Great story but better explanation of nautical terms needed
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I think this is one of the best books describing what awful conditions can occur at sea and what it really feels like to experience such conditions in a small yacht.
The book is fast paced and moves from the story of one yacht to another and explains how the race panned out as it did. I read the book in a few days as it is so engaging. The most interesting thing is how, even large yachts (and even the warship sent to rescue the stricken yachts) are endangered by huge seas, whilst some relatively small yachts came through and arrived in Hobart safely (although this was probably more a matter of luck).
I do agree with one of the other reviewers that an explanation of nautical terms plus a few diargrams would go a long way to assisting lay readers like me understand and visualise much better the detail of what was happening). Also the book could benefit from a list of who is who as there are many characters introduced in a short space. An index wouldn't go amiss either. If it wasn't for these things I'd definitely give it 5 stars.
If you liked this book I'd thoroughly recommend "Fastnet Force 10" and "Godforsaken Sea" too.
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God help the English language
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Thank God Mundle has an interesting story to tell. He sets a record for the number of clichés in one book and mangles the English language throughout. There's no end of "fairwelling the family" etc. No detail is too trivial, e.g., the number of slices someone's mum cuts the cake into before the race start. Despite the writing style, it's worth a read.
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An amazing and gripping book! A great read
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This book is a great read for sailors and non sailors alike. It gives a great insight into what the race conditions were like and what experiences were had by competitors and the many heros who risked their lives to save the dozens of stricken sailors. You'll almost be there yourself. I recommend this book to everyone, you won't be able to put it down.
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Rivetting
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This is an gripping account of what can only be described as a disaster waiting to happen. I'm no seafarer, but it seems blindingly obvious that if you have a race through a notoriously storm prone stretch of sea, eventually you will get a confluence of all the worse possible circumstances and all kinds of nastiness will ensure. That being said, the human race never got anywhere by being timid - but less optimistic weather forecasts might help! This is a superb account of what went on, focusing on the almost insane heroism of the rescue services, and on the stomach churning accounts of what the survivors went through. It's probably less scary with hindsight, but some of them come across as remarkably unperturbed by being trapped under an upturned boat - especially when clipped securely to the rail - just keeping their fingers crossed that the next wave will right the thing. All utter madness, mixed with spectacular bravery - and a totally absorbing read. The only minor complaint is that a glossary (and preferably a diagram!) would have been nice for us non-nautical types. This is similar in subject and style to Sebastian Junger's even more terrifying "The Perfect Storm" (which is nothing like the heavily fictionalised and slightly silly film of the same name) - if you enjoy this, you must read that one as well.
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The most realistic account of dramatic events I've read
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Whilst in Australia I learned of the events of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart race, and upon seeing this book on sale in a Sydney bookstore decided to give it a try. With no sailing knowledge, the initial 2 chapters were a little over my head (along with some of the language throughout the book), but you soon realise that this doesn't matter. The author has gathered first hand accounts of the events of the tragic race from numerous vessels involved, and presented them in such a way that you actually feel like you are there with them while 50ft waves are crashing down. I cannot imagine that there is another book detailing the extremes of ocean life in such a manner as Fatal Storm. Reading this book has increased my respect for the sailing profession and the marine rescue services ten-fold.
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