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This Is It - 2 hemispheres, 2 people, and 1 boat
They knew this moment would shape the rest of their cruising lives.
With their incurable curiosity and desire for adventure, they sold all their belongings and flew to America in search of a boat.
The pull of the ocean was too strong to ignore any longer. Four years prior, they circumnavigated the globe on their thirty-three foot boat, Mariah. Now they wanted a new challenge.
From the perils at Pitcairn to the grand statues of Easter Island, Jackie and Noel set sail south to the remotest inhabited island in the world.
Along the way, they lose a friend and come nail-bitingly close to losing their new boat, but they gained so much a voyage that left them breathless from fear and a journey of not only travel but of two truly nomadic gypsies.
This is a story of storms of emotions and oceans, travel, love and relationships, and two people figuring out life and fulfilling their need to move and be challenged.
With their incurable curiosity and desire for adventure, they sold all their belongings and flew to America in search of a boat.
The pull of the ocean was too strong to ignore any longer. Four years prior, they circumnavigated the globe on their thirty-three foot boat, Mariah. Now they wanted a new challenge.
From the perils at Pitcairn to the grand statues of Easter Island, Jackie and Noel set sail south to the remotest inhabited island in the world.
Along the way, they lose a friend and come nail-bitingly close to losing their new boat, but they gained so much a voyage that left them breathless from fear and a journey of not only travel but of two truly nomadic gypsies.
This is a story of storms of emotions and oceans, travel, love and relationships, and two people figuring out life and fulfilling their need to move and be challenged.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2016
206 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Sarah Parry
5 books54 followersOriginally from the UK, Jackie is now an adopted Australian. She grew up with horses in the UK until her world was shattered with a heart-breaking bereavement. Disillusioned with life she ran away to Australia and met and married Noel. They decided to buy a boat and set sail. So within her first year living in a foreign land, she was getting used to a foreign husband, and a foreign life on board!
Mariah II took Jackie & Noel around the world. Pyewacket II (purchased in San Francisco) took them across the Pacific Ocean for a second time on a more southerly route. Adventures include The Great Loop in the USA plus Canada’s Great Lakes and the French Canals.
As a commercial skipper Jackie has worked internationally, and has been a Marine Rescue skipper. She has also taught commercial maritime. She co-wrote a pilot book (in America) and several hundred magazine articles worldwide. Cruisers' AA (accumulated acumen) was Jackie (and Noel's) first self-published book.
Currently Jackie is exploring the French canals on a Dutch barge with her Australian husband.
Mariah II took Jackie & Noel around the world. Pyewacket II (purchased in San Francisco) took them across the Pacific Ocean for a second time on a more southerly route. Adventures include The Great Loop in the USA plus Canada’s Great Lakes and the French Canals.
As a commercial skipper Jackie has worked internationally, and has been a Marine Rescue skipper. She has also taught commercial maritime. She co-wrote a pilot book (in America) and several hundred magazine articles worldwide. Cruisers' AA (accumulated acumen) was Jackie (and Noel's) first self-published book.
Currently Jackie is exploring the French canals on a Dutch barge with her Australian husband.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 10, 2016
I was lucky enough to beta read this Memoir - AND it 'ticked all my boxes' - Travelling across the Ocean to lands/Islands that I've only dreamt of and to others that I'd never heard of - you could almost feel each day as it dawned for Jackie and her husband Noel - the amazing vistas - storms - the calm - the sometimes daunting hard-work - meeting & making new friends - a solid trusting relationship - the laugh out load moments and the scary ones too - this had everything for me. What an adventure - I'm not a skilled boat person by any means but believe this Memoir is informative too - anyone wishing to embark on this type of journey wouldn't go wrong in reading it. They are such a team - adventurous - they had already traveled the Globe in their boat, Mariah and had now left the comfort of their home to embark on another epic journey - on Pyewacket - I enjoyed all aspects of this Memoir - kept me 'turning the pages' - a good deal of relevant information is included toward the end - lots of thought gone into this and I have no problem recommending it.
February 22, 2018
Thanks for the incouragement.
I recently put my dream to a timeline. I have a lot to learn in a short amount of time but this book helped me see that it is possible.
I recently put my dream to a timeline. I have a lot to learn in a short amount of time but this book helped me see that it is possible.
June 9, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/hanse-411-fo...
https://numberoneboats.com/hanse-411-...
https://theboatyacht.com/hanse-430-fo...
https://numberoneboats.com/hanse-430-...
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/hanse-411-fo...
https://numberoneboats.com/hanse-411-...
https://theboatyacht.com/hanse-430-fo...
https://numberoneboats.com/hanse-430-...
July 8, 2018
Another book for this couch sailor.
Jackie writes so well. Totally absorbed by the end of the first chapter. I love the fact that there is so much detail but not too much for the non sailor that it becomes a text book. Such a big world out there and sailing seems slightly mad to me but each to their own as to how they get there. Keep writing Jackie I follow you on social media so know your building a barn I think. The mind boggles !
Jackie writes so well. Totally absorbed by the end of the first chapter. I love the fact that there is so much detail but not too much for the non sailor that it becomes a text book. Such a big world out there and sailing seems slightly mad to me but each to their own as to how they get there. Keep writing Jackie I follow you on social media so know your building a barn I think. The mind boggles !
February 19, 2018
Informative
This was a great book and a quick read. I have read a dozen sailing books yet I still learned quite a bit from their stories. I look forward to reading more about their adventures.
This was a great book and a quick read. I have read a dozen sailing books yet I still learned quite a bit from their stories. I look forward to reading more about their adventures.
January 21, 2019
Interesting read
Enjoyed reading about your adventures and “ misadventures”. Looking forward to your next book. I would love to try sailing, but then am reminded of the hard work and sometimes terror you lived through!
Enjoyed reading about your adventures and “ misadventures”. Looking forward to your next book. I would love to try sailing, but then am reminded of the hard work and sometimes terror you lived through!
July 31, 2017
Was hoping for so much more. A travelogue of their journey from USA to Australia.
January 11, 2021
Fantastic read, thank you.
March 8, 2017
Not a bad book
Certainly not a bad book, had some great interesting pieces and parts. Just not the book I wanted to read this outing. But I did read it all.
Certainly not a bad book, had some great interesting pieces and parts. Just not the book I wanted to read this outing. But I did read it all.
January 30, 2018
“This is It” is a wonderfully well-written memoir of the author's adventures buying a sailboat in San Francisco with her husband, and then sailing it across the Pacific back to their home in Australia. The author has a beautiful voice and way with words which effortlessly draws the reader in and makes them feel like they're part of the adventure.
During the course of the book, we follow the crew of Pyewacket from San Francisco on the first part of their journey through Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama and then across the Pacific with stops at fascinating places like Pitcairn, the Gambiers, and Suwarrow. The descriptions of the highs and lows of cruising are fascinating. I loved reading about their experiences immersing themselves in local cultures, and the friendships they made with fellow cruisers. There were also times when I was sitting at the edge of my seat with my pulse racing as the author described the treacherous conditions they faced during their journey.
Bonus material is provided at the end of the book with information about buying a boat in a foreign country, the areas where they cruised, and the process of importing a boat into Australia.
This book is far more than a travel memoir about sailing; it helps you understand the restless spirit that drives and inspires people to lead a nomadic life in search of their next adventure. A great read for anyone who is dreaming about cruising, as well as those already out there living the dream.
During the course of the book, we follow the crew of Pyewacket from San Francisco on the first part of their journey through Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama and then across the Pacific with stops at fascinating places like Pitcairn, the Gambiers, and Suwarrow. The descriptions of the highs and lows of cruising are fascinating. I loved reading about their experiences immersing themselves in local cultures, and the friendships they made with fellow cruisers. There were also times when I was sitting at the edge of my seat with my pulse racing as the author described the treacherous conditions they faced during their journey.
Bonus material is provided at the end of the book with information about buying a boat in a foreign country, the areas where they cruised, and the process of importing a boat into Australia.
This book is far more than a travel memoir about sailing; it helps you understand the restless spirit that drives and inspires people to lead a nomadic life in search of their next adventure. A great read for anyone who is dreaming about cruising, as well as those already out there living the dream.
April 24, 2016
This is a totally absorbing read.
I have just finished reading Jackie Parry’s book “This is it.” Having read her previous stories, “Of Foreign Build” and “A Standard Journey,” I was not convinced the latest offering would be able to maintain the same entertainment value as I had previously enjoyed. I need not have worried.
Following on from her adventures on Mariah, Jackie swept me up on another fabulous journey of escapism. Together with Noel, her husband, they negotiated and purchased Pyewacket, (as with most things in their lives this was not such an easy feat!) a fifty-one-foot vessel and embarked on another nail biting adventure.
I am not as a rule, a huge fan of non-fiction/memoire genres. However, I do make an exception when I come across a book by this author. Jackie Parry has a way of entertaining while passing on practical information. She draws pictures with her words of exotic locations, colourful people and the harsh, often life threatening conditions they encounter while sailing offshore.
I look forward to seeing where this adventurous lady takes us to next.
I have just finished reading Jackie Parry’s book “This is it.” Having read her previous stories, “Of Foreign Build” and “A Standard Journey,” I was not convinced the latest offering would be able to maintain the same entertainment value as I had previously enjoyed. I need not have worried.
Following on from her adventures on Mariah, Jackie swept me up on another fabulous journey of escapism. Together with Noel, her husband, they negotiated and purchased Pyewacket, (as with most things in their lives this was not such an easy feat!) a fifty-one-foot vessel and embarked on another nail biting adventure.
I am not as a rule, a huge fan of non-fiction/memoire genres. However, I do make an exception when I come across a book by this author. Jackie Parry has a way of entertaining while passing on practical information. She draws pictures with her words of exotic locations, colourful people and the harsh, often life threatening conditions they encounter while sailing offshore.
I look forward to seeing where this adventurous lady takes us to next.
Read
September 6, 2016We started on a year-long sailing adventure back in July. Everyone tells me I need to write a book, but what they don't realize is that there are literally tons of books about sailing trips far more interesting and exotic than I will be taking, and most of these are self-published. Jackie Parry's book is a great example. She and her husband have had amazing adventures by sailboat, they are far more accomplished sailors than my husband and I, and they still self-published. There isn't anything wrong with self-publishing, but without a great editor, redundancies, vagaries and errors make self-published books less enjoyable. This Is It is certainly worth reading for those who dream of sailing the Pacific, but for readers who are not interested in sailing, it holds little literary value. That said, I enjoyed the read, and I learned a great deal about foreign travel by sailboat.
April 25, 2016
A wondrous journey.
I’ve had to pleasure to read Parry’s Of Foreign Build (also her book, A Standard Journey), and had been looking forward to this addition to their ocean adventures. Parry never disappoints as she and her husband, Noel, continue their quest for personal freedom. From her excellent writing style, her brutal honesty, her ability to allow me the tang of salty air, the need to grab onto something solid as Pyewacket bashes through another thunderous wave, the joy of a relieved breath when finally reaching a safe anchorage…I felt like a stowaway on a wondrous journey. Whether a sailor, or not, this book is an adventure not to be missed. I can’t wait for their next one.
I’ve had to pleasure to read Parry’s Of Foreign Build (also her book, A Standard Journey), and had been looking forward to this addition to their ocean adventures. Parry never disappoints as she and her husband, Noel, continue their quest for personal freedom. From her excellent writing style, her brutal honesty, her ability to allow me the tang of salty air, the need to grab onto something solid as Pyewacket bashes through another thunderous wave, the joy of a relieved breath when finally reaching a safe anchorage…I felt like a stowaway on a wondrous journey. Whether a sailor, or not, this book is an adventure not to be missed. I can’t wait for their next one.
October 14, 2016
Great story. A fantastic sailing journey - has it all. Excitement, exotic places, truly narrow escapes. But what really lifts it above any other travelogue is the author's underlying philosophy. This is indeed it - live life to the full. Don't let excitement pass you by. Get out there and do it, follow your passion. It is above all a genuine philosophy - grounded in a realistic way, not "in your face" slick optimism. You'll feel that you are actually there, out in the ocean with a dodgy engine or torn sails, desperately wondering if you'll make it to the next port. Incidentally, there's also a fact-packed appendix in case you're inspired to take off from Mexico to Australia the long way....
July 30, 2017
Brave people
I realize that Jackie and Noel have extensive experience living on a yacht. But, traveling the Pacific is not for the weak knee folks. I truly enjoyed the first 80% of the book. The rest was more for people who wanted details of how, where, when their boat was built, etc. That part dragged on and I fast forwarded to the end to give a review. The author and her husband seem like a perfect match. I loved their stealth, their no questions asked compatibility, and the descriptions of their travels.
I realize that Jackie and Noel have extensive experience living on a yacht. But, traveling the Pacific is not for the weak knee folks. I truly enjoyed the first 80% of the book. The rest was more for people who wanted details of how, where, when their boat was built, etc. That part dragged on and I fast forwarded to the end to give a review. The author and her husband seem like a perfect match. I loved their stealth, their no questions asked compatibility, and the descriptions of their travels.
June 24, 2016
While I enjoyed her first book, Of Foreign Build, more, I still had to give this book four stars for no other reason than I found it difficult to put down. I finished the book in six days between my busy work schedule.
I especially enjoyed three parts of the book. The sections in Ecuador, Easter Island and the atoll of Suwarrow. Her detail thru these sections made me want to visit these locations and I am guessing for her, they were the favorite sections of the passage back to Australia.
I especially enjoyed three parts of the book. The sections in Ecuador, Easter Island and the atoll of Suwarrow. Her detail thru these sections made me want to visit these locations and I am guessing for her, they were the favorite sections of the passage back to Australia.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews