A Single Wave: Stories of Storms and Survival

by Webb Chiles

In A SINGLE WAVE, Webb Chiles, one of the most experienced sailors in history, five time circumnavigator, provides the dramatic highlights of two decades in three EGREGIOUS, a 37-foot cutter; CHIDIOCK TICHBORNE, an 18-foot open undecked yawl; and RESURGAM, a 36-foot sloop. In these boats he made more than three circumnavigations, twice alone, twice setting world records, twice via Cape Horn, which he was the first American to round alone. The stories include capsizes in a cyclone in the Tasman and in a storm in the Southern Ocean; drifting for two weeks and three hundred miles in the South Pacific after a swamping west of Fiji; a twenty-six hour swim in the Gulf Stream covering about one hundred and thirty miles after a sinking off Florida; and enough other troubles in exotic climes from Tahiti to the Red Sea to South Africa to Bali to New Jersey. Webb Chiles has pushed limits, his own and the species, for more than forty years. He still is, presently making his sixth circumnavigation, this time in a 24' ultra-light sloop. It is often said that Webb Chiles is one of a kind and that few others can describe the beauty and danger of the sea as well as he. He has been called sailing's best living writer. Writer, poet and sailor, Webb Chiles thinks of himself as an artist. He has said that the artist's defining responsibility is to go to the edge of human experience and send back reports. A SINGLE WAVE consists of some of his most vivid and moving reports.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 1999

Reviews

[Lisa Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of the authors storm survival and other mishaps from a lifetime of cruising and numerous circumnavigations. Really appreciated the author's raw honesty. Enjoyed that stories are told in a narrative format and are not just boring logbook entries, though at times it was confusing keeping all of his voyages and vessels straight.
Regardless of any judgement on the authors psychology or decision making , you have to be amazed he is still alive . This is not a " how to" book, but an enjoyable venture into one mans unquenchable addiction to battle nature at any cost. I look forward to reading some of his other books.

[Matthew Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Webb Chiles doing what he does best - nearly dying, not dying and then writing about it.

This is kind of a 'best of' collection of the hairiest experiences of his other books, so if you've read them a lot will be familiar.

A great collection of survival. Not recommended to give to your parents before you set off on a long-distance sailing trip.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of sailing stories. Most are amazing adventures of endurance, and fighting against really harsh conditions. Incredible that he survived.

[Peter C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sailed Right Through It

Fantastic story for those who enjoy adventures on the seas. It is difficult to imagine why the author is still alive.