Lin and Larry Pardey spent eleven years cruising the world in their backyard-built, 24-foot cutter Seraffyn. Seraffyn's Mediterranean Adventure covers three years of their cruising life, in and around the Mediterranean, where they explored the Spanish coast and then worked their way back down to the African coast and the Arab world.
Lin Pardey (aka Mary Lin Pardey) is famous internationally for her expertise and experience in small boat sailing. Together with her husband Larry Pardey she has been sailing and writing for many years.
Lin's (& Larry's) sailing records speak for themselves: Smallest boat to have circumnavigated contrary to the prevailing winds around all the great southern capes
Only couple to have circumnavigated both east-about and west about on boats they built them selves, using traditional means of navigation and having no engine.
Their awards tell about their dedication to the world and spirit of ocean cruising:
Ocean Cruising Club Award - for contributions to Seamanship for small boat sailing. Presented to Lin Pardey 1996.
Geoff Pac Memorial Award- to both Lin and Larry for fostering and encouraging ocean cruising in small yachts
Cruising World Hall of Fame-2000 Ocean Cruising Club Merit Award -To Lin and Larry for inspiring voyages including a west-about rounding of Cape Horn
Seven Seas Cruising Club Service Award - To Lin and Larry for their lifetime voyaging achievements 2004
Cruising Club of America Far Horizons Award – To Lin and Larry for life time achievements and contributions to seamanship 2009
Sail Magazines Top 40 Sailors who made a Difference – 2010 – As America’s first couple fo cruising, Lin and Larry have inspired countless sailors.
Lin and Larry currently make their home port in New Zealand.
Anyone interested at all in sailing will know the legendary names of Lin and Larry Pardey who travelled thousands of miles first in the 24ft Seraffyn, the boat in this book and later in the slightly larger Taliesin. Both of these wooden cutters were built painstakingly by Larry.
The subject is in the title of this book and delightfully describes their sailing in the Mediterranean in the 70s. Sadly a search on Google of the various towns and villages they moor up alongside reveals just how much change there has been since this book was written. Consequently it's better just to read about things as they were. As they never had an engine, they dazzle with the ease with which they sail into harbours where lesser mortals just turn on their engines. A lovely book.
This book is written in the same style as the first two books. They touch on some of the people and cultures that they visit. They focus more on the actual aspect of live aboard sailing. If you aren't familiar with the terminology of sailing, some of the jargon can be hard to follow. Still a pleasant enough read.
So far this has been a brilliant book. Not just a diary of events or "how to" book, but grippingly narrated story of a fantastic sounding adventure through the Mediterranean.