Alone Through the Roaring Forties

by Vito Dumas

The Sailor's Classics library introduces a new generation of readers to the best books ever written about small boats under sail Below the Cape of Good Hope and south of Australia lie the feared latitudes of the "Roaring Forties," where nonstop westerly gales push huge seas, unimpeded, around and around the bottom of the world. It was into this watery hell that, in 1942, Vito Dumas set sail in a 31-foot ketch.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure, Nautical

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 1944

About the author

Argentine sailor and sportsman who practiced swimming, boxing and athletics. He is also the first solo navigator to receive The Slocum Award for four fantastic trips, where the round the world by 40º south latitude stands out.

Reviews

[Stuart Weibel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange to think about a man sailing alone around the world in the midst of World War II... and finishing the trip unscathed by the capes, the pirates, or the conflagration, but that is what Vito Dumas did. I don't expect to follow his lead, but his boat is not so much bigger than mine, and it sets one to ponder. A Sailor's must-read.

[Wondolor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un genio, el célebre marino innombrable.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alone Through the Roaring Forties: Voyage of the Lehg II Round the World by Vito Dumas (International Marine 2001) (910.41) (3843).

This is the personal account of the legendary sailor-author Victor Dumas’ 1943 voyage in a 31-foot sailboat of his own design as he became the first human to complete an eastward solo circumnavigation of the globe by crossing the Atlantic, the Indian, and the Pacific Oceans. He sailed alone from his native Argentina, stopping only to touch port and “revictualize” (his term) in Africa, in New Zealand, and in Chile before completing the trip in Argentina. The trip took over a year, but he made it.

I’m not a sailor. After reading this account, I am not tempted to become one.

I purchased a used PB copy in like-new condition for $1.50 from my local used book store on 6/1/22.

My rating: 7/10, finished 8/8/23 (3843).

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

[Marsali Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful account of an 'impossible voyage' - a solo sailor going round the world at 40 degrees under - below South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Cape Horn. Dumas really brings across the beauty, joy and terror of solo sailing, the sea, the birds and creatures that he meets with, as well as all the people who help him on his way. A classic sea book which made me wish it was summer, so that I could head out up the voe on my Karima S ...

[Glenn Meinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating tale of sailing in the days before most electronics. Single handed sailing and new friendships, even with creatures along the way. A great tale and very well written. I don't read Spanish, but I think we owe something to whoever translated it to English. If you have ever wanted to sail, this may be the book that nudges you just enough.

[Aquiles Carattino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se trata, nuevamente, de un relato de navegación, sólo que esta vez es desde Buenos Aires a Buenos Aires, atravesando todos los grandes cabos del sur del mundo. Si no me equivoco, este es el primer viaje en solitario en el que se logra la hazaña.

El libro comienza con partes de la preparación para el viaje. Desde la gente que lo ayuda con las velas, o con la fabricación del barco (el Lehg II). Cosas que me llamaron mucho la atención es que zarpara sin dinero. Un amigo le da algunas libras justo cuando está saliendo del puerto (que le serán fundamentales para comprar mapas en Sudáfrica).

Tampoco lleva radio, porque el viaje es durante la segunda guerra mundial y no quería ser confundido por un espía.

En un momento un tiburón lo persigue y decide pegarle un tiro (confesión que sería prácticamente imposible de hacer hoy en día.)

En este viaje las tormentas son terribles, hay huracanes continuous en el índico. Juzgando por cómo lucen las imágenes de la Vendee Globe, que Vito Dumas haya sobrevivido en un barco de madera de unos 30 pies es una gran hazaña.

Esta vez parece que el capitán está más preparado. Ya sabe cómo hacer para dormir, dejando al velero que navegue solo (atando el timón y ajustando finamente su posición relativa a las velas). También lleva raciones para combatir el escorbuto, aunque parece que no funcionaron del todo. También está más prevenido con respecto a guardar comida en lugares estancos, y a tener mejor ropa de abrigo.

El viaje es un éxito. Logra mandar novedades a Buenos Aires a través de pequeños cruces con barcos a motors que quizás tenían radio, o que mandaban un relay de las noticias cuando llegaban a puerto.

El libro es una gran historia de supervivencia en condiciones extremas, sin apoyo, sin esperanza de que alguien pudiera ayudarlo en caso de desgracia. De hecho menciona a otro marinero que estaba intentando un viaje similar y del que nunca más se supo nada.

[Morgan McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible, madcap, nonstop action probably-mostly-true story of an amazing sailor's journey. (Most external sources suspect the sailing part is scrupulously accurate and anything of his background or that happens on land to be highly embellished.)

Dumas is the first to singlehandedly sail the Indian ocean, the first to circumnavigate in the southern ocean, the first to round the horn west to east (and survive), and many other firsts. He is only of the greatest sailors to have ever cast off. That the book is sometimes fragmented and poorly translated from Spanish only enhances his manic character. It was very hard and a bit expensive to track down a copy of this book and very much worth it.

What is implicit in the pages is that Dumas is an exciting but undependable friend who lives a child-like life of his own convenient philosophy. He depends continuously on the kindness of friends and strangers rescuing him from problems of his own making, is always ready to party, and seems to sail away from obligations both social and financial quite eagerly.

I regret that his greatest journey occurring during wartime eliminated any popular press and popular understanding outside of Argentina of the magnitude of that achievement.

[Matthew Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book right after 'Trekka around the world', and while that book made sailing around the world sound like a blast, this one (done in the southern ocean rather than the trade winds) sounded rather less fun! From the frankly awful start with a massive gale and heavily infected arm to the end beating around cape horn, the entire trip sounded miserable.

The second world war which was raging at the time adds another layer to the adventure, with submarine sightings and wartime manoeuvres.

Well written and a quick read!

[Jimbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro simpático donde el autor narra su gran aventura navegando por los océanos del sur. Es una lectura amena que consigue transmitir, al menos en parte, las sensaciones al enfrentarse en solitario a un viaje como este. Libro obligado para amantes del mar, y muy recomendado para aventureros y soñadores.

[J.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting account of a journey few have ever taken (alone) across the sub-Antarctic seas.

[Felipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relato cru da façanha de um navegante que, como não quer nada, lustra seus sapatos antes de partir a uma volta ao mundo pela rota “impossível”.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un libro interesante. Te lleva con la emoción de darle la vuelta al mundo en un velero en soledad. La hazaña es grandiosa y se puede sentir todo lo que atravesó Vito en el viaje, pues es hecho con sangre y pulso.
A veces se vuelve denso de leer por la terminología que usa y no lograba entender ciertas cosas, pero me quedo con la valentía y el espíritu de Vito por hacer la ruta imposible.

[tyRonE hArDing · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great, but entertaining