The relevant merit of this book, beyond the technical and human records achieved, is given by the "easy rider" athmosphere that most of the narrative seems to reflect. The boat size, the long trips harbour to harbour, the potential presence of terrific dangers, the preferred navigation techniques that exclude any modern tool, all these elements seem not to influence the serenity and the marine natural attitude of the author, togheter with his infinite love for the "person" Trekka. This, in addition to the author's deep knowledge and winning reaction to almost any adverse circumstance along the trip, was a fashinating element. I personally love the mountain climbing and fear the ocean and even the "normal" sea, but I have to admit that navigating the oceans is now more accessible in my mind, and perhaps I have made it while reading. A lot of what I considered before "apocalyptic situations", belonging only to classical nighmares, have been afforded and finally resolved with firm character and right mentality. This can be seen as the final lesson of the book.

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.

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.