Last Voyage of the Lucette

by Douglas Robertson, Douglas Roberston

'Daddy's a sailor, why don't we sail around the world?' On board their 43-foot schooner Lucette, the Robertson family set sail from the south of England in January 1971 - and in June 1972 Lucette was holed by killer whales and sank in the Pacific Ocean. Four adults and two children survived the next 38 days adrift, first in a rubber life raft and then crammed into a 9-foot fibreglass dinghy, before being rescued by a passing Japanese fishing vessel. This is the story of how they survived, but it also tells of the 18-month voyage of the Lucette, across the Atlantic, around the Caribbean, through the panama Canal and out into the Pacific. It is a vivid and candid account of the delights and hardships, the excitements and the dangers, the emotional highs and lows experienced by the family both before and after the shipwreck.. Douglas Robertson has taken his father's classic book Survive the Savage Sea as his starting point, and has drawn upon a wealth of other sources, not least his own memories of a life-changing experience, to bring us this true story of adventure, of relationships strained to bursting point, of conflict and resolution - ultimately a very human and humbling tale.

Genres: Survival, Nonfiction

372 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Daisy Overton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read- they describe with such detail life aboard their make-shift raft and each page is gripping.

[Jemma Escreet · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for enjoyment. I loved reading about their sailing adventures in the first half of the book - I've always dreamt about sailing around the world (in a far-off, imaginary way), so it was a real treat to vicariously experience their highs and lows at sea.

Then the shipwreck... wow. What an epic tale of survival. I finished this book a little more grateful for the simple luxuries of food, clean water, and a roof over my head.

While I understand why it was written from the father's perspective (extending the original book), I would've preferred to read the author's account, and think it would have made for a more authentic re-telling. The father was clearly quite an emotionally unhealthy and domineering character, and I would’ve loved to hear a different perspective. Nevertheless, this was a fascinating read, and I am in awe of how this family (and poor Robin) managed to survive through everything they did.

[Ariel Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wild ride that makes you realize “no matter how bad everything on Facebook seems, at least I can drink fresh water, I don’t have to butcher and eat raw turtle, and I’m not stuck in a miniscule boat at the mercy of sharks and storms with a captain with a tragic past who’s on a power trip and has anger issues.” It actually reminds me of a very dark take on the Swiss Family Robinson except the patriarch lashes out violently when people, you know, miss a turtle. I want to know more about what happened to all the kids.

[Carol Shave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, It fills in the first part of the fated voyage of the Lucette, before their daughter left the boat in the Caribbean. I actually Met Sandy, one of the twin boys in Penzance harbour on board his converted fishing boat with his family, shortly after reading the original book by Dougal Robertson. He was flying a flag with a turtle on it which made us curious. Lovely family and what a storey to tell the kids!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing true story about survival......we have life so easy really.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super book about sailing around the world and the family struggles, family moments, and the beauty of the sea. Then your boat sinks and your family have to do many things to survive for 46 days without water. Amazing the details of how they pulled this off. In the reading you can see what is coming at the end for the parents...... Super read.