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Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire
A shipwreck might end a dream of circumnavigating the globe. Not for the Wilcox family. To triumph, they must rebuild their boat on a remote Pacific island. Damage sustained on the reef and a lack of resources haunt them the rest of the way around the world as they face daunting obstacles, including wild weather, pirates, gun boats, mines and thieves, plus pesky bureaucrats and cockroaches as stubborn as the family. Without a working engine and no way to communicate with the outside world, they struggle to reach home before their broken rig comes crashing down and they run out of food in a trial that tests them to their limits.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2017
58 people are currently reading
636 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Hinman
4 books25 followersWendy Hinman has an insatiable curiosity and a natural inclination to share her discoveries. She loves stories: telling them, writing them, reading them and editing them. And she has plenty of engaging stories to tell, some serious, some not-so-serious.
After years trotting the globe for business and vacation travel, she instigated a waterborne adventure, sailing 34,000 miles over seven years with her husband on a 31-foot boat. She even managed to return sane (or so she thinks), still married and innocent of plotting murder. Along the way, she shared many of their (mis)adventures online and in magazines. Yet many still remained untold. Her book, Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven-Year Pacific Odyssey, details her seven year adventure afloat.
http://wendyhinman.com/
“I'd love to hear your questions! p.s. and if you are part of a book group, know that I am always happy to talk with book groups by phone or Skype...”
After years trotting the globe for business and vacation travel, she instigated a waterborne adventure, sailing 34,000 miles over seven years with her husband on a 31-foot boat. She even managed to return sane (or so she thinks), still married and innocent of plotting murder. Along the way, she shared many of their (mis)adventures online and in magazines. Yet many still remained untold. Her book, Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven-Year Pacific Odyssey, details her seven year adventure afloat.
http://wendyhinman.com/
“I'd love to hear your questions! p.s. and if you are part of a book group, know that I am always happy to talk with book groups by phone or Skype...”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 20, 2018
What a treat this book is! You'll pick it up and will not want to put it back down! The book revolves around the Wilcox family, who, in 1973, sets off to sail around the world. They plan to accomplish this aboard the "Vela", a 40-foot sailboat. Nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong. Among other near tragedies, 13 months into the trip, they find themselves stranded with no way to connect to anyone in the outside world - remember, it's 1973. The boat is in dire need of repairs. The engine is no longer working. Food is beginning to run thin. Somehow, someway, they must nurse their "repaired" (and I use that term extremely loosely) home before weather, thieves - and yes, Pirates - sink their dream once and for all. Extremely well written, and a joy to read.
September 5, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Salsa Press for accepting my request to audibly read and review Sea Trials.
Author: Wendy Hinman
Published: 09/02/22
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs -- Outdoors & Nature -- Travel
Narrator: Eric G. Dove
I feel like I made it to Final Jeopardy and lost. What was the big clue that I might not relate to Sea Trials? Answer -- Duct tape and bailing wire. I almost DNFd at 95% (This is a 12+ hour audiobook.). Dawn felt she had failed her family. I was too drained to scream.
I was excited to read Sea Trials, and I noticed the duct tape and bailing wire. I imagined MacGuyver going around the world. I was disappointed and early on.
The narrator was good. He could only perform what was written. Thankfully he was not a hindrance.
This is four people, two of which are teens, one boy, one girl and their parents going around the world on a shoe string budget. I love reading about people who have dreams and what they will do. This is not one of those stories. They were relatively doomed before they started. Poor planning, poor financing, and few skills are what they had. Besides the at 95% idiotic cry from the mother, I remember the discussion she had earlier in the book that her son could not help his dad once again attempt to repair the boat. He had school studies. It didn't take long before failing health amongst all of them, he was allowed to quit school. I'm still shaking my head. The father was at best inept. I am being kind.
Without spoiling, all I can say is this is a true story, and with a lump in my throat and sadness in my heart, I hope the children had someone in their lives that truly loved them and wanted the best for them. I want them to have few if any health residuals. I am not surprised by the epilogue discussing the family.
As always, the choice to read a book is yours. I would suggest this only to see what could go wrong and paperwork (passport/birth certificate) problems.
This definitely is not a feel good book. It's not funny. I found it maddening.
Author: Wendy Hinman
Published: 09/02/22
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs -- Outdoors & Nature -- Travel
Narrator: Eric G. Dove
I feel like I made it to Final Jeopardy and lost. What was the big clue that I might not relate to Sea Trials? Answer -- Duct tape and bailing wire. I almost DNFd at 95% (This is a 12+ hour audiobook.). Dawn felt she had failed her family. I was too drained to scream.
I was excited to read Sea Trials, and I noticed the duct tape and bailing wire. I imagined MacGuyver going around the world. I was disappointed and early on.
The narrator was good. He could only perform what was written. Thankfully he was not a hindrance.
This is four people, two of which are teens, one boy, one girl and their parents going around the world on a shoe string budget. I love reading about people who have dreams and what they will do. This is not one of those stories. They were relatively doomed before they started. Poor planning, poor financing, and few skills are what they had. Besides the at 95% idiotic cry from the mother, I remember the discussion she had earlier in the book that her son could not help his dad once again attempt to repair the boat. He had school studies. It didn't take long before failing health amongst all of them, he was allowed to quit school. I'm still shaking my head. The father was at best inept. I am being kind.
Without spoiling, all I can say is this is a true story, and with a lump in my throat and sadness in my heart, I hope the children had someone in their lives that truly loved them and wanted the best for them. I want them to have few if any health residuals. I am not surprised by the epilogue discussing the family.
As always, the choice to read a book is yours. I would suggest this only to see what could go wrong and paperwork (passport/birth certificate) problems.
This definitely is not a feel good book. It's not funny. I found it maddening.
March 6, 2017
It was a fascinating tale... although perhaps not one to convince you that sailing around the world is in any way a good idea, however much an adventure it very much would be. In parts its a story of sheer survival and basic luck as much as its a story of adventure. And that is what makes it an interesting read and worth the time--its not the saccharine of some other round the world tales; its grittier than that and all the better for that reason.
March 9, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and Wendy Hinman for the ARC of "Sea Trials" by Wendy Hinman.
The genres of this book are Nonfiction and Travel
Wendy Hinman writes about the Wilcox family which is her husband's family . They planned to sail around the world in four years on a large Sailboat, "Vela". Due to unforeseen circumstances it took five years. This was around 1973.
Chuck and Dawn Wilcox and their two children made preparation to sail, gathered their passports , money,important papers, schoolwork, and whatever would be needed to start and complete their journey. Dawn . a Nurse, tried to have medications on hand, if needed. She arranged for her children to be sent school work at various ports. They were able to cook, and use electricity when they first started the voyage.
The author uses notes, transcripts photos, and media to describe the journey. Each time the Vela sailed to another port, or country, their passports and papers were checked. The family would have to get to land to go to a Post Office. Of course this was a wonderful experience for the family, especially the children to see various people, cultures and traditions,as well as the scenic countries.
Of course, this journey could be dangerous. Medical issues , such as food poisoning, Scurvy, broken bones, fevers, and more had to be handled. The sea and Mother Nature could be problematic with hurricanes, storms, winds,heat and cold. The biggest upset is when the sailboat hit some reefers and was shipwrecked. The family was lucky to find a house to rent, and tried to get to repair the sailboat.
In the close proximity to each other, there were arguments. At times getting food was difficult. Also everything cost money, and as much as the Wilcox family planned, many additional expenses came up.
In the 1970's the political condition of the world was changing. Egypt and Israel didn't get along, Leadership of countries changed. In some waters there was the threat of pirates.
I found this book fascinating and intriguing. I know I get seasick on the ferry, so I can appreciate how this family wanted to live their dream, even though there were dangers. It is hard to believe that this is a nonfiction book, and I would recommend this to read about a great adventure.
The genres of this book are Nonfiction and Travel
Wendy Hinman writes about the Wilcox family which is her husband's family . They planned to sail around the world in four years on a large Sailboat, "Vela". Due to unforeseen circumstances it took five years. This was around 1973.
Chuck and Dawn Wilcox and their two children made preparation to sail, gathered their passports , money,important papers, schoolwork, and whatever would be needed to start and complete their journey. Dawn . a Nurse, tried to have medications on hand, if needed. She arranged for her children to be sent school work at various ports. They were able to cook, and use electricity when they first started the voyage.
The author uses notes, transcripts photos, and media to describe the journey. Each time the Vela sailed to another port, or country, their passports and papers were checked. The family would have to get to land to go to a Post Office. Of course this was a wonderful experience for the family, especially the children to see various people, cultures and traditions,as well as the scenic countries.
Of course, this journey could be dangerous. Medical issues , such as food poisoning, Scurvy, broken bones, fevers, and more had to be handled. The sea and Mother Nature could be problematic with hurricanes, storms, winds,heat and cold. The biggest upset is when the sailboat hit some reefers and was shipwrecked. The family was lucky to find a house to rent, and tried to get to repair the sailboat.
In the close proximity to each other, there were arguments. At times getting food was difficult. Also everything cost money, and as much as the Wilcox family planned, many additional expenses came up.
In the 1970's the political condition of the world was changing. Egypt and Israel didn't get along, Leadership of countries changed. In some waters there was the threat of pirates.
I found this book fascinating and intriguing. I know I get seasick on the ferry, so I can appreciate how this family wanted to live their dream, even though there were dangers. It is hard to believe that this is a nonfiction book, and I would recommend this to read about a great adventure.
June 2, 2017
My 1st read, written by Wendy. I loved it. So creative and imaginative. I have often wondered what it would be like to take a boat around for traveling purposes? We are campers but never been on the seas for a long long time. Only for a short trip or journey to see a tour or what not. Of course I had to think of Gilligan's Island, the song and those silly tv shows. I can not imagine being shipwrecked and what you would do for food or water. Or what about "Castaway" with Tom Hanks. I can't wait to read more from Wendy very very soon. Well done, if you love ships, ship journey, sea travels, anything water related please check out this beauty. Great read!! ( ;
Merged review:
My 1st read, written by Wendy. I loved it. So creative and imaginative. I have often wondered what it would be like to take a boat around for traveling purposes? We are campers but never been on the seas for a long long time. Only for a short trip or journey to see a tour or what not. Of course I had to think of Gilligan's Island, the song and those silly tv shows. I can not imagine being shipwrecked and what you would do for food or water. Or what about "Castaway" with Tom Hanks. I can't wait to read more from Wendy very very soon. Well done, if you love ships, ship journey, sea travels, anything water related please check out this beauty. Great read!! ( ;
Merged review:
My 1st read, written by Wendy. I loved it. So creative and imaginative. I have often wondered what it would be like to take a boat around for traveling purposes? We are campers but never been on the seas for a long long time. Only for a short trip or journey to see a tour or what not. Of course I had to think of Gilligan's Island, the song and those silly tv shows. I can not imagine being shipwrecked and what you would do for food or water. Or what about "Castaway" with Tom Hanks. I can't wait to read more from Wendy very very soon. Well done, if you love ships, ship journey, sea travels, anything water related please check out this beauty. Great read!! ( ;
August 12, 2022
Credit: KNKX Public Radio /KNKX.org
The sailboat Vela with its shattered hull after it was salvaged from a barrier reef in Fiji in 1974 during Wilcox family's first leg across the Pacific.
A picture says a thousand words! You'd shudder at the image, yet the wounded 40-foot sailboat, patched up (again and again) and spurred on by its undaunted captain and crew, would incredibly sail on for five more years and thousands of nautical miles to circumnavigate the globe, through the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Australia, Bali, South Asia, up the coast of Africa, through the Arabian Sea, the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Panama Canal, back to the Pacific, and finally back home to San Francisco...
Audiobook Review: Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire by Wendy Hinman, Narrated by Eric G. Dove
Published by Salsa Press, September 1, 2022
★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)
Positive!
Audiobook narration:
Commendable effort by Eric G. Dove as he gives voice to dozens of characters and pumps out the excitement and emotion in this challenging read.
-----
"Sea Trials" (2017 /2022) featuring the Wilcox family (Chuck, Dawn, Garth and Linda) is a prequel to author Wendy Hinman's "Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey" (2012) featuring Wendy herself and husband Garth Wilcox, the fourteen-year-old boy in "Sea Trials".
I've read and thoroughly enjoyed both books.
The Wilcox family (left to right): Dawn, Linda, Chuck, Garth, when they returned to San Francisco in 1979, weather-beaten but relieved to be safe, five years after the shipwreck near Suva, Fiji.
The family sailed under less than ideal, even barebones, conditions, navigating by sextant, the stars and a Timex with a broken rig, a faulty engine which died out mid-trip, and a constantly leaky hull; minimum navigational and safety equipment and sanitation facilities, no radio, no sonar, no GPS or cell service (both unavailable at that time), limited cash, and often out of food.
Some would say that the voyage was indeed an ultimate test of endurance, a tribute to the indomitable human spirit.
Some would say, on the other hand, that the trip was an altogether foolhardy endeavor, rash, reckless, moreso with young children onboard. Reading the book, you could feel the despair at times so palpable, particularly when the dad snaps and shuts down cowering below deck while his wife and children struggle with the elements, which happens in several intervals.
Big winner: 14-year-old Garth Wilcox (the author's husband) forged to toughness by the voyage, who goes on the become a Seattle-based naval architect.
Overall, a fascinating read!
Bonus review:
Wendy Hinman's "Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey" (2012) is a very well-produced audiobook to be relish if you can get it.
The first-person narration by Robin Karno is supplemented by a cornucopia of talented voice actors with authentic native accents - Polynesian French, Fijian /Indian English, Bislama, Pidgin English, Chamorro, Filipino and Nihongo, you'd feel you shall have been right on board with Wendy and Garth on the 32-foot "Velella", for the 7-year, 34,000-mile voyage, calling on 19 Pacific Rim countries - then back eastbound across the Pacific for the trip home to the US west coast.
(Link to my review on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
Review based on advanced reading and listening copies courtesy of Salsa Press and NetGalley.
April 23, 2017
I thought I had outgrown books with pictures… I was so completely wrong! I love the pics scattered throughout the book! It makes everything so much more real for someone who has never spent much time on a boat, I think a ferry is all I’ve been on actually… And at the back of the book is a nifty list of words and their meanings! How cool is that? I feel sea worthy already.
The book starts off with a shipwreck to really get your heart pounding then rewinds to the family preparing for the voyage. In the next four hundred odd pages you will sail around the world, learn quite a bit of history, geography, and about a ton of different cultures. The descriptions are beautiful, you can really imagine yourself in the crystal clear water snorkeling along or half drowned as something fails during a storm. You will rise up with the Wilcox’s when things go well and despair with them when something goes wrong. It’s some pretty epic writing.
My favorite part is all the descriptions of the different places the family visits; I’ve never been off the mainland of the US so even Hawaii sounded incredibly exotic! But it was also cool to learn that not everywhere is quite so picturesque yet still described in detail.
Another favorite is how incredibly smart the son (can’t think of names…) is, he was able to make so many things to help the boat, or repairs, or even make little boats himself! It was also nice to learn that he went on to continue with boating life, that no matter how bad things got it didn’t take away his passion for the water.
The saddest part of the book was definitely the very end where we learn what happens to the family years after the boating affair. There were however, plenty of hardships (lol) all throughout the book so if you like a good struggle for your heroes you will not be disappointed.
Overall, a really great read! You will learn a ton and have your curiosity peaked! I seriously want to try boating now… Hmmm…
If you like boats, machine guns, history, new cultures, or shipwrecks this is the book for you. If you need the kraken to show up… There are sharks and giant mantas so it’s kinda like the kraken!
The book starts off with a shipwreck to really get your heart pounding then rewinds to the family preparing for the voyage. In the next four hundred odd pages you will sail around the world, learn quite a bit of history, geography, and about a ton of different cultures. The descriptions are beautiful, you can really imagine yourself in the crystal clear water snorkeling along or half drowned as something fails during a storm. You will rise up with the Wilcox’s when things go well and despair with them when something goes wrong. It’s some pretty epic writing.
My favorite part is all the descriptions of the different places the family visits; I’ve never been off the mainland of the US so even Hawaii sounded incredibly exotic! But it was also cool to learn that not everywhere is quite so picturesque yet still described in detail.
Another favorite is how incredibly smart the son (can’t think of names…) is, he was able to make so many things to help the boat, or repairs, or even make little boats himself! It was also nice to learn that he went on to continue with boating life, that no matter how bad things got it didn’t take away his passion for the water.
The saddest part of the book was definitely the very end where we learn what happens to the family years after the boating affair. There were however, plenty of hardships (lol) all throughout the book so if you like a good struggle for your heroes you will not be disappointed.
Overall, a really great read! You will learn a ton and have your curiosity peaked! I seriously want to try boating now… Hmmm…
If you like boats, machine guns, history, new cultures, or shipwrecks this is the book for you. If you need the kraken to show up… There are sharks and giant mantas so it’s kinda like the kraken!
October 30, 2017
From the title of the book, I thought this tale was going to be humerous but it was more like one bad experience after another. Its about of four decide to spend four years sailing around the world with unrealistic and two whining teenagers. The sailboat they are on is not made to handle the trip, and they are inexperienced sailers to be traveling these distances. All I can say is, what were you thinking?
April 9, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
A real eye opener on how in sum ways things were easier when travelling years ago.
On the other hand how much harder sailing was years ago without modern technology.
A fascinating read.
Give it a go.
A real eye opener on how in sum ways things were easier when travelling years ago.
On the other hand how much harder sailing was years ago without modern technology.
A fascinating read.
Give it a go.
June 15, 2017
What an amazing read! I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and was truly amazed by this family's adventurous around the world sailing tour. Wendy Hinman weaves this tale into a wonderful book that you will enthrall you and keep you eagerly reading until the end, from the safety of your land-based home. Even with a known outcome, the wonder about what would happen to them next and the fascination of how they would deal with it keeps you reading and reading. Wendy brings out the characters personalities and gives you pause in the realism of how a family lives on a boat, for that long, under such a vast array of circumstances. This book should be made into a movie!
June 7, 2017
The past few years have been devoted to educational books with little time for any book that was for pure pleasure. However, that is what Sea Trials is - pure pleasure! I was delighted to find this was a page-turner that would find me up in the night sneaking just a few more. Hinman writes for those of us who have had offshore dramas but also for avid sailors that might rarely make it off the couch. The characters were well developed and she even managed to pull a fast-one at the end. Truly a gripping tale not to be missed.
April 1, 2017
Fantastic, true adventure. As an armchair sailor, I'm amazed by the fortitude and courage of the Wilcox family. Wendy Hinman tells the tale in a manner that makes the reader feel like they're in the high seas, like they've been stranded on an island, like they're fighting for survival. With both humor and guts, all family members forge together on this exciting journey. As a mom, I found the little details of interest-like how the children kept up with their schoolwork and did the appropriate testing around the world, long before the days of computers. That's just a sidelight of a fun and thrilling read. A perfect story for any adventurous spirit (especially the one who wants to stay home and read about it!).
Merged review:
Fascinating true story of a family sailing around the world in the late seventies. From shipwreck to scurvy to near starvation. An incredible telling of a great adventure.
Merged review:
Fascinating true story of a family sailing around the world in the late seventies. From shipwreck to scurvy to near starvation. An incredible telling of a great adventure.
June 10, 2022
In Sea Trials by Wendy Hinman I thought was a book about a family who sailed around the world and it Kinda sorta was, but it was mostly them having boat problems then they crashed into a coral reef by a desolate island close to Fuji and then there harrowing sail back to California with more boat problems. First of all I didn’t feel like I got to know any of these characters with the exception that Chuck was a brooding man who left most of the work to his son Garth and wife Dawn. As far as little sister Linda goes we got the hear from her every once in a while but it was just a line here or there. I just feel like I didn’t root for them because I wasn’t invested and who these people were. I also took Umpridge to her saying that the family said sale what she calls the dark ages I feel like the door gauges of sailing were the Vikings and not people who were doing it because they’ve read so many books on people who have done it before but that’s just me. Also I didn’t like how at the end of the book when they were almost home she said Chuck was trying hard to get home because his dad was trying to hang on to see him. If he was so worried about his dad‘s health which wasn’t good when he left then why did he go? I’m just saying and having said all that I want to thank NetGalley and the author went to Hinman and I want to say I thought the narrator Mr. dove did a great great job. I love this narration and hope to hear more books by him in the future. Please forgive any errors as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.
May 18, 2018
This is not the sort of book that would appeal to everyone, but I happen to really enjoy true life adventure stories. I also really love books about sailing. This was just my sort of thing. As adventure stories go, this one was quite fascinating. The Wilcox family (Chuck, Dawn, and their two teenagers Garth and Linda) take off on their sailboat Vela and attempt to circumnavigate the globe. In many ways, this account was very well done. I liked how the author included additional information throughout the book on sailing, navigation, geography, the history of the places the family visited, and current events. This gave the story depth and perspective. While the writing was straight forward and not particularly spectacular, I stayed engaged with the story--an impressive feat for a non-fiction narrative over 400 pages long. I do think that this story would have been better if it had been told by a more impassive third party. The author, Wendy Hinman, is married to Garth Wilcox and unfortunately her biases are evident in the way she depicts the members of the Wilcox family. But overall this was very interesting. If true life sailing adventure stories are your thing, give it a go.
January 24, 2018
I couldn't put it down. It's a captivating time capsule of the 70's as well as a great story about a family that just kept going despite all odds. The lack of sat phones, EPIRBs, autopilots (not to mention no motor, electricity, and stove for much of the voyage) helps put into perspective all the things we now have that we can't live without. I read the initial article in Sail magazine and thought the story ended in Fiji after being shipwrecked. I got the book to read a little more and was surprised to find out that was really just the beginning!
May 5, 2017
Thrilling true adventure. Live vicariously through the Wilcox family eventful trip around the world. Amazing!
September 2, 2022
After the huge success of her first original work, Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey, adventurer, speaker, and award-winning author Wendy Hinman returns with Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire, another expertly written, highly entertaining extraordinary true story!
These are the voyages of the 40-foot sailboat Vela and the brave Wilcox family. In 1973, they set off to sail around the world on the high seas. Their four-year-long mission will turn out to be five actually and during this epic journey, they will have to survive a shipwreck, reconstruct their boat on a deserted island and face many more other such trials and tribulations. With two teenagers on board, a ship in need of repair, a tight budget, rising problems, and without the benefit of modern devices such as a GPS or instant communication devices, the kids and the grown-ups have to find a way to make this work.
I love the sea, I am fascinated by boats, and if I wasn’t blind, I think I would have been thrilled to be able to buy a boat and to do exactly what this family does in the book and what Wendy did in Tightwads on the Loose, especially since I live in Oslo, and there are probably thousands of boats anchored all around the fjords. Alas, I am blind, boats are really expensive, and a guess that syncing them is not that hard, so all I am left with are these wonderful stories, some true – like this one, and others fiction, like those from Clive Cussler. Luckily, I still have access to the occasional cruises to Denmark, and hopefully, other countries to whet my appetite for life on the sea.
As I said, above, the writing is excellent, the story is captivating, especially since it’s a true one, and the pacing is just perfect.
Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire is brought to life in audiobook format by established singer/songwriter, fiction author, avid cruising sailor, and last, but not least, award-winning narrator, Eric G. Dove.
Eric is extremely well suited for this audio production. He reads in an enjoyable voice, he perfectly pronounces all the confusing terms that are most assuredly so familiar to those spending their lives at sea but sound as complete gibberish to non-connoisseurs. Eric delivers a pitch-perfect performance, complete with unique voices for each of the main characters, and he also infuses urgency and emotion into the narration exactly when the action on the page requires it. I know Eric is a narrator for a long time now, and he is always professional to a fault. It’s clear that he does what he loves and loves what he does.
Reminiscent of Robinson Crusoe and The Cast Away, Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire is a fantastic audiobook filled with epic adventures, unforgettable events, and remarkable characters. If you like true stories and love the sea or sailing, I highly recommend Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire and Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey by Wendy Hinman. Both these books are written from the heart, with humor, with respect, with knowledge and are extremely enjoyable.
When we combine Wendy’s superb storytelling abilities with the considerable skills of multiple award-winning narrator Eric G. Dove, we get something unique, a riveting narrative that I’m convinced will appeal to readers of all ages: from kids to young adults and grown-ups alike.
I hope that Wendy and her husband will embark soon on a new voyage and that she will write about it. I’m always fascinated by true stories, especially when they are so eloquently written.
These are the voyages of the 40-foot sailboat Vela and the brave Wilcox family. In 1973, they set off to sail around the world on the high seas. Their four-year-long mission will turn out to be five actually and during this epic journey, they will have to survive a shipwreck, reconstruct their boat on a deserted island and face many more other such trials and tribulations. With two teenagers on board, a ship in need of repair, a tight budget, rising problems, and without the benefit of modern devices such as a GPS or instant communication devices, the kids and the grown-ups have to find a way to make this work.
I love the sea, I am fascinated by boats, and if I wasn’t blind, I think I would have been thrilled to be able to buy a boat and to do exactly what this family does in the book and what Wendy did in Tightwads on the Loose, especially since I live in Oslo, and there are probably thousands of boats anchored all around the fjords. Alas, I am blind, boats are really expensive, and a guess that syncing them is not that hard, so all I am left with are these wonderful stories, some true – like this one, and others fiction, like those from Clive Cussler. Luckily, I still have access to the occasional cruises to Denmark, and hopefully, other countries to whet my appetite for life on the sea.
As I said, above, the writing is excellent, the story is captivating, especially since it’s a true one, and the pacing is just perfect.
Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire is brought to life in audiobook format by established singer/songwriter, fiction author, avid cruising sailor, and last, but not least, award-winning narrator, Eric G. Dove.
Eric is extremely well suited for this audio production. He reads in an enjoyable voice, he perfectly pronounces all the confusing terms that are most assuredly so familiar to those spending their lives at sea but sound as complete gibberish to non-connoisseurs. Eric delivers a pitch-perfect performance, complete with unique voices for each of the main characters, and he also infuses urgency and emotion into the narration exactly when the action on the page requires it. I know Eric is a narrator for a long time now, and he is always professional to a fault. It’s clear that he does what he loves and loves what he does.
Reminiscent of Robinson Crusoe and The Cast Away, Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire is a fantastic audiobook filled with epic adventures, unforgettable events, and remarkable characters. If you like true stories and love the sea or sailing, I highly recommend Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire and Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey by Wendy Hinman. Both these books are written from the heart, with humor, with respect, with knowledge and are extremely enjoyable.
When we combine Wendy’s superb storytelling abilities with the considerable skills of multiple award-winning narrator Eric G. Dove, we get something unique, a riveting narrative that I’m convinced will appeal to readers of all ages: from kids to young adults and grown-ups alike.
I hope that Wendy and her husband will embark soon on a new voyage and that she will write about it. I’m always fascinated by true stories, especially when they are so eloquently written.
October 9, 2017
It’s probably best not to try to describe the Wilcox family. Simply put there’s a father, Chuck, a mother, Dawn, a son, Garth, and a daughter, Linda. They put to sea in a 40-foot sailboat and spend from 1973 to 1978 sailing around the world. The kids were young, Garth was fourteen and Linda was eleven, not exactly the age when ugly sights and terrifying adventures would be suffered happily; Linda didn’t want to go at all. But their story is fascinating and has been captured by an adventurer in her own right, Wendy Hinman.
Hinman, married to the adult son, Garth, has put together a biography of the trip in “Sea Trials,” the details of which she harvested from many sources. The voyagers kept logs, took pictures, and wrote lengthy letters to relatives back home and, of course, were eager to share their undertaking through later interviews. Hinman, being part of the family, had the chance every writer yearns for; having the source material close at hand. Through the years the news outlets have pursued them for details of their ordeal and that information is also available to sift through.
The trick here is to gather all that stuff and put it into a form that’s readable, interesting, thrill producing, and enthralling. Hinman does that with great skill.
Five years of nerve wracking exposure to hazardous conditions at sea, the abominable grit of poverty stricken lands, hunger and thirst that cannot always be satiated, the ever present specter of injury or death, and close confinement during stressful periods have all been captured here. The constant breaking down of necessary equipment, the unavailability of certain supplies, especially food and water, the lack of current technology at the time of their voyage, family friction and stress as things always seem to be threatening, and the hard physical labor of keeping an old boat working is truly eye-opening.
Chuck gets increasingly depressed and less industrious. Dawn is totally immersed with manual labor and has some health scares. Linda’s moods are mercurial, keeping family relationships fractious. Garth, although totally occupied with his own urges, is probably the real hero here, capable and steady with great intuitions. The author is not shy about putting it all out there for the reader to study.
As a former sailor, I can tell you my desires to sail around the world, if I ever had any, no longer clutter my mind. My thanks and admiration go out to the Wilcox family for satisfying my curiosity about the adventure of world sailing and to Wendy Hinman for stepping on any ambitions I might have had. This is a must read.
October 1, 2022
The Adventure of a Lifetime
They planned for it, they saved for it and the day finally came they were sailing around the world. The Wilcox family embarked on their great adventure onboard the Vela in 1973. Chuck, Dawn and their fourteen year old son Garth are all excited to start their adventure, but Linda their eleven year old daughter did not want to go.
As they prepare to make their dream come true they have no idea what the future challenges they will face. Not only do they have challenges from the elements such as shipwrecking on a coral reef and rebuilding on a remote Pacific Island but they are facing thieves, corrupt government officials, the IRS back home and catastrophes that plague them during the journey.
Shortage of food and money cause them headaches as does the postage service and getting the school work for the two children. They soon have two teenagers aboard a 40 foot craft.
They face challenges greater than they dreamed of and are at the point of giving up more than once, but they are determined to finish their journey.
They tell of the history of each place they visit and what they liked or disliked about it. The pleasurable part of the journey and the unpleasant as well. It was like actually traveling to all these places while listening to the story.
This was a great story, I enjoyed the story, and the narrator did a great job was easy to understand and made the story interesting. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Wendy Hinman for telling the story, to Eric G. Dove for a great narration , to Salsa Press for publishing it and to NetGalley for allowing me to listen and review a copy.
They planned for it, they saved for it and the day finally came they were sailing around the world. The Wilcox family embarked on their great adventure onboard the Vela in 1973. Chuck, Dawn and their fourteen year old son Garth are all excited to start their adventure, but Linda their eleven year old daughter did not want to go.
As they prepare to make their dream come true they have no idea what the future challenges they will face. Not only do they have challenges from the elements such as shipwrecking on a coral reef and rebuilding on a remote Pacific Island but they are facing thieves, corrupt government officials, the IRS back home and catastrophes that plague them during the journey.
Shortage of food and money cause them headaches as does the postage service and getting the school work for the two children. They soon have two teenagers aboard a 40 foot craft.
They face challenges greater than they dreamed of and are at the point of giving up more than once, but they are determined to finish their journey.
They tell of the history of each place they visit and what they liked or disliked about it. The pleasurable part of the journey and the unpleasant as well. It was like actually traveling to all these places while listening to the story.
This was a great story, I enjoyed the story, and the narrator did a great job was easy to understand and made the story interesting. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Wendy Hinman for telling the story, to Eric G. Dove for a great narration , to Salsa Press for publishing it and to NetGalley for allowing me to listen and review a copy.
February 18, 2018
I was hoping to read about a family that decides to sail around the world with stories of their adventures and experiences, stories that might inspire and surprise me as I watched how the travels affect them as individuals and a family. Instead, the story portrayed two miserable, self-pitying and narcissistic parents that decide to take their children hostage as cheap labor to help them crew their ship over the course of several years. This book drones on, chapter after chapter, with the father focused almost exclusively on his own desire to complete his trip, consumed by the tasks of the ship, ignoring the physical and emotional needs of his wife and children. His wife, devoted to her husband at all costs, tries to make the best of the situation but continues to put her husband and his desires first. Fortunately their son is excited to be part of this adventure and is skilled, becoming the man that his father is not. Their daughter makes it clear she does not wish to spend (what will amount to) 5 years of imprisonment on this joyless journey. I was determined to finish this book because I was curious to know if at some point these parents would recognize how lucky they were to have the luxury of choosing to have the travel experience of their dreams while still young. No, instead they continue to complain about almost everything, although at least the wife seems to “wake up” occasionally along the way. To the credit of the author, she keeps this story moving along with short, snappy chapters and tries hard to educate the reader about about ships and sailing.
June 19, 2022
Eric G. Dove did an excellent job narrating Sea Trials. There are 4 characters in the book, and he had a distinct voice for each.
My very first book to review for NetGalley was Tightwads on the Loose by Wendy Hinman, so I have a special fondness in my heart for her. I have since reviewed over 260 books for NetGalley in less than two years. I really preferred Tightwads, because Wendy was a character in Tightwads and a real spitfire (in my opinion). The book was so colorful and came alive to me with the beauty of her adventure.
Instead of being part of the adventure (the feeling I had in Tightwads), Sea Trials gave me the impression that I was watching/reading footage of someone's vacation slides. I almost wish that she would have chosen a character and written the book from their perspective.
Another thought that kept running through my brain was all the challenges that the teenagers had doing their schoolwork remotely. I kept wondering how Garth and Linda feel after watching children doing schoolwork remotely during covid.
Rounding up to 4 stars, mostly because the families journey was incredible and also because the narrator was stellar.
Thank you to NetGalley for approving my request for the advance read copy of Sea Trials. I wanted to read the book so badly that I requested both the ebook version and the audio version. I listened to only the audio version. Thank you to Wendy Hinman the author and to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks the publisher. Publication date is 1 Sept 2022.
My very first book to review for NetGalley was Tightwads on the Loose by Wendy Hinman, so I have a special fondness in my heart for her. I have since reviewed over 260 books for NetGalley in less than two years. I really preferred Tightwads, because Wendy was a character in Tightwads and a real spitfire (in my opinion). The book was so colorful and came alive to me with the beauty of her adventure.
Instead of being part of the adventure (the feeling I had in Tightwads), Sea Trials gave me the impression that I was watching/reading footage of someone's vacation slides. I almost wish that she would have chosen a character and written the book from their perspective.
Another thought that kept running through my brain was all the challenges that the teenagers had doing their schoolwork remotely. I kept wondering how Garth and Linda feel after watching children doing schoolwork remotely during covid.
Rounding up to 4 stars, mostly because the families journey was incredible and also because the narrator was stellar.
Thank you to NetGalley for approving my request for the advance read copy of Sea Trials. I wanted to read the book so badly that I requested both the ebook version and the audio version. I listened to only the audio version. Thank you to Wendy Hinman the author and to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks the publisher. Publication date is 1 Sept 2022.
September 4, 2022
Wow this was an amazing read. I just couldn't get enough of this book. I was so engrossed from the very start. I listened to the audiobook and liked the narrators voice. Although I was surprised there was a male narrator when the author was female. The didn't take anything away from the book though.
The author has obviously lived a very exciting, thrilling and rather shocking life. The author and family spent a few years travelling the world. So there was plenty of cultures to enjoy learning about. I loved how the voyage took place in the 70's, so it was easy to see the changes from today's world. Its unbelievable what the family had to go through on the journey. With plenty of boat troubles and very interesting boarder crossings it lead to some exciting reading.
What shocked me the most was having to travel home with no engine but I definitely won't say any more on the subject you will need to read the book to find put what happened.
I highly recommend reading this book if you love reading travel writings and are interested in different cultures. The book was that good that I had to read it all in one sitting and its a 12 hour audiobook.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this wonderful and exciting story of courage and strength to travel the world under extremely taxing adversities.
The author has obviously lived a very exciting, thrilling and rather shocking life. The author and family spent a few years travelling the world. So there was plenty of cultures to enjoy learning about. I loved how the voyage took place in the 70's, so it was easy to see the changes from today's world. Its unbelievable what the family had to go through on the journey. With plenty of boat troubles and very interesting boarder crossings it lead to some exciting reading.
What shocked me the most was having to travel home with no engine but I definitely won't say any more on the subject you will need to read the book to find put what happened.
I highly recommend reading this book if you love reading travel writings and are interested in different cultures. The book was that good that I had to read it all in one sitting and its a 12 hour audiobook.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this wonderful and exciting story of courage and strength to travel the world under extremely taxing adversities.
June 27, 2022
Great read! I don’t normally like memoirs but this book was amazing. It follows the Wilcox family on their voyage around the world via their 40 foot sailboat, named Vela, in the 1970’s. It will put to rest any romantic notions you may have about such a voyage. I love that it is honest and gives a detailed account of all things that can and will go wrong on a trip like this. No amount of preparing will make a trip like this go entirely smooth and it’s nice to let people know that. This family had a great adventure and saw many countries and experienced many cultures along the way. But they also encountered illness, scammers, military in various countries, financial woes, bug infestation, extremely hard work, near death experiences, trouble with the IRS, food shortages and being shipwrecked. This book is a great read that is hard to put down as you wait for their next adventure. Beautifully written! I listened to the audiobook and I love the narrator that was chosen. He has narrated a LOT of books so he is very experienced. He speaks clear and concise and distinguish each character by changing his voice. You will not be disappointed by this book.
September 22, 2022
In August 1973 the Wilcox family sailed their forty foot vessel “Vela” through San Francisco’s Golden Gate planning to sail around the world in four years. Chuck, Dawn and their two set off with a mixture of excitement and fear of the task ahead.
This is a wonderfully written account of a life-changing journey. It's honest and open. At times gritty but always real. It’s probably one of the best real-life adventures I have ever read about. They suffered lots of trials and tribulations during their epic journey. They were often troubled by thoughts of giving up but persevered. Not only is this a tale of man's ability to survive against fortitude it's also an interesting travelogue as all the places visited are described then and historically. It works very well. There is so much detail in it that it's not a book to skim read.
Verdict - A truly wonderful story of ingenuity and determination to follow a dream. A great read for anyone who loves a real life true adventure tale.
My thanks to #NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a wonderfully written account of a life-changing journey. It's honest and open. At times gritty but always real. It’s probably one of the best real-life adventures I have ever read about. They suffered lots of trials and tribulations during their epic journey. They were often troubled by thoughts of giving up but persevered. Not only is this a tale of man's ability to survive against fortitude it's also an interesting travelogue as all the places visited are described then and historically. It works very well. There is so much detail in it that it's not a book to skim read.
Verdict - A truly wonderful story of ingenuity and determination to follow a dream. A great read for anyone who loves a real life true adventure tale.
My thanks to #NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2022
This is a propulsive audiobook narrated by the crisp, clear voice of Eric G. Dove.
A voyage around the world in a sailing yacht is a daunting adventure in today’s world but an incredulous and dangerous undertaking in the 1970’s without the modern convenience of GPS. The brave but, in my mind, naive family take off from California, not realizing the harrows to come in their 6-year ordeal that goes from elation to utter despair numerous times in this voyage.
This book is a taut well-written exploration that kept me riveted from the first page to to almost the end. Unfortunately the followup of the four members of the family was hurried and glossed over. I wanted to read more about how this spectacular voyage affected the minds and hearts of each individual as they moved beyond this event. For travelers and adventurers alike, this book is a marvel to read.
A voyage around the world in a sailing yacht is a daunting adventure in today’s world but an incredulous and dangerous undertaking in the 1970’s without the modern convenience of GPS. The brave but, in my mind, naive family take off from California, not realizing the harrows to come in their 6-year ordeal that goes from elation to utter despair numerous times in this voyage.
This book is a taut well-written exploration that kept me riveted from the first page to to almost the end. Unfortunately the followup of the four members of the family was hurried and glossed over. I wanted to read more about how this spectacular voyage affected the minds and hearts of each individual as they moved beyond this event. For travelers and adventurers alike, this book is a marvel to read.
November 3, 2017
I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
This book was 300 pages too long. My goodness you have a family of 4 to include 2 teenagers and the parents thought it would be a good idea to sail around the world with really not having a clue on what to do. This book is all about how horrible things were and what happend and it was never ending. They wanted the trip to take 4 years and it took 5 years. Garth the teenage son was never able to complete his high school degree while the daughter Linda was able to get 2 grades ahead. The responsibility of holding this family together was nobodies from what it felt like. Dawn and her husband got divorced after this and no one is remotely interested in ever sailing again.
This book was 300 pages too long. My goodness you have a family of 4 to include 2 teenagers and the parents thought it would be a good idea to sail around the world with really not having a clue on what to do. This book is all about how horrible things were and what happend and it was never ending. They wanted the trip to take 4 years and it took 5 years. Garth the teenage son was never able to complete his high school degree while the daughter Linda was able to get 2 grades ahead. The responsibility of holding this family together was nobodies from what it felt like. Dawn and her husband got divorced after this and no one is remotely interested in ever sailing again.
July 10, 2022
I fell in love with the idea of sailing around the world after seeing it on Dawson's Creek (YEARS ago). I've come to realize, after listening to this fascinating story, that I love CRUISING, not sailing. Not once was there mention of the breakfast buffet and that's where the idea of sailing lost me. This story grabbed me from the beginning despite the fact that I didn't really feel like I got to know any of the characters. There adventures, good and bad, were plentiful and definitely run the gamut of experiences possible to have. I loved learning how they managed this without our modern GPS navigation and remote schooling options. I still want to see the world by sea but I think I'll stick to my larger boats with staff.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
December 21, 2017
A fascinating account of a family's round the world trip during the 1970's. Way before GPS and all the other modern conveniences.
Sailing has always sounded romantic and without effort. Having never sailed myself, it is easy to picture an effortless lifestile, lazing around in the sun. This seems to be very far from the truth. This family survived many perils, including a shipwereck. Fascinating, sometimes grim reading. You have to take your hat off to them for undertaking this monumental voyage.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
Sailing has always sounded romantic and without effort. Having never sailed myself, it is easy to picture an effortless lifestile, lazing around in the sun. This seems to be very far from the truth. This family survived many perils, including a shipwereck. Fascinating, sometimes grim reading. You have to take your hat off to them for undertaking this monumental voyage.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 18, 2022
While this book was definitely interesting I gotta say I’m not sold on it.
It’s a true story, so keeping that in mind I understand that only so much editing can be done since it must remain authentic, but holy moly was this an incredibly long listen.
I was given the chance to enjoy the audiobook through NetGalley and the narration was great. It kept me interested enough that I didn’t have trouble continuing the book. This book definitely highlights some of the major differences between now and the 1970’s and that was the most interesting part for me.
So a neutral rating it is. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s a true story, so keeping that in mind I understand that only so much editing can be done since it must remain authentic, but holy moly was this an incredibly long listen.
I was given the chance to enjoy the audiobook through NetGalley and the narration was great. It kept me interested enough that I didn’t have trouble continuing the book. This book definitely highlights some of the major differences between now and the 1970’s and that was the most interesting part for me.
So a neutral rating it is. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 3, 2018
Fascinating, for a variety of reasons. The adventure itself, taking place in the early 1970s, pulled me right in there with this family. It was well written and I couldn’t wait to see what solutions the next situation would bring. The dynamics of family relationships, the creative problem solving, and my own amazement and fear of what they were attempting to do with what they had available made this a riveting read.
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