"Fastnet, Force 10"

by John Rousmaniere

Book Overview

In August 1979, 303 yachts began the 600-mile Fastnet Race from the Isle of Wight off the southwest coast of England to Fastnet Rock off the Irish coast and back.It began in fine weather, then... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393032566
• ISBN13: 9780393032567
• Release Date: January 1980
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 287 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Adults Only

If you are looking for a good guys vs. bad guys screed; if you are looking for a juvenile, sensationalistic piece, look elaewhere. This is an intelligent, objective documentary of sea disaster in which boats were lost and people died. You don't have to be a yachtsman, just a muture student of the human experience.

Could not put the book down...

John Rousmaniere has done a super job in explaining what ocean sailing is all about. Even though I have never done ocean sailing, I feel I have learned valuable lessons of what to do and not to do. Mr. Rousmaniere gives actual details of what these sailors go through so you feel you are right with them. I also recommend reading his other book, Rescue in the Pacific.

Captivating !

As a sailor that sails the Atlantic coastal waters in a 26',water ballast sailboat,I was in awe reading Mr. Rousmaniere's great work on the Fastnet disaster. The amount of information gathered required much in depth interviewing no doubt. I found it difficult to put the book down once I got into the story.I found the accounts of the incidents of the various boats to be very vivid, and easily pictured. Anyone who sails,or feels the lure of the sea should definitely read this book!

The best modern sea adventure story!

I have read this book multiple times and I have loaned it out to every one I know. It is my favorite adventure book. The writing is superb and John's analysis is spot on. The storm is reviewed from its beginnings over Minnesota, its brush with the J/24 world championship off New England and on to its fateful meeting with the Fasnet fleet. He tells a compelling story about the race and the horror of the sea in a state of rage - this is better than Into Thin Air and the Perfect Storm. Best of all John tells his story with compassion and sensitivity and shows that sometimes no matter what you do you may find yourself in an impossible situation. . Buy this book! You will not be disappointed! Thanks John for a great book.

Gripping tale of adventure and boat safety

This book is superb, the best I have ever read on sustained rough weather sailboating and what really happens onboard 30 to 80 foot sailboats in very strong storm conditions at sea. The book is very well written and the author's words allowed me to come quite close to feeling the wet, windy, bouncing, noisy and scary conditions experienced by the people on the boats in that terrible storm. It is highly gripping as an adventure, and unusually informative on how to properly prepare a yacht for offshore sailing where threatening storms are always a real threat. Very enjoyable. by Allen Hobbs, Lt. USN (ret)