Albatross: A Ture Story of a Woman's Survival at Sea

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and very scary
Review: ALBATROSS is a gripping story of survival and agonizing death at sea--the sinking with the loss of three lives of the yacht TRASHMAN off the Carolina coast. The author pulls no punches and tells a tale of human suffering, weakness, and malice that left this reader shaken by its bluntness, realism, and intensity.

The story is told in a direct and clear manner that inescapably draws one in to its nightmarish hell. Besides a sea story it is also a story of a young person's stuggle with her own demons.

Why read such a painful book? One important life lesson that we must learn from this account is not to leave port unprepared. In some ways, I would urge all boaters to read this book just to have that lesson hammered in. As a boater I came away with the deep conviction that I don't ever want to come anywhere near going through anything like what the crew of TRASHMAN went through.

As presented by the author, the tragedy was entirely the result of the incompetence, alcoholism, and carelessness of the captain and other crew members. I must confess, however, that when I reflected on the author's tale I could not help wondering how objective it was. She is so unremittingly critical--bitterly critical--of John and Mark that I began to doubt the clarity of her vision. I would love to get the account of the other survivor. There are several mysteries about the tragic sinking of TRASHMAN that remain troubling and unresolved.

Nevertheless Debby's tale is one that will move in and rearrange your mental furniture, especially if you are a boater or have ever been to sea in a small boat.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and very scary
Review: ALBATROSS is a gripping story of survival and agonizing death at sea--the sinking with the loss of three lives of the yacht TRASHMAN off the Carolina coast. The author pulls no punches and tells a tale of human suffering, weakness, and malice that left this reader shaken by its bluntness, realism, and intensity.

The story is told in a direct and clear manner that inescapably draws one in to its nightmarish hell. Besides a sea story it is also a story of a young person's stuggle with her own demons.

Why read such a painful book? One important life lesson that we must learn from this account is not to leave port unprepared. In some ways, I would urge all boaters to read this book just to have that lesson hammered in. As a boater I came away with the deep conviction that I don't ever want to come anywhere near going through anything like what the crew of TRASHMAN went through.

As presented by the author, the tragedy was entirely the result of the incompetence, alcoholism, and carelessness of the captain and other crew members. I must confess, however, that when I reflected on the author's tale I could not help wondering how objective it was. She is so unremittingly critical--bitterly critical--of John and Mark that I began to doubt the clarity of her vision. I would love to get the account of the other survivor. There are several mysteries about the tragic sinking of TRASHMAN that remain troubling and unresolved.

Nevertheless Debby's tale is one that will move in and rearrange your mental furniture, especially if you are a boater or have ever been to sea in a small boat.

Rating:
Summary: Albatross- Couldnt put it down!
Review: Baught this book at a used bookstore, and husband read it aloud for our 2 1/2 hours ride home. When we got home, we immediately went to the living room where I read the whole rest of it! It was extremely real, you could relete to everything she said and felt, and were right there with her in that rubber dinghy. SOmetimes we would pause, and sig, and look at eachother with worried eyes...the pouring rain and thunder the day we read it really added to the story I think. BUt this is a book all sailors MUST read...it makes you want to check the safety of your boat again and again, and really shows you that it could happen to you too....One of the best books I read in a while, and I pour through this kind of stuff!

Rating:
Summary: A 'must read' as it reflects the hidden strength we all have
Review: Good book about personality clashes on a liferaft and a good lesson about drinking seawater, however the best lesson here is to go with your instincts. Everything that happened before the voyage told the author to drop out of the crew, yet she ignore d her instincts. Before taking on any long distance voyage, I would read this book for examples of what can go wrong. Prepare for the worst - read Adlard Cole's "Heavy Weather sailing and some other heavy weather sailing books (Carry an EPIRB!)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I thought this book was very good and was well written. It's the kind of book you will find hard to put down. This was the only survival at sea book; I have read, written by a woman. It was a nice change, to have a different perspective. She puts a lot of feelings into it. It was a classic tale with a good guy and a villain. With competent and incompetent sailors. I enjoyed this book almost as much as The Perfect Storm.

Rating:
Summary: You're there!
Review: I've read quite a few "stories of survival" and I have to say this one puts you "in the life raft" better than any I've read. Very vivid descriptions of both mental state of mind and physical discomforts. This will probably leave you with some vivid mental pictures long after you're finished with the book.