Tamata and the Alliance

Moitessier's autobiography and his best (and final) book. Particularly interesting info on French Indochina during and after WW2. An adventurous and driven man of great character, but he was clearly extremely self-absorbed, selfish and treated his women and children poorly.

This was my first Bernard Moitessier book. I picked it up after reading "Godforsaken Sea" by Derek Lundy. Lundy referred to Moitessier several times through the book as the father of single-hand sailboat racing.The book was not at all what I expected, about solo long-distance blue water racing, but I enjoyed the first half about Moitessier's childhood in Indochina, how he came to love the sea and set out to follow his dreams. It was an account of the history of Indochina that I found facsinating, told through the eyes of an adolescent that loved that part of the world. Moitessier can be an excellent writer.Unfortunately, the second half of the book turned into a self-absorbed, preachy lecture about his trying to "find himself." What was forgivable wanderlust and adolescent idealism in a teen and twenty-year-old, turned into a sad tale of a middle-aged guy who could never grow up. He tried to legitimize his behavior as his attempt to save the world from war and poverty (from Tahiti, mind you). On several occasions I felt like saying "Get a life!"I probably will read Moitessier's classic, "The Long Way." I hope that it is as good as he says it is in "Tamata and the Alliance!"

Like new book and dust cover. Delivery was a little slow, but considering the condition of the book it was well worth waiting for.

Top condition. Thanksnb for the other articles I bought , they were fine but I am in a rush . Sorry.

Splendid copy. Great seller; thank you so much.

Bernard Moitessier was more than the "Father of singlehanded sailboat racing", his book is that of a poet in action-all his life. Reading The Long Way first would be well recomended to better understand Bernard's references in this book. The author has put his heart & soul into writing this for us as he did working to elevate social awareness. If you've ever been daunted by Cape Horn, yearned to live on a deserted Atoll, or thought World Powers should make the world a better place, then this is for you! If you want to bring Western ways to the Paradise of Sea and Sand, you'll not likely understand what the title means!! :)))

Yes, I am a dedicated reader of B.M. I find it stunning to learn his ways and views, his practical seamanship and openness. This last work of Bernard's gives a deep moving account of his early life and gives partly new views on aspects that where already issues of his earlier books. Some reader might find too much of mysticism. Granted! However, this world needs such kinds of thoughts and resulting actions as B.M. is telling and was realizing. Don't you think this world would be better if there were more Bernards (and less Ackermanns)?! I say a wholehearted "Yes, I do!".Whatever, if you're a sailor you could profit very much of Bernard's hints of seamanship. If it has never crossed your mind to set a foot on board of a sailing yacht, maybe you'd get motivated to do so (although that motivation might come even more from the wonderful Seraffyn-adventure-books by Lin and Larry Pardey) - or you simply let yourself immerse into the enticing life of a marvellous character.Hats off to the the excellent work of the translator (I cannot compare with the French original; nevertheless I very much enjoy the English version)!To my opinion, if you want to get the most out of "Tamata and the Alliance", you should first read the preceding publications of B.M.

In preparation for my own Circumnavigation, my father insisted I read this book. I have mixed feelings. First off, this is not a book about sailing, passages across entire oceans are often summed up in one sentence and only the appendix gives some sailing tips or techniques. The first 1/3 of the book can be skipped, it's all about his childhood on land in Vietnam. the last 1/3 of the book is all about gardening, mulch making techniques, planting trees and his struggle to bond and make peace with his inner child. This guy abandoned a fiancé, a wife in France, and a wife and child in California. I lost a lot of respect for him there. However, I still liked this book. It is interesting to look into his adventure and this unique life. This is a man with very bad and very good luck at the same time. He keeps shipwrecking boats and then people just help him out and give him another one, repeatedly. Amazing. Maybe there is something to be said for the things he does to appease the gods.

Anyone who has read any of the author's previous works will want to read this, his last work, which brings us up very close to his end of days. It fills in all the gaps and sets out the driving forces in his life that were the inspiration for the other three sailing books. There's no significant duplication from the earlier volumes, and you could just as easily read this book first and then delve into the others. It took him years to complete.Moitessier wrote very well, or at least this translation has represented him well. There were some minor loose ends not really tied up (did he lose all contact with his family, or just omitted to mention them after leaving Indochina?); and for me there was a little too much on the practicalities of living on a pacific atoll. But these are all minor quibbling.

Enjoyed the book so much named my boat Tamata