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Alone Around the World
At One With The Sea
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 24, 2013
I decided to read this book as my mum picked it out for me and said that it was a good book with a lot of picture of the boat and joinery. I love this book it feels real and Naomi has passion and determination that everyone can see.
This book fits into the category of a diary, autobiography or biography. I like this box as it lets us read more true stories that can influence us in our lives. The book is about Naomi James and her trip around the world sailing solo. She starts off in England, then to Cape Town, to Tasmania and back up to England. Her cat Boris comes along for the ride as well.
My favourite character in the book is Boris as he is a cat!! He was on a boat for over one hundred days. He really had sea legs. Boris would sit on the on map table and help plot the course or help pull the ropes.
What I learnt from this book is that you should never give up even when times are rough. Also how not to go insane when you are alone for a very long time. Not that I want to do this at all. To sail around the world is a very tough thing to do and I look up at her with great respect.
"Boris tries a radio-telephone call. Anything I can do?" These are two captions from pictures in the book. Boris is lying around in the cabin and outside in the ropes. They are so cute and happy and without Boris she would have been so lonely and things might have not gone as well. Boris was a vital part in the journey and of course very cute.
This book fits into the category of a diary, autobiography or biography. I like this box as it lets us read more true stories that can influence us in our lives. The book is about Naomi James and her trip around the world sailing solo. She starts off in England, then to Cape Town, to Tasmania and back up to England. Her cat Boris comes along for the ride as well.
My favourite character in the book is Boris as he is a cat!! He was on a boat for over one hundred days. He really had sea legs. Boris would sit on the on map table and help plot the course or help pull the ropes.
What I learnt from this book is that you should never give up even when times are rough. Also how not to go insane when you are alone for a very long time. Not that I want to do this at all. To sail around the world is a very tough thing to do and I look up at her with great respect.
"Boris tries a radio-telephone call. Anything I can do?" These are two captions from pictures in the book. Boris is lying around in the cabin and outside in the ropes. They are so cute and happy and without Boris she would have been so lonely and things might have not gone as well. Boris was a vital part in the journey and of course very cute.
February 2, 2019
What a marvelous adventure. It stirred in me a renewed confidence in seeking out new challenges. Naomi James identified a goal and followed through with it. Her bitter disappointments, harrowing mishaps, and palpable fear in relying on herself for her survival demonstrated an inner strength while revealing human vulnerabilities in the face of danger. She really is remarkable. My favorite quote: “The measure of every gain seems to me to relate directly to the depth of misery involved in reaching it.”- Naomi James, Around the World.
April 24, 2024
I wasn't too sure about this at the start, there were lots of sailing terms and I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it. However, I ended up really liking it and was desperate to finish it and find out how her journey went. I loved the mix of technical sailing but also the musing on life and thinking about the reasons why she chose to complete this crazy journey.
March 8, 2012
This book was recommented to me my by mum as she read it when she was a kid. this book fits in to the autobiography box on the bingo sheet.I found this type of book very interesting and might read more of them as i enjoyed looking at the pictures of her trip. I learnt that sailing around the world is alot more dangerous than you would think and how scary it could have been at times end piecefull it would have been apart from her cat which sadly pasted away not long after she started the journey. My favourite quote was "the fact that I was horribly seasick everytime I set food on a boat should have put me off for good" I like this quote because I think it is quite funny as she was so seasick put ended up sailind solo around the world.The character i found interesting was boris the cat i found it interesting that someone would take a cat on a boat round the world i supose it would be some type of company till he drowned.
February 22, 2021
A very enjoyable book by someone we didn't know much about, although I had heard of Naomi james. I loved her philosophical take on life. Her lack of experience in setting out on this journey is somewhat astounding, but she learned so much, not only about sailing, about life. Well written, and interesting.
January 17, 2022
This might be my all time favourite boot ever.
Naomi’s achievement as a young woman is absolutely astounding. And yet she writes with incredible humility.
Truely inspiring 🥰
Naomi’s achievement as a young woman is absolutely astounding. And yet she writes with incredible humility.
Truely inspiring 🥰
November 20, 2025
This is a 3.5-star rating rounded down to three stars. I rounded down just since I have little interest or understanding in sailing, and so much of the book was technical sailing jargon. The adventure was worth the read, and I am glad that the local historical society chose it for the book to discuss this month. It made for a great discussion, even though it did break all of our hearts to know that a mere three years after this adventure ended that Naomi would lose her precious Rob to drowning ten days before their daughter was born. Because she chose to go the "old" way, around the Horns, I do consider her to be the first woman to sail the world alone. In fact, her life after this adventure is an adventure in and of itself, and she is one impressive Dame (yes, she was given the title by the Queen). I find her a fascinating woman in so many ways, from the way she was raised right up to the way she eventually received her education. Definitely one of those people that you would love to sit down and have tea with, even though she is not someone who suffers people easily.
"Books were very important to us, and in the evenings reading was our favourite pastime. Both our parents are well read so there was always a wide selection of literature available. We 'lived' our books and the characters in them were real. They contrasted so much with the people of our small world that the extent of their attraction was immeasurable; neither could it be dulled by the influence of television as the goggle box hadn't yet arrived in New Zealand. Like all children we acted out these fictional or historical characters in our games. With no restraints from parents or environment these games became riotously uninhibited. Neighbours sometimes commented that we Powers kids behaved like wild Indians, but my mother would say that it didn't do any harm."
"I was dismayed to find I had no opinions of my own on any subject that mattered and was in danger of accepting those of my friends ad lib. I felt green and naive and became increasingly uneasy about expressing opinions which weren't mine and of which I wasn't convinced." (I wish more people, young and old, had the self-awareness that Naomi showed at a young age.)
"Were gossip and other people's affairs the only things in the world that people talked about? Where were the people of my books, where was adventure, danger, some meaning to existence?"
"I've heard people say that so-and-so doesn't suffer fools gladly. Well, eventually I learnt to suffer fools because I didn't want to lay myself open to criticism. But all that niceness I had to generate drove me to further extremes of dislike. Now I find that I don't even have the patience to talk over the trivialities of life with people I find as uninteresting as their topics of conversation. This more than anything has driven me to prefer silence because I don't have the strength of mind or the lack of manners to tell people I'm bored to death by their pettiness. This must sound arrogant, but I see no possibility of any worthwhile relationship developing with certain sorts of people."
"It is interesting to speculate how this voyage will affect me. I don't think that it is likely to make me more gregarious, though this doesn't mean I dislike all people; on the contrary, there are people who interest me enormously. And in whose company I find great pleasure, albeit in small doses."
"My appetite had returned, but how I wished I didn't have to eat, it was such a bother. I wrote, 'The sooner someone invents tablet substitutes the better.'" (I had to record this one because my husband offered that exact same sentence more times that I could ever count!)
"The fact that I'm already one-third of the way round the world should be some indication that the next two-thirds can somehow be managed. The potential dangers are: 1) falling overboard; 2) wrecking the boat on some shore through bad navigation; 3) being wrecked in a storm; 4) hitting something - whale, boat, log; 5) going mad, which I think is the most unlikely. I have some control over all these things, so success or failure really depends on the question of weather conditions. If I have enough sense and seamanship, well, I can only try."
"I have always been slightly afraid of other people, imagining that they are looking down at my faults and finding obvious inadequacies." (Nobody has ever put my anxiety in a better sentence!)
"Faith does not mean an expectation of miracles. I don't really believe that anyone in a storm-tossed boat would expect God to calm the waves. What he might ask for is help to fortify his mind and to endure. The strength of faith is in the believer; regardless of what his faith is based upon - and I imagine that there is very little difference between the attitudes of Chad, Chichester, Knox-Johnson or myself - we call upon our reserves of faith and willpower and hope that it will see us through."
"Books were very important to us, and in the evenings reading was our favourite pastime. Both our parents are well read so there was always a wide selection of literature available. We 'lived' our books and the characters in them were real. They contrasted so much with the people of our small world that the extent of their attraction was immeasurable; neither could it be dulled by the influence of television as the goggle box hadn't yet arrived in New Zealand. Like all children we acted out these fictional or historical characters in our games. With no restraints from parents or environment these games became riotously uninhibited. Neighbours sometimes commented that we Powers kids behaved like wild Indians, but my mother would say that it didn't do any harm."
"I was dismayed to find I had no opinions of my own on any subject that mattered and was in danger of accepting those of my friends ad lib. I felt green and naive and became increasingly uneasy about expressing opinions which weren't mine and of which I wasn't convinced." (I wish more people, young and old, had the self-awareness that Naomi showed at a young age.)
"Were gossip and other people's affairs the only things in the world that people talked about? Where were the people of my books, where was adventure, danger, some meaning to existence?"
"I've heard people say that so-and-so doesn't suffer fools gladly. Well, eventually I learnt to suffer fools because I didn't want to lay myself open to criticism. But all that niceness I had to generate drove me to further extremes of dislike. Now I find that I don't even have the patience to talk over the trivialities of life with people I find as uninteresting as their topics of conversation. This more than anything has driven me to prefer silence because I don't have the strength of mind or the lack of manners to tell people I'm bored to death by their pettiness. This must sound arrogant, but I see no possibility of any worthwhile relationship developing with certain sorts of people."
"It is interesting to speculate how this voyage will affect me. I don't think that it is likely to make me more gregarious, though this doesn't mean I dislike all people; on the contrary, there are people who interest me enormously. And in whose company I find great pleasure, albeit in small doses."
"My appetite had returned, but how I wished I didn't have to eat, it was such a bother. I wrote, 'The sooner someone invents tablet substitutes the better.'" (I had to record this one because my husband offered that exact same sentence more times that I could ever count!)
"The fact that I'm already one-third of the way round the world should be some indication that the next two-thirds can somehow be managed. The potential dangers are: 1) falling overboard; 2) wrecking the boat on some shore through bad navigation; 3) being wrecked in a storm; 4) hitting something - whale, boat, log; 5) going mad, which I think is the most unlikely. I have some control over all these things, so success or failure really depends on the question of weather conditions. If I have enough sense and seamanship, well, I can only try."
"I have always been slightly afraid of other people, imagining that they are looking down at my faults and finding obvious inadequacies." (Nobody has ever put my anxiety in a better sentence!)
"Faith does not mean an expectation of miracles. I don't really believe that anyone in a storm-tossed boat would expect God to calm the waves. What he might ask for is help to fortify his mind and to endure. The strength of faith is in the believer; regardless of what his faith is based upon - and I imagine that there is very little difference between the attitudes of Chad, Chichester, Knox-Johnson or myself - we call upon our reserves of faith and willpower and hope that it will see us through."
April 5, 2026
Oerhörd prestation, detta att ensamsegla jorden runt. Skildringen av äventyret lider dock av en riktigt stolpig översättning till svenska - det talas om observation av en "Mollys hök" som jag gissar är en Mollymawk, alltså en albatross, om en "tysk fårhund" (gissningsvis en schäfer) och om "Pop" hemma i Nya Zeeland (som väl gissningsvis inte är en person vid namn Pop utan helt enkelt Naomis pappa). Seglingstekniskt är översättningen ofta så bristfällig att stora sjok av text - inte minst den dramatiska skildringen av ett rigghaveri och lösningen på detsamma - blir helt obegripliga; översättaren verkar exempelvis inte ha greppat konceptet med ETA (beräknad ankomsttid, helt enkelt) och skriver "timmerman" med citattecken (en översättning av 'chippy', ska det visa sig, alltså fartygsslang för "ship's carpenter").
Några gånger är det så knäppt att jag uppsöker den engelska originaltexten för att kontrollera vad det egentligen står:
"[...] jag öppnade en flaska Riesling, tömde ett glas och slungade ut det till oceanen." - "[...] I broke open a bottle of Riesling, poured a glass and hurled it at the ocean."
"Det fanns faktiskt ingen kriminalitet på öarna och den enda last som jag hörde talas om var alkoholism." - "There was virtually no crime on the islands and the only vice, I was told, was drink."
"Under ett uppehåll i denna verksamhetsperiod med 'hushållsarbete' så ringde jag till Juliet i Wien och blev glad att höra att hon väntade barn i oktober, ett österrikiskt barn." - During one of the intervals between 'house' work sessions I called Juliet in Vienna and was delighted to hear she would be producing a baby Austrian in October."
"Vi passerar er inom synhåll på VHF och på 2182 mellan 20 och 25 maj." - "We shall keep visual VHF and 2182 watch from 20 to 25 May."
"Jag satt på rufftaket i mitt regnställ och skrattade åt Rob som försökte ta ett foto av henne nerifrån vattenlinjen i fören på trålaren." - "I sat on the coach roof in my oilskins and laughed at Rob trying to take a photograph of her from the wet bow of the trawler."
Det i mitt tycke mest problematiska i hela boken ligger dock utanför översättningen, och kommer sig av Naomis idoliserande av denne Rob - hon oroar sig för att konsumtionen av sötsaker ombord ska göra henne för tjock för hans gillande, och skildrar glatt hur han uttrycker en längtan efter att hon ska komma hem eftersom han börjar tröttna på att tvätta sina egna skjortor. Suck.
Några gånger är det så knäppt att jag uppsöker den engelska originaltexten för att kontrollera vad det egentligen står:
"[...] jag öppnade en flaska Riesling, tömde ett glas och slungade ut det till oceanen." - "[...] I broke open a bottle of Riesling, poured a glass and hurled it at the ocean."
"Det fanns faktiskt ingen kriminalitet på öarna och den enda last som jag hörde talas om var alkoholism." - "There was virtually no crime on the islands and the only vice, I was told, was drink."
"Under ett uppehåll i denna verksamhetsperiod med 'hushållsarbete' så ringde jag till Juliet i Wien och blev glad att höra att hon väntade barn i oktober, ett österrikiskt barn." - During one of the intervals between 'house' work sessions I called Juliet in Vienna and was delighted to hear she would be producing a baby Austrian in October."
"Vi passerar er inom synhåll på VHF och på 2182 mellan 20 och 25 maj." - "We shall keep visual VHF and 2182 watch from 20 to 25 May."
"Jag satt på rufftaket i mitt regnställ och skrattade åt Rob som försökte ta ett foto av henne nerifrån vattenlinjen i fören på trålaren." - "I sat on the coach roof in my oilskins and laughed at Rob trying to take a photograph of her from the wet bow of the trawler."
Det i mitt tycke mest problematiska i hela boken ligger dock utanför översättningen, och kommer sig av Naomis idoliserande av denne Rob - hon oroar sig för att konsumtionen av sötsaker ombord ska göra henne för tjock för hans gillande, och skildrar glatt hur han uttrycker en längtan efter att hon ska komma hem eftersom han börjar tröttna på att tvätta sina egna skjortor. Suck.
October 12, 2020
Wow, this book captured me immediately as Naomi James, took me with her every step of her journey around the world. Her pure grit and determination carried her through insurmountable odds which would have most of us giving up at the first hurdle. Not so, this courageous and feisty 28 year old New Zealander with only a mere 2 years sailing experience to her credit. In 1978, she took on the huge task of single handedly sailing round the world via Cape Horn where she set a new world record for the fastest time ever! In recognition of her extraordinary achievement, in 1979, she was awarded Dame Commander of the Order Of the British Empire, one of the very highest given to women. I was thoroughly fascinated with her adventures and held my breath as she conquered every unexpected set back she encountered along the way. What an amazing individual. Highly recommended.
June 23, 2024
Ufattelig bra skrevet! Underholdene, nervepirrende og rørende. Til tross for skumle beskrivelser av det mektige havet er jeg dypt fascinert og inspirert over alle de vågale menneskene som legger ut på seilas uten noe særlig bakgrunnskunnskap. Men ett liv uten noe som helst risiko, blir fort kjedelig. Og det viser seg jo gang på gang at det i tilfeller som krever mot også resulterer i økt visdom.
August 10, 2023
Zabrałam się za tę książkę mimo że o statkach i żegludze nic totalnie nie wiedziałam. Nie znałam nazw żaglów i całego tego specjalistycznego sprzętu i na początku musiałam sobie googlowac co to jest. Mimo to czytałam z wielkim zainteresowaniem. Przynajmniej teraz choć trochę wiem z czym to się je.
June 26, 2018
Easy read, concerned when I read she was taking a cat, then that was a prophecy.
January 2, 2025
Great story of adventure!!
June 20, 2025
Linda aventura sobre la vuelta al mundo navegando en solitario
October 20, 2025
Cuenta la historia de la primera mujer en recorrer el planeta en velero a solitario. Si bien se agradece conocer alguna terminología náutica, la obra se enfoca más en la experiencia a bordo.
March 21, 2023
Let me say I loved this book, being a massive fan of two youtube channels (Sailing La Vagabonde & Sailing Zatara) who happen to be sailing around the world at the moment this really contributed to that dream of owning a sailboat and leaving the world behind.
Naomi sets out on a circumnavigation [trip around the world starting and ending at the same point] and talks about her struggles, triumphs and feelings during her 90 days at sea. My favourite character in the book is Boris as he is a cat!! He was on a boat for over one hundred days. He really had sea legs. Boris would sit on the on-map table and help plot the course or help pull the ropes.
What I learnt from this book is that you should never give up even when times are rough. Also how not to go insane when you are alone for a very long time.
Naomi sets out on a circumnavigation [trip around the world starting and ending at the same point] and talks about her struggles, triumphs and feelings during her 90 days at sea. My favourite character in the book is Boris as he is a cat!! He was on a boat for over one hundred days. He really had sea legs. Boris would sit on the on-map table and help plot the course or help pull the ropes.
What I learnt from this book is that you should never give up even when times are rough. Also how not to go insane when you are alone for a very long time.
May 15, 2025
A must read if you like the ocean and it's challenges
February 7, 2026
I very much enjoyed this girl power book about this woman Naomi James who was the first woman to single-handily sail around the world. This happened back in 1977-78. I was a baby then.
I don't know anything about sailing. I did not understand all of her discussions about sailing And everything she had to do to keep her going in the correct direction at a good pace. But I do appreciate the fact that she's stuck with it and that she did all that hard work by herself. It's much more impressive than I probably really understand.
I like the parts where she stopped in at certain places and a lot of people there helped her and wanted to talk to her. I also appreciate how she didn't like people too much.
I don't know anything about sailing. I did not understand all of her discussions about sailing And everything she had to do to keep her going in the correct direction at a good pace. But I do appreciate the fact that she's stuck with it and that she did all that hard work by herself. It's much more impressive than I probably really understand.
I like the parts where she stopped in at certain places and a lot of people there helped her and wanted to talk to her. I also appreciate how she didn't like people too much.
July 2, 2012
naomi james was the first woman to sail solo around the world, and this book not only gives a detailed account of her voyage that makes you feel like your in the cockpit with her but gives you an insite to her preperations beforhand why she decided to do it in the first place.
November 25, 2007
This book was the start of my love affair with the sea and sailing. I still dream of sailing it by myself but know it would be quite a task. Read this for a real tale of self discovery!
July 18, 2012
What a wonderful delightfully frightful journey. Poor Boris though
June 1, 2013
Amazing story! For someone who didn't grow up around water or spend time practicing a lot before she left, this is such an accomplishment.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews