A troubled relationship between a father and son is tested almost to the breaking point, as they sail through many hardships at sea. A true story, it is very revealing and a good read. The pluses and the minuses of adding a third mate, a young kitten, will stick with you long after you put the book down.

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This is the true account of a father and son who sailed around Cape Horn, told in diary format alternating between the two. Frankly, I didn't like the book at first and put it down several times, mostly (it turns out) because it opened with an entry of the father's and he (boringly) went into the history of sailing and boats and lore and all manner of info that just didn't catch my interest. But I kept hearing good things about this book, so I decided to read it a little differently: rather than chronologically, I read all of the son's entries, and then went back and read all of the father's. And now I have to say, I just love this book.

Their journey was often perilous, often tedius, they bickered, they had fun, they had a remarkable shared experience, they saw the world together. The two diaries had completely different voices, coming from two different stages of life. I found the whole voyage very moving, vivid and interesting. I highly recommend this one after all! I'm glad I stuck with it.

***1/2 Three and a half stars!

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The Audio Version (isbn 0-69451-681-3) of this book is ABRIDGED on 2 Cassettes.
Starts off a little slow, but then takes hold of you as you get to know these two men, their cat and the sea they set out to experience.

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