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The Old Man and the Sea: A True Story of Crossing the Atlantic by Raft
Octogenarian Anthony Smith's journey was originally inspired by both the Kontiki Expedition of Thor Heyerdahl (who he knew) and the incredible story of the survivors of a 1940 boat disaster, who spent 70 days adrift in the Atlantic, eventually reaching land emaciated and close to death.
While this might sound like a voyage no-one would wish to emulate, to octogenarian Anthony Smith it sounded like an adventure, and he placed a typically straightforward advertisement in the Telegraph that read "Fancy rafting across the Atlantic? Famous traveller requires 3 crew. Must be OAP. Serious adventurers only."
In his inimitable style, Smith details their voyage and the hardships they endured with a matter-of-fact air that makes his story seem all the more impressive. His advanced age allows him a wider perspective not only on the journey but on life itself, and his never-say-die attitude to the difficulty of the journey is inspirational.
'Old men ought to be explorers' said T.S. Eliot, and this book certainly gives a compelling argument in his favour. It is both a great story (a huge storm on the final night of the voyage almost wrecked them on a reef) and a call to action for the older generation - do not go quietly, says Anthony Smith, but seek out adventure as long as you are able.
While this might sound like a voyage no-one would wish to emulate, to octogenarian Anthony Smith it sounded like an adventure, and he placed a typically straightforward advertisement in the Telegraph that read "Fancy rafting across the Atlantic? Famous traveller requires 3 crew. Must be OAP. Serious adventurers only."
In his inimitable style, Smith details their voyage and the hardships they endured with a matter-of-fact air that makes his story seem all the more impressive. His advanced age allows him a wider perspective not only on the journey but on life itself, and his never-say-die attitude to the difficulty of the journey is inspirational.
'Old men ought to be explorers' said T.S. Eliot, and this book certainly gives a compelling argument in his favour. It is both a great story (a huge storm on the final night of the voyage almost wrecked them on a reef) and a call to action for the older generation - do not go quietly, says Anthony Smith, but seek out adventure as long as you are able.
- GenresNonfiction
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2015
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32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 20, 2022
'Old men ought to be explorers Here or there does not matter We must be still and still moving Into another intensity For a further union, a deeper communion Through the dark cold and the empty desolation, The wave cry, the wind cry, the vast waters Of the petrel and the porpoise. from ‘East Coker’, Four Quartets by T. S. Eliot
To raft across the Atlantic is a wonderful achievement by any one's standards. To do it in your 80's doubly so.
The author passed away soon after he wrote this book and never actually got to see it published, which is sad after a fashion. He lived a long and adventurous life most people would dream of so all in all he did OK, very OK.
All that said, I have to say that I didn't find this a riveting read.
Mr Smith has an over embellished style of writing and vocabulary use, which is not to my taste, like an oversweet desert.
The whole affair wasn't all that exciting and the crew in the first half was especially bland. It becomes a lot more interesting once they make the Carribean and the story finishes well.
A lesson for us all perhaps. Don't let age(or anything else for that matter) limit you. We've only got a short time here. Don't waste it.
3 Stars.
To raft across the Atlantic is a wonderful achievement by any one's standards. To do it in your 80's doubly so.
The author passed away soon after he wrote this book and never actually got to see it published, which is sad after a fashion. He lived a long and adventurous life most people would dream of so all in all he did OK, very OK.
All that said, I have to say that I didn't find this a riveting read.
Mr Smith has an over embellished style of writing and vocabulary use, which is not to my taste, like an oversweet desert.
The whole affair wasn't all that exciting and the crew in the first half was especially bland. It becomes a lot more interesting once they make the Carribean and the story finishes well.
A lesson for us all perhaps. Don't let age(or anything else for that matter) limit you. We've only got a short time here. Don't waste it.
3 Stars.
May 21, 2016
A group of men cross the Atlantic on a makeshift boat.
I found this book a bit disappointing, a true account of group of people building a boat out of old bits and pieces (such as heating pipes) and travelling 3000 miles across the sea should have been riveting but this book was pretty lifeless.
I found this book a bit disappointing, a true account of group of people building a boat out of old bits and pieces (such as heating pipes) and travelling 3000 miles across the sea should have been riveting but this book was pretty lifeless.
April 6, 2022
A Cradling Yarn
An engaging retelling of a fellow's adventure aimed at rekindling a lifelong fascination with an historic event of little consequence. No high drama, save for a bit near the end, no extravagance, just a modicum of adventure and reflections on life on the high seas.
An engaging retelling of a fellow's adventure aimed at rekindling a lifelong fascination with an historic event of little consequence. No high drama, save for a bit near the end, no extravagance, just a modicum of adventure and reflections on life on the high seas.
December 28, 2024
An inspirational story from a very single minded ‘old man’. A number of passages about not sitting around watching the flowers grow in old age or owing it to dead friends to do something with your life, really made me stop and think.
His accomplishment is fantastic, some of his old fashioned self centred views not quite so.
A worthwhile read....and then get up a do something!
His accomplishment is fantastic, some of his old fashioned self centred views not quite so.
A worthwhile read....and then get up a do something!
April 24, 2018
Good on them, say I, but I couldn't get past the writing - he's not skilled at writing.
March 26, 2015
Why should age be a hindrance to adventure? Anthony Smith proves it shouldn’t be and definitely isn’t in this tale of satisfying his fifty year old urge to cross the Atlantic on a makeshift boat. His choice of vessel was a raft made from heating pipes and, together with a team whose ages totalled over a quarter of a millennia, he takes us on a thought-provoking journey of mind, body and soul at sea. Part reflective musing on life, part travelogue, he completes his odyssey with a different crew on the final leg and manages to seem baffled by the interest his success achieved.
Completed shortly before his death – when on the basis of this book, we lost not only a great story teller, but a truly untamed adventurer – this story is a real joy to read and I recommend people to thoroughly immerse themselves in it.
Completed shortly before his death – when on the basis of this book, we lost not only a great story teller, but a truly untamed adventurer – this story is a real joy to read and I recommend people to thoroughly immerse themselves in it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews