Over the Top: The First Lone Yachtsman to Sail Vertically Around the World

by Adrian Flanagan

Overview

Only one person has ever sailed vertically around the world—Adrian Flanagan. And he did it singlehanded.

Sailing around the world horizontally is difficult enough, crossing thousands of miles of ocean only to get near land at the Capes battling treacherous currents. However, hundreds of sailors have nevertheless managed it. Flanagan became obsessed with the idea of sailing vertically around the world—over the poles—as a boy, before he even knew whether it was possible. Thirty years later he became the first sailor ever to do so. This is his account of the remarkable solo adventure.

This was an epic challenge, sailing through the perilous waters off Cape Horn and across the remote, hostile stretch of the Russian Arctic. Flanagan survived being washed overboard, capsizing, a close encounter with pirates, and treated not one but two dislocated wrists—all of this alone, often 1,000 miles from anyone who could help. It wasn't all high drama, however. Flanagan experienced moments of awe-inspiring beauty—sailing alongside a pod of whales, swimming with dolphins, and other sublime, introspective moments as he pondered the vast ocean and his place in it.

This is a timeless and unique story, pacily written with a sense of humor, capturing the zeal and determination required to be the first to sail over the top—and bottom—of the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472944313
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	05/08/2018
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.11(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.84(d)

About the Author

Adrian Flanagan was born in Nairobi in 1960, and spent his early life in Africa and the Far East. He studied medicine at King's College, London, before traveling around Sri Lanka on a motorbike. Flanagan joined the army, but left the officer-training academy at Sandhurst after dislocating his shoulder. Flanagan has worked as a freelance sports journalist, contributing to The Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian, and the Daily Mail. Flanagan completed his voyage vertically around the world in 2008. He is also the author of The Cape Horner's Club.

Table of Contents

Map of Barrabas's route x

Prologue xii

Part I Beyond The Horizon

1 The Seed 3

2 The Pioneers 8

3 Reckless Endeavour 15

4 What If… 19

5 Great Circle 25

6 Barrabas Found 30

7 The Gipsy 42

8 Rules of Engagement 55

9 Reprieve 66

10 Enlightenment 81

11 A Message from the Stars 94

12 The Big Storm 103

13 One Hundred Days 112

14 Cape Horn 118

15 The Russian Front 133

16 Tuning In 143

17 Honolulu 156

18 Magic Number 164

19 Bearing Up 175

20 Louise for President! 186

21 No Place Like Nome 200

Part II Over The Top

22 Home and Away 219

23 Stamp of Approval 227

24 The Walrus and the Polar Bears 234

25 A Slice of Chocolate Cake 244

26 The Shipping News 252

27 From Russia with Love 263

28 Mayhem in Mehamn 272

Part III Homeward Bound

29 Port to Port 281

30 Promises 289

Epilogue 297

Appendices

1 Single-handed, Westabout Roundings of Cape Horn 298

2 Yachts that have sailed Russia's Northern Sea Route 299

3 Book list 300

Acknowledgements 303

Editorial Reviews

"One of the best-written and most gripping tales of recent years." - Yachting World

From the Publisher