Daring The Sea: The True Story of the First Men to Row Across the Atlantic Ocean

by David W. Shaw

In 1896, two Norwegian immigrants from the New Jersey coast set out to attain their piece of the American Dream by risking their lives to achieve the seemingly impossible. Convinced that they had no bright future as clam diggers supplying the Fulton Fish Market in New York City, they conceived a plan to set a world record by becoming the first men to row across the Atlantic Ocean. To family, friends, and those intimate with the sea, the plan appeared suicidal; but to the two men, George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen, the crossing represented a way out of lives offering little promise. Their hope was to attract world wide attention and lucrative lecture and exhibition fees if they succeeded. Daring the Sea chronicles their incredible--and nearly fatal--row across the Atlantic in a tiny, eighteen-foot boat with no sail, no steam engine, not even a rudder to aid them as they struggled with storms, a capsize, hunger, relentless fatigue, great mental hardship, and near collisions with ships, whales, and an iceberg. Despite these obstacles, Harbo and Samuelsen rowed the 3,000 miles from New York to England in an amazing fifty-five days. Although there have been numerous attempts to better their time, no team has ever succeeded, and at least two men have died trying. Sadly, their dream of fame and fortune eluded them, and for more than one hundred years--until the publication of this book--they remained unsung and unknown heroes. Daring the Sea tells their unforgettable story for the first time. It is a tale of deep friendship and great courage--of two men new to America who dared to believe in each other as they tested themselves against the majesty of nature. Daring the Sea also brings to lifethe ocean itself, a vast presence that is at once menacing and soothing, monotonous and exhilarating--as unpredictable as life itself. The author's firsthand experience as a sailor who is familiar with the influence of tides and weather on the ocean contributes greatly to the reader's appreciation of this stirring tale.

Genres: Adventure, History, Travel, Biography, Nonfiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jan C · Rating 1 out of 5]

David Shaw takes too long to get to the meat of the story. I was interested in reading about two guys rowing across the ocean and getting to England.

I am quitting on page 66 - they are just now provisioning the boat.

I have to move in the next few months and cannot be wasting my time (or space) on an author who takes forever to get to the story.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

True story of two Norwegian immigrants who rowed a small boat across the Atlantic Ocean in 1896. They set out from Highlands, where they were clammers, and the first part of the book talks about life in that area, which I enjoyed given my roots there. The writing is decent, and the story is remarkable, as are the two men. Descriptions of the sea and storms are gripping.

[William Drehmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading for book club. 1898, 2 Norwegians who have been living in USA decide to try to be the first to row a boat across the Atlantic. Many hair-raising adventures. Learned a lot of nautical terms. Really a 3.5.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true story based on the logbooks and journals of George Harbo and Frank Samuelson of their crossing the Atlantic Ocean (New York to Le Havre, France) in an open, 18 foot long row boat!

[Leah Missall · Rating 2 out of 5]

apparently I'm related to George...this was mid, considering what this book is about I felt like it should have focused more on the travels and hardships of the journey instead of constant mini history lessons....I don't care about the history of iceburgs...just my personal opinion

[Huw · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant read

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took way too long to get to the adventure part. First third of the book was a drag. Last half was decent.

[Breña · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich gestehe, manchmal habe ich quer gelesen und zwischenzeitlich sogar daran gedacht, abzubrechen. Schließlich hat mich die Geschichte der beiden Seefahrer jedoch in ihren Bann gezogen. Das liegt in erster Linie an ihrer unfassbaren Leistung, nicht an Shaws packender Erzählung. Zwar spürt man seine Bewunderung und ich schätze auch seine Anreicherung mit historischen Fakten, literarisch Großes hat er jedoch nicht vollbracht.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

1896. Two men ,George Harbo and Frank Samuleson , solid seamen, one 18 ft row boat ¨ The Fox¨ and lots of provisons head east for France . This is the most incedible adventure storie I have ever read ! Imagine sliding down 40 - 50 ft waves , for three days and nights , stern first trying to stop from flipping the boat .Imagine being wet , cold and encrusted in salt for 56 days. Then there's this strange creature that cannot be explained . Hold on to your seat reading this , it's a good one .