Trekka Around the World

by John Guzzwell and Illustrated by Black and White photo illus Guzzwell, John

Book Overview

One of the great maritime stories of all time, is updated in this entirely new edition. Contains previously unpublished anecdotes and photos of a remarkable sailing trip around the world. Included are... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679513809
• ISBN13: 9780679513803
• Release Date: October 1979
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

JOHN GUZZWELL

An excellent book by a remarkable sailor and person who at the age of 76 is still involved with boats. I met him in 1962 when he built his second yacht, 'Treasure' and like 'Trekka' is to a Laurent Giles design.

Little boat, big story.

A nonfiction, wonderfully told, adventures by a fine young man in his self built, yawl-rigged, sailing vessel of just 20 feet, 6 inches. Don't let size deter you, for this is most enjoyable read.

A must read for the true sailor!!!!

John Guzzwell, who is arguably the finest yachtsman in the world, writes a beautiful book about his record breaking voyage around the world. Mr. Guzzwell proves that not only is he an avid sailor but an outstanding author as well. I couldn't put it down! Do yourself a favor and don't sail another mile before reading this masterpiece!

Inspirational and Infectious

I added this book to my arm chair sailor collection shortly after purchasing a MacGregor 26x power sailboat and started reading it after seeing the film called the storm. I skipped chapters 9, 10 and 11 owing to the film. That material is covered in other books about Tzu Hang and the roaring forties (IE Once is Enough) and there is way to much in the way of horror involving storms at sea as it is. Having skipped those chapters, I found the book absolutely inspirational. Trekka is so small (20 feet - 6 inches) that readers like myself, who own pocket cruising sailboats, will be inspired to plan or at least dream about cruises following her course. It is infectious. After presenting the story to my wife she was infected and started researching the training necessary for such a cruise. This holiday season we are going to seriously discuss the possibility of sailing from San Francisco to Hawaii in my sister's 40 foot sail boat, if not in our own.. and if that goes well who knows. John Gusswell, the author, indicates that light displacement cruisers of no longer than 30 feet should be more than successful ocean cruisers owing to responsiveness, modern self steering systems and perhaps water ballast, which he uses on his current 30 foot boat, Endangered Species. One thing is certain, the author is looking for a reaction of some kind. If you own a sail boat expect to cast off or expect to visit a boat show. In any case the reader may what to visit Trekka which miraculously has been preserved by the Maritime Museum of British Columbia in Victoria and will likely be on public display in a few years.

This book will encourage the dreamers to leave the dock.

If you have ever wanted to cruise the oceans by means of your own yacht, than the story told by Mr. Guzzwell will get you on your way. His account of the history making voyage involves you from the very seed of inspiration that powered himself to build a boat, outfit it with the proper gear, and sail across the ocean towards a dream. It was this journey that gives him the distinction of being the first englishman to sail around the world singlehanded. And at the time, Trekka was the smallest yacht to do so. I would encourage all readers with yachting interests to read this book without hesitation.