This is a dramatic true account of how Nick (23) and Julie (19) sailed a little fishing boat from the Highlands of Scotland across the Atlantic and much ot the Pacific..
It was the 1970s, and their simple wooden boat had none of the aids modern yachts enjoy. They navigated by sextant and compass, cooked food on a Primus, and forecast weather by guesswork. Diligent preparation before they set sail eventually saved their lives in the violent storms and dangers they encountered, as this absorbing account vividly describes. Their capsize at night in a fierce storm south of Tahiti, and subsequent survival, make a gripping climax to the story.
Brief mentions of this remarkable voyage have appeared in the sailing press over the years, but only now has Nicholas finally written the whole story, of their bold plan, their search for the boat, their detailed preparation, how the plan grew, their eventual voyage halfway round the world and its dramatic conclusion
The book was launched in Lerwick, Shetland, in July 2023, 50 years to the day since their departure in 1973, and tells the story of this long-ago life changing adventure in modern terms, challenging the perspective and expectations of modern adventurers in a gripping, hard-to-put-down story of ambition, resilience, and courage.
The story of The Voyage of The Aegre is available as an audiobook (narrated by the author), a paperback, and as an eBook.
The owner of any small boat who plans to sail, one day, beyond the far horizon, must wonder what they would do if the GPS fails and they don’t have a sextant, or a mast. The answer lies in the story of the Voyage of The Aegre. A terrific adventure. – John Ridgway, 1966 North Atlantic rower, Round the World sailor, Adventurer, Author
From a simpler age of sailing when you were led across oceans by the sun and the stars, this book deserves to join the classics. It is simply a top-class read. Paul Heiney, Commodore, Royal Cruising Club.
This website supplements the book with background on the story, Chapter Notes, and more. See the menu options in the title bar.
