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Half Fast: (mis) Adventures in Slowly Sailing around (on) the World
Ever thought of ditching your conventional life to buy a sailboat and go traveling the world as a modern-day sea nomad? Half Fast is the true story of a married couple in their thirties who do just that—a move some of their family and friends consider to be a 'half-assed scheme' at best. With little money and even even less nautical experience they leave their small-town home in Arkansas to embark on an adventure they hope will last for a year or two but which evolves into a quarter-century voyage of discovery spanning half the world. Come along with Randy and Cheryl as they cruise their small boat to intriguing destinations that you won’t find in any tourist brochure. Along the way they discover the best and worst the sailing life has to offer as they visit twenty-nine countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America and the South Pacific. Their adventures and misadventures include encounters with hurricanes, thieves, drug smugglers and a disastrous tsunami as well as lasting new friendships formed with local people and fellow sailors all along their route. Cruising under sail is a lifestyle like no other and though there are sometimes hardships, those who take the plunge will be rewarded with a life of adventure and freedom that may be impossible to find any other way in the modern world.
- GenresTravelNonfiction
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 17, 2021
An interesting read.
This is the true story of a landlocked couple who use what monies they have to buy a boat. Their plan is to live their lives full time sailing in the Caribbean and westward to the South Pacific islands. It’s a first person account from the main character, Randy. The book reads as his detailed diary with frequent interaction of his wife and first mate Cheryl. You’ll get to hear about their encounters with hurricanes and a tsunami, flying fish, interesting and even friendly wildlife, various interesting islands and their people, the need for taking local island work to replenish funds, the repairs and needed retrofit, the travails of island gov. regulations, provisioning a boat for long spans at sea as well as making due after being well out to sea.
There’s a lot of cruiser lingo that you have to simply infer (unless you are a cruiser I suppose). I got by with the inferring to enjoy this book quite a lot. It makes one wonder ‘could I live on the ocean cruising from one island to the next?’. That the book could make me repeatedly consider that alternate reality is a testament to how interesting it was (though it was a bit drawn out in a few parts).
This is the true story of a landlocked couple who use what monies they have to buy a boat. Their plan is to live their lives full time sailing in the Caribbean and westward to the South Pacific islands. It’s a first person account from the main character, Randy. The book reads as his detailed diary with frequent interaction of his wife and first mate Cheryl. You’ll get to hear about their encounters with hurricanes and a tsunami, flying fish, interesting and even friendly wildlife, various interesting islands and their people, the need for taking local island work to replenish funds, the repairs and needed retrofit, the travails of island gov. regulations, provisioning a boat for long spans at sea as well as making due after being well out to sea.
There’s a lot of cruiser lingo that you have to simply infer (unless you are a cruiser I suppose). I got by with the inferring to enjoy this book quite a lot. It makes one wonder ‘could I live on the ocean cruising from one island to the next?’. That the book could make me repeatedly consider that alternate reality is a testament to how interesting it was (though it was a bit drawn out in a few parts).
March 14, 2020
A wonderful read for sailors and for non sailors with a yearn for travel.
Randy shares the delights of slow sailing in beautiful locations, amusing anecdotes, interesting snippets of history and the high tension of meeting nature at its fiercest.
Randy shares the delights of slow sailing in beautiful locations, amusing anecdotes, interesting snippets of history and the high tension of meeting nature at its fiercest.
June 7, 2026
This was an amazing account of life aboard the sailing yacht 'Caribee' over some considerable years. Plenty of ups and downs, especially during the hurricane and eventually the tsunami! I thoroughly loved this book and it has made me want to do the same, (even more than I already did) maybe I'll stick to the Mediterranean though, I don't fancy my chances with hurricanes or tsunamis!
May 28, 2020
Nice beach/vacation read.
March 15, 2022
After various trips in the Caribbean, supporting themselves by occasional odd jobs, Randy and his wife Cheryl decide on a one way journey to the South Pacific in their 32-foot yacht, beginning with a passage through the Panama Canal. They visited the Galapagos Islands, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, American Samoa, Kiribati, Tonga and Fiji, the length of stay depending largely on local regulations, In some places, they were welcomed into island life. They were left as sole inhabitants on the tiny island of Suwarrow in the Cook Islands, to close up the ranger station when the park ranger and his family were offered a ride home after the government boat was delayed. Then they survived a terrifying tsunami in Samoa and spent more than six weeks repairing the damage. The couple were sufficiently competent for the narrative not to be overloaded with technical problems,
December 25, 2021
If you like sailing adventures, read this book!
I have read numerous books about sailing, cruisers, day sailers, circumnavigators. Most are a pedestrian read, but this? This is exceptional. It is beautifully written, every description springing off the page, alive.
Randy and Cheryl spent a quarter century sailing their little Nicholson 32, Caribee, thousands of miles to places best described as Paradise and survived a hurricane and a tsunami, descriptions of which were so good that they frightened this shore bound reader!
This has been a superb read, my only regret is that I've finished it.
I have read numerous books about sailing, cruisers, day sailers, circumnavigators. Most are a pedestrian read, but this? This is exceptional. It is beautifully written, every description springing off the page, alive.
Randy and Cheryl spent a quarter century sailing their little Nicholson 32, Caribee, thousands of miles to places best described as Paradise and survived a hurricane and a tsunami, descriptions of which were so good that they frightened this shore bound reader!
This has been a superb read, my only regret is that I've finished it.
January 30, 2021
I love adventure stories set on the water, mountain tops, and everywhere in between.
This book started out with a cruising couple caught in hurricane Andrew. Somehow the author's voice never grabbed me. If you not only can't get drawn in with the drama of a hurricane at an unknown anchorage, but are bored, something isn't working. I almost never put a book down without finishing it. This was an exception. I cut my losses and moved on to another title after I was 20% into the book and completely uninterested.
This book started out with a cruising couple caught in hurricane Andrew. Somehow the author's voice never grabbed me. If you not only can't get drawn in with the drama of a hurricane at an unknown anchorage, but are bored, something isn't working. I almost never put a book down without finishing it. This was an exception. I cut my losses and moved on to another title after I was 20% into the book and completely uninterested.
June 4, 2022
Armchair Adventurer’s
Such a pleasure to read. Learned about the South Pacific. The sailing they accomplished in Caribee was exciting and liked how they honestly shared their knowledge of sailing and what they were learning along the way. I have spent time on someone’s live aboard 52’ Columbia and done short trips but cruising was that woman’s dream. The best I can do is read books like this and life vicariously.
Such a pleasure to read. Learned about the South Pacific. The sailing they accomplished in Caribee was exciting and liked how they honestly shared their knowledge of sailing and what they were learning along the way. I have spent time on someone’s live aboard 52’ Columbia and done short trips but cruising was that woman’s dream. The best I can do is read books like this and life vicariously.
January 30, 2021
Very well written book about the author and his wife's sailing trip (s) from the Florida Keys to the Caribbean and, then, through the Panama Canal to the South Pacific. There is enough sailing info for those who sail, but not too much for those who don't. The author tells some exciting and interesting stories about the places that are visited. I really enjoyed the book and could've read more!
August 25, 2021
WOW! What a....
WOW! What a exciting some what scary but mostly beautiful story of this couples trip around the worlds oceans in their small (32’) sail boat. Not fiction... A true story with many pictures in color, if viewed on a iPad or android reader. Kindle reader in black/white only. BKM (Black Kindles Matter).
WOW! What a exciting some what scary but mostly beautiful story of this couples trip around the worlds oceans in their small (32’) sail boat. Not fiction... A true story with many pictures in color, if viewed on a iPad or android reader. Kindle reader in black/white only. BKM (Black Kindles Matter).
August 21, 2023
This was such an awesome read. I’ve thought about live aboard sailing and after reading this, half of me is ready to do it tomorrow and the other half is scared out of my mind.
Randy also had so many suggestions for books I now want to read and he had some great personal stories as well as history!
Randy also had so many suggestions for books I now want to read and he had some great personal stories as well as history!
February 27, 2024
What an enjoyable, entertaining read! I hope he'll write more books about their experiences. I enjoyed reading about the sailing, navigation, Panama Canal, the anchorages, the weather (lived on the Fl peninsula when Andrew hit Miami), the cruising culture, the island cultures, the wildlife - marine and terrestrial, human and other. What a fun book.
May 28, 2022
Wonderful Story
I have read more than 20 round the world sailing books. This is one of the best. Writing style is so easy to read and the content and descriptions of far away places are what dreams are made of.
I have read more than 20 round the world sailing books. This is one of the best. Writing style is so easy to read and the content and descriptions of far away places are what dreams are made of.
June 17, 2024
Great writing of a cruisers experience
Really enjoyed reading this book. As a fellow cruiser, I identified with a lot of the experiences in this book. Harrowing experiences as well as good ones are part of our cruising lives. It wakes good adventure reading....
Really enjoyed reading this book. As a fellow cruiser, I identified with a lot of the experiences in this book. Harrowing experiences as well as good ones are part of our cruising lives. It wakes good adventure reading....
June 22, 2024
great story
It’s always fun to read about others adventures. I really enjoyed not only the use of proper sailing terms but the explanation of the terms. Anyone can red this book and enjoy the story.
It’s always fun to read about others adventures. I really enjoyed not only the use of proper sailing terms but the explanation of the terms. Anyone can red this book and enjoy the story.
February 16, 2020
What a wild adventure
A well written tale of amazing events. Felt as if I was along for the ride. A few hours diversion to paradise.
A well written tale of amazing events. Felt as if I was along for the ride. A few hours diversion to paradise.
December 8, 2020
Wow!
This is the most adventurous sailing story that I have Ever read! Talk about close encounters! And then it is tempered by kindness, gratitude and amazing beauty.
This is the most adventurous sailing story that I have Ever read! Talk about close encounters! And then it is tempered by kindness, gratitude and amazing beauty.
December 31, 2020
Read this if you want to go on an adventure
Read about a very far away lifestyle and far away places with fascinating people. It really brings you to a different world.
Read about a very far away lifestyle and far away places with fascinating people. It really brings you to a different world.
February 25, 2021
Top notch must read. Easy 5 stars
I don't know what to say. It was excellent. If you have an interest in blue water sailing this is simply a must read.
I don't know what to say. It was excellent. If you have an interest in blue water sailing this is simply a must read.
June 30, 2021
Fascinating
I'm not a sailor, but this was an awesome book that I read nightly right before going to sleep. Thank you to the authors.!!
I'm not a sailor, but this was an awesome book that I read nightly right before going to sleep. Thank you to the authors.!!
July 7, 2021
A nice set of vignettes about cruising, generally a pretty relaxing and fun read
January 7, 2022
Fine
Very good and sincere i.e. reading, the reality of the good, not so good, and sometimes frightening and dangerous. Salty stuff.
Very good and sincere i.e. reading, the reality of the good, not so good, and sometimes frightening and dangerous. Salty stuff.
March 22, 2023
Captivating stories
June 7, 2023
Believable
August 1, 2023
interesting tale of life at sea
The story is told with a good amount of humor, and wonderful descriptions of the many islands that Caribee visited
The story is told with a good amount of humor, and wonderful descriptions of the many islands that Caribee visited
August 27, 2023
Very good
Brought the old sea itch back again. Those were very good days, and a few not so good. Well written and entertaining to read.
Rock on!
Brought the old sea itch back again. Those were very good days, and a few not so good. Well written and entertaining to read.
Rock on!
January 16, 2024
This was a very interesting read.
I love nonfiction. This was an interesting, informative read. The author wrote a book with descriptive detail, made you wish you were there.
I love nonfiction. This was an interesting, informative read. The author wrote a book with descriptive detail, made you wish you were there.
November 17, 2025
A great read
What an adventure! It was very easy to picture the places and live the experiences at each step of their incredible voyage.
What an adventure! It was very easy to picture the places and live the experiences at each step of their incredible voyage.
December 5, 2025
Realistic to the max!
Enjoyed and found it amazing. I grew up loving boats….never traveled this…..but had our own as we moved all over the US and rented when out of the country
Enjoyed and found it amazing. I grew up loving boats….never traveled this…..but had our own as we moved all over the US and rented when out of the country
February 28, 2026
This was an interesting read for a non-sailing person. I learned a lot about sailing around the islands, hurricanes and moorings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews