landed on the beach. He repaired his boat and sailed on to new adventures. He almost completed his second circumnavigation, but the boat capsized during a hurricane on the Canary Islands, but he walked away. He then bought a 36-foot sloop RESURGAM in 1983, and completed his third circumnavigation. He continued sailing, again around Cape Horn. In 1992, off Fort Lauderdale he "pulled the plug at midnight" and watched RESURGAM go down. For 26 hours he swam for his life, eventually being rescued by fishermen. He picked up the pieces of his life, bought a new boat, found a new love and was ready for new challenges again. This true adventurer writes poignantly about his experiences which make exceptionally good reading.

Sailing Inland & Offshore

A very good read for those who've been there, and for those who are going.

Latitudes & Attitudes

If you have followed Webb Chiles' adventures over the years this book will come as a bit of a surprise: Is this guy still alive? you might well ask. He is older now, but no more wise, apparently, since he still puts himself in ridiculously dangerous situations. Every one of his stories is laced with fatalistic humor that borders on a death wish. But he is an inspiration, since he pushes the envelope for the rest of us. Chiles has crossed countless oceans in all manner of improbable craft, including an 18-foot open Drascombe Lugger, which he sailed within 3000 miles of a circumnavigation, before giving up on the idea in the Canaries. In A Single Wave, Chiles does not disappoint those expecting more madness. As he points out in the foreword, "A peculiarity of human nature is that no one much cares to read about happy families or fine sailing.. .So here are the dramatic highlights of a quarter century in three boats." We almost lose our hero in this book. After his boat sinks in the Gulf Stream, the lights of Fort Lauderdale twinkling in the distance, he floats without life jacket and dressed only in a shirt and shorts for more than 24 hours until he is fished out by a passing boat.

Ocean Navigator