Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat tedious at times, but overall a good story
Review: I also felt that the material was repeated at times, and the book wandered and skipped back and forth. It was hard follow because of this. But overall, the content is what you read this for, not Derek Lundy's writing skill. The story is excellent and more than makes up for weak organization.
Rating: 
Summary: Intensity in the Sea
Review: For my money, this is among the best books on the ocean's limitless capabilities, and the desire of men (and two women) to harness its raw power. While the author's writing style is less than perfect, what strikes me more is the book's perfect cadence. The narrative moves in precise relationship to the race's action: sometimes furious, and others almost dead calm.I've purchased four copies for associates who loved The Perfect Storm, and all have said they found this book better. Now, if Lundy can just get a movie deal. . .
Rating: 
Summary: Godforsaken Sea
Review: This story could have been told in about 100 pages instead of 272 pages. Mr. Lundy's tale reminds me of 'Groundhog Day'; the content is repeated at nauseum. What sounds like a thrilling topic, and I'm sure it is a great adventure, translates on paper very poorly. Sorry Mr. Lundy but adventure stories are not your strong suit. More exciting are, "The Hungry Ocean" by Linda Greenlaw or "The Perfect Storm" by Sebastian Junger. Spend your reading money on those two instead.
Rating:
Summary: What a read!
Review: I am a fan of true adventure sagas--especially of that genre as it relates to sailing. For those of you with similar interests, do yourselves a favor and READ THIS BOOK. One can't help but be captured by the story itself. That's a given. It would be a great read if there were nothing more; but Mr. Lundy weaves all the obligatory background information on the races themselves, the contestants, the design of the boats, into the story in such a way as to add immeasuably to the book's appeal. The fact that Mr. Lundy can relate this story to other historical events, literary works and neurophysiology made it still more compelling. I've spent sleepless nights in sodden clothes, in a wet bunk reeking of diesel fuel, puking my brains out from sea sickness, but that was nothing compared to what these people went through. That I realize the insignificance of my own experience and that I can even begin to relate to the experiences of the competitors in this race is a testament to his writing skill.
Rating:
Summary: Godforsaken Sea Review
Review: Reading this book as a nonsailor, I was impressed by the author's ability to relate the complexity of this extreme level of sailing while keeping the book entertaining. As adventure stories go, this is first rate. I was also very impressed at the handling of the heros and the victims. He avoided easy pathos while intimating the gravity of the highs and the lows. My only trivial complaint about this book in hard cover was the lack of any pictures whatsoever. It would have been useful to at least see the racers faces, as well as a sixty foot wave.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting story, but mainly for sailors
Review: I found the story of the round-the-world race fascinating, but had trouble getting past all the sailing terms. I am not a sailor, but imagine if you were this would be a very good book. I did enjoy the backgrounds of the sailors and why they would want to endure such an ordeal.
Rating:
Summary: Anticipation excitement results in reading disappointment
Review: This book covers a compelling sports event, filled with unique and interesting competitors. Sorry to say that it lacks a great deal in its organization, writing style, and seems to repeat itself often. It was potentially a great story, but the narrative lets us down.
Rating: 
Summary: Eeeeek!
Review: I grew up in the Southern Hemisphere (South Africa) and sailed Hobie 14s on the Cape Coast. You really learn to respect (actually dread is a better way to describe it sometimes) the sea if you sail in these fast little craft. I can only imagine how awesome the Southern Ocean must be. Lundy does an excellent job of describing the events as they unfolded in the 1996/1997 Vendee Globe. It is a truly terrifying account. A yachtie friend of mine summed this book up really well: if you want to enjoy sailing don't read books like this one. They'll just scare you into never setting sail again. To me this book was awful and captivating at the same time - you just can't put it down, because you know there is going to be this horrible gut wrenching saga taking place in a godforsaken place where the seas are like 'six story buildings' and 'knock downs' are common. Lundy does his best to delve into the minds of these (in my opinion)crazy competitors. His research on the race, navigation and seamanship in general is obviously excellent. He does seem to know what he is talking about. The technical stuff is mostly fascinating and thorough. But ultimately you have to do a big Galic shrug of the shoulders if you want to understand the sailors who compete in the Vendee Globe. All of Lundy's research and interviews with the competitors fails in this respect...they're just stark raving bonkers, just accept it! Buy this book but be warned...get something cheerful to read afterwards.
Rating:
Summary: A Picture Is Worth...
Review: I came upon this book accidentally. It came bundled with "Lost On Everest - The Search for Mallory & Irvine" which I was eagerly anticipating. When the two books arrived I could not help but dive into the "Godforsaken Sea". Once an avid amateur sailor, I had had my encounters with rough seas and bad weather, and came away terrified. Yet, I retained an irresistable attraction to the power, indifference and anarchy of the sea and the weather systems that subsist on it. This book will educate the uninitiated, intrigue the avid and innervate the experieced. I consumed it cover to cover, taking copious notes that I am still researching. Still, I wish the author had included a few (no, actually, more than a few, photographs). How about the "flat-out, downwind rush of Southern Ocean sledding", or the 50, 60, 80, 100+ high waves dwarfing the 60-ft single-handed racers, or even just pictures of the competing skippers. Surely these pictures exist somewhere. At any rate, Derek Lundy has done the world a great service by bringing this story to life.
Rating:
Summary: OK already
Review: The book starts off with great drama, and great writing. His description of apocalyptic sailing with huge waves the size of six story buildings crashing onto the boats is thrilling. Lundy continues then to tell us over and over that the Southern Ocean is the remotest, most dangerous place on earth. His infatuation with the sailors, like a kid worshipping rock stars, becomes too much. They are brave, but the reader can pick that up on his own. Too bad he wastes an otherwise great adventure with a monotony of repetition.
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