Just Sea and Sky

This is the charming account of two men who journeyed half way round the world from Plymouth to New Zealand in a small boat in 1955. It is a rare insight into a time, not so long ago, when sailors had no GPS, electronics, radio or any of the mod cons that we take for granted today. Without lifejackets or a liferaft, they 'just took what came along', hand steering all the way, navigating by sextant, hand-cranking their engine and using oil lamps for light at night and for navigation. Sailors will be staggered by how primitive conditions were only a few decades ago. Part travelogue and part adventure story, the two friends encountered drunken harbourmasters, the mafia, the legacy of slavery and lost civilisations in the Pacific. Beautifully written, vividly recounting their exploits ashore and on board, this quirky and entertaining book will be a fascinating read for sailors and non-sailors alike. 'A compelling story - I feel like I have sailed with them.' Yachting Monthly