Soul of the Hurricane: The Perfect Storm and an Accidental Sailor

by Nelson Simón

The harrowing true story of an inexperienced crew member on a ship that sailed into the Perfect Storm

Nelson Simon didn’t want to sign up as a last-minute crew member to transport a Norwegian schooner from Brooklyn to Bermuda. But one thing led to another, and there he was. He told himself that it would be a sort of pleasure cruise: a week in the Gulf Stream with a gourmet chef on board, some down time on a tropical island, then a quick flight home.

What did it matter that he had practically no sailing experience? The eight other crew members had plenty—they just needed an extra pair of hands. What could possibly go wrong?
 
It was October 1991, and the ship was Anne Kristine, the oldest continuously sailing vessel in the world. What awaited them was Hurricane Grace, the southern end of what came to be known as the “Perfect Storm.”

Soul of the Hurricane tells an unlikely tale that begins with an unexpected invitation and ends in the dead of night somewhere far from home, with a Coast Guard helicopter above and a dark, angry sea below.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2021

Reviews

[Carol Hoenig]

Nelson Simon writes about several people who were involved in this memoir yet Anne Kristine, described as the oldest continuously sailing vessel in the world, is at the forefront. The author brought me into the high seas where I felt the rise and fall of the turbulent waves while I tended to skim some of the details that I’m sure seafarers would appreciate. Even though I have little to no interest in oceanography and ichthyology, I’m grateful there are those who are committed in those endeavors since it’s important to see how our climate is changing, which this book brings to light. "Soul of the Hurricane" is described as a memoir/survival, which is quite accurate, and readers will want to take the journey with the author and the ship that moves this story along to a heart wrenching conclusion.

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bolivia is today a landlocked nation, so it is always curious to have one of its sons involved in some way out on the ocean. Bolivian-born Nelson Simon has written an intriguing account of how it was that, against all odds, he found himself literally up to the neck in very deep water.

To the seafaring community, this will appear to be the tale of a glorious ship of olden days, the Anne Kristine. Yet it is much more than that. During the schooner's long life, she eventually fell into the loving hands of Norman Baker, a man who had cut his sailing teeth on reed boats with Thor Heyerdahl, as much as on conventional yachts. He and his wife took on the onerous task of restoring the Anne Kristine to something like its past glory and that part of the story provides a fascinating prelude to the drama that follows.

In fact, beyond the modest introduction of the story's other main character, the author and accidental sailor, Simon, we have a thriller which will leave even the most hardened sea dog somewhat breathless. There one must leave it without giving more away, but suffice it to say that this gripping account of an encounter with the elements far from land and, at first sight, far from help, has been skilfully weaved by one who, somehow, came through the experience physically unscathed. Read on to find out more, including the surprising denouement...

[Steven Christofferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a tall ship (think sails and pirates) getting caught in the perfect storm of 1991. There’s a movie about this same storm, though not about this ship. This story focuses on the Anne Kristine, a tall ship sailing toward Bermuda when Hurricane Grace forms southwest of the island. Narrated by one of the 9 crew, Nelson Simon, the book takes the reader through the history of the ship, how explorer Norman Baker bought and almost completely rebuilt the vessel as a family home and then business, to its ultimate destruction in the hurricane. All 9 crew members were rescued by the Coast Guard, and the vivid storytelling in this book makes you feel like you were there. An enthralling story!

[Bruce Sembar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of an uneven book. Wanted to read about the hurricane. The author spent way too much time talking about characters and other situations that were way before the event. In fact, I skipped through most of the first 50 pages. Then he took way too long describing the reconditioning of the ship. The actual hurricane was only about a third of the entire book. Maybe because it was a memoir it wasn't very exciting overall.

[Emily Rawlings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can understand why so many others found this book incredibly tedious and boring, it was hard to get into and had a lot of back story regarding the owner of the ships life and the building and beginnings of the boat Anna Christina, and the hurricaine aspect of the book only took up a third of the book, but I found this incredibly riveting, interesting and jam packed with information relevant to the story and the climax of the storm. Very well written, enjoyed every minute of it!

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, educational and a thrilling tale. If you have ever sailed you need to read this. A true story of how a sail from Brooklyn to Bermuda encountered a massive hurricane, what later became known as “the Perfect Storm.” Beautifully written by one of the survivors of this life changing experience and encounters with one of earths most greatest forces. Highly recommend.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting story of survival at sea during a brutal hurricane.
Writing is detailed, personal and skilled.
Loyalty, trust and knowledge prevalent throughout the book.
Bonded by their love of sailing and respect for the sea allowed this reader to understand more about the power of hurricanes and skill required to survive in the most dangerous situations.
An education read as well.

[Sandra Sembar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read book, couldn't put it down.

[Cliff Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent informative read.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were several chapters that felt like tangiential padding to create a book length production that could go head to head with The Perfect Storm.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping survival tale with a little too much padding, but hard to put down once it actually got going.

[Stephen Baes · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little too informative but good story