Awakening Waves: An exciting true life sailing adventure.

by Richard Betzalel LeVine

An exciting true life adventure of Richard & Barbara LeVine. Richard was the senior partner of a large Encino, CA law firm and Barbara the senior partner of a major interior design firm doing models for condos. Neither had ever sailed or had any experience on the ocean. They had a 37' Tayana sailboat built to their specifications in Taiwan and started extensive sailing lessons off of Los Angeles. "Magellan" was a fully equipped elegant vessel with all of the radar, freezers, generators, safety equipment which included a substantial armory for protection against pirates. A full medical kit for everything including minor surgery… all of which was used. Many trial runs up and down the West Coast of California to learn how to properly operate Magellan before venturing south to Baja California and then Mexico. Read of the exciting adventures including fighting off pirates, being boarded 1,000 miles out to sea by the US Coast Guard and dealing with 70 foot waves off of Point Conception, California. Magellan then sailed across the pacific ocean from Acapulco to the various islands of the South Pacific while surviving several full blown hurricanes. Dealing with the natives of the various island groups such as the Marquesas Islands and French Polynesia where we became very good friends with the local royalty and natives. We sailed the west coast of Europe and spent time in Amsterdam as our center of operations. Not a dull moment which is all documented with the exciting stories of the people and places in this page turner from encounters with large groups of whales, killer whales, sharks, dolphins who spent extensive time playing in our bow wake along with cute sea otters.

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2012

Reviews

[Craig Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read and I enjoyed it immensely. Some of the stories seemed embellished to make the story more riveting for the reader but who knows, maybe it was all true. There was something for everyone in this. If you are expecting a sailing book from beginning to end, be prepared that there are a few chapters in the beginning that are more of a story about himself and his family history, but the story is still very interesting. My wife read it first as I was reading another sailing book (Storm Passage, which was boring compared to this book) and she turned to me part way through this book and said " I thought this was a sailing book?" she said she enjoyed the book very much to that point, but she had read a few chapters and there was very little about sailing. I read it soon after and don't worry, it eventually gets to the sailing and it is full of harrowing tales and interesting characters that keep you turning the pages. We both enjoyed the book very much.

[Deena Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

I didn't want to put it down. Not just a sailing adventure,but a life changing experience. I enjoyed every line and would tell many friends and family about it as I read. The family history was as intriguing as the adventures at sea.

[John B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good some bad

Started out ok then much of it seemed questionable as far as reality is concerned. Maybe real, maybe imagined. Anyway it was entertaining at times.