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Rowing After the White Whale

A Crossing of the Indian Ocean by Hand

James Adair author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Birlinn General

Published:25th Jul '19

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Rowing After the White Whale cover

What's it like to be on a small boat with no power but oars, and over 1,500 miles from the nearest land? Two friends decided to find out...

Over a boozy Sunday lunch, flatmates James Adair and Ben Stenning made a promise to row across an ocean despite having no sailing or rowing experience whatsoever. This is an account of their 116 days at sea as they undertook the voyage of a lifetime. From eerie calms to their capsize in stormy seas, their determination and perseverance pushed them through the relentless dangers of rowing and sleeping under sun, moon, wind and stars for day upon day. Their tale is one of moonbows and meteor showers, passing whales and thieving fish, lurking sharks and giant squid ... and a terrifying fight for survival.

'A challenge like few others - one that requires total commitment and perseverance in the face of Mother Nature often at her most terrifying. I have huge respect for this brave duo. They knew that the blisters and pain wouldn't last forever! An epic achievement'

-- Bear Grylls

 'Funny and terrifying'

-- Hattie Morahan * The Independent *

 'A rousing tale of an adventure that most of us could scarcely dream about'

* The Canberra Times *

'An heroic journey'

* The Daily Mail *

'a most readable account of real adventure by brave men'

-- John Blashford-Snell

'This is a truly splendid book, reminiscent, in its celebration of the triumph of cheerful resolve over incompetence, of Eric Newby's A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush. It is a book without artifice of any kind, very funny and with the ring of many appalling truths'

-- Sam Llewellyn

'an excellent read: spirited and funny but also thoughtful, touching and well written'

-- Stephen Taylor

'This is an outstanding book brilliantly written and I very highly recommend it'

* Shipping Magazi

ISBN: 9781846975257

Dimensions: 195mm x 130mm x 20mm

Weight: 262g

262 pages