Last Voyage of the Lucette: The Full, Previously Untold, Story of the Events F

The recipient, an amateur sailor with many years sailing experience, was initially pleased with the gift and looking forward to reading about the adventure but found the book hard to get into and hard to read. Sadly it didn't make landfall for him.

This book is worth reading 5 times, because each time you will find something you missed the time before. If you think about your daily life, what irritates and frustrates you, what scares you, what worries you, and contrast it with what this family endured, your troubles will fade away. More importantly you will be inspired by the depths of human courage and tenacity. You will be amazed by the strength of the human body and mind. And for my fellow psychology buffs, you will be intrigued by the survival mentality that persevered and kept these people alive in these conditions.

I originally purchased this book for my wife before reading it myself. She has been sailing from a very young age and currently sails a 37 foot sailboat on a monthly basis. She had heard about this most interesting tale of a family adrift at sea after having their boat sunk by a pod of killer whales. Although the whales made no attempt to harm them, after sinking their boat, the whales did devour the whale that had struck their ship and been killed. The family and a hired man tied their life rafts together and drifted in the ocean for many weeks before rescue. It is a story that is true and very captivating to read. The events and relationships between the members of the family and the hired hand are very interesting. Take a chance. There is also a different book about the same event from the view of a different family member but I can't remember the title. You could look it up on the internet if you are interested. I also read it and it has very different perspectives on the same events. If you like tales of struggle and overcoming adversity this is a book for you.

I had found a battered copy of "Survive the Savage Sea" at the library bookstore and devoured it. I just couldn't believe what this family went through. I have read the book several times. Only recently I became aware that the son had written his own version and of course I had to read it. He just added to the original story which was kind of strange, so I ended up skimming a lot because I had just reread the original. This story shows a more disturbing side of the dynamics which I guess the father glossed over in his book. But it was interesting to know what they had all gone on to do and I'm glad that the kids were able to go on and have decent lives despite a very traumatic experience.

Especially since I'm mentioned in it in a couple instances and had the opportunity to meet and sail with the Robertsons on the Lucette many years ago. I always thought highly of young Douglas, and I like the way he re-spins the tale (and adds immeasurably to it) that his Dad so adeptly gave us decades ago.