Desperate Voyage

by John Caldwell

In May 1946 John Caldwell set out to sail from Panama to Sydney to reunite with his wife who he hadn't seen for more than a year. Eager to reach his destination and unable to secure any other form of transport, he had to resort to singlehanded seamanship.

After an ignominious scene in the harbor, where a tangled anchor led him to take an early dip, he spent ten days learning the rudiments of navigation and sailing from a book, before embarking on the 9,000 mile journey aboard the 20-foot Pagan. Ahead lay a mission that was to reveal in him elements not only of astounding courage and determination, but also of incredible foolhardiness. Within 500 miles of Panama John Caldwell had already been shipwrecked once and had his boat's engine and cockpit destroyed by an angry shark. Indefatigable, he decided to press on towards his goal.He endured the terrors and discomforts of life on the high seas and enjoyed the triumphs of fighting and winning against the elements.

This is more than an exciting tale of sea-adventure. It is as compelling and unpredictable as a thriller. It is the story, witty and moving, of a man, motivated initially by love, and ultimately by his own fierce determination to survive.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure, Travel, Nautical, Survival, Maritime, Biography

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

See also his wife, Mary Caldwell.

Born in 1918 or 1919.

After the events narrated in Desperate Voyager, John Caldwell went on to graduate from the University of California Santa Barbara. He sailed all over the world with his wife Mary and their two sons. While sailing in the Caribbean he caught a glimpse of his dream island, Prune Island. He obtained a 99-year lease on the island, planted palms, renamed it Palm Island and established his own resort. The rest of his life was spent sailing around the islands he loved and sharing his passion with lucky visitors to his Caribbean paradise.

Caldwell died in early November 1998 on his home island of Palm Island in the Grenadines. He was aged 80.

Obituary

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's face it, "sea adventure" books usually hinge on things going wrong, the more extravagantly the better, and they succeed because of the ghastliness of the accidents, or the memorability of their writing. In the case of Caldwell's book, the situations are plenty desperate, but it's the sure hand at writing that really carries the day. Caldwell's voice is literate and descriptive, but never academic or remote: he is an enlightened observer of wonders large and small, and communicates them with immediacy. The voyage begins in innocence (naivete, really) and ends in wisdom. That's the enduring value of this book that sets it apart from other tales of voyage, for Caldwell does not merely arrive in the end, but learns from the people he meets along the way. He is deeply changed by the experience, and the reader is touched by that same experience, and cannot help but be changed somewhat as well.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents (Bill and Peggy Walsh) both passed away in 2010 at the ages of 92 and 93, in San Pedro, California. When I was going through their books, I found this book autographed with these words:

To our good friends Bill and Peggy. Though you have traded your keel and hull for a hearth and lawn . . . . . . there's always hope! Remember the good times around Hanchette's when we gummed of blue seas and white sails. Fair winds from the crew of "Tropic Seas". John Caldwell - April 1951, San Pedro

John's wife Mary also wrote: Mary Caldwell also Johnnie and Stevie

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book: at first it was pure curiosity about the deal: traveling halfway accross the world in a small boat to go find your wife...sounded very romantic and crazy at the same time. Then he obviously survived the trip so in spite of the potential dangers he made it. But then his discoveries which i didnt expect at all coming from a sailing book really tickled me pink so to speak. I couldnt put the book down. Excellent book. It has all the ingredients for me to give it a 5/5 and i dont give a 5 unless all the conditions are met for me.

[George Kedl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Caldwell’s Desperate Voyage in the 80’s or 90’s when I was reading every boating chronical, I could get my hands on. It was one of the few that stuck in my mind. My wife and I while cruising the Caribbean in the mid-nineties made it a point to make a quick stop at Palm Island just because we knew it was developed by Caldwell. My first impression of the book was that it was laughable—as I read it, I would shake my head, laughing, as he would do one foolish thing after another only to pay for it by almost starving himself to death in the end. Over the years since giving up my cruising life (25 years!) I had forgotten both the author and title of the book. Recently I rediscovered the book and read it again. My impressions are now quite different. First, it is a very well written book. Although there are a few incidents where I still shake my head and think, “Oh, no, don’t do that!” I am much more impressed with his competency and struggle for survival through no fault of his own. I don’t fault him for setting out to cross an ocean in a small boat with very limited experience and means, as, perhaps others might, because he really had no other option and it was not such an unreasonable thing to do. I say this because my own entry into the cruising life was in some ways similar: lack of experience, setting out across an ocean, limited means, gaining competence through experience along the way.
I recommend this book as one of the classic sailing adventures for sailors and arm-chair sailors, alike.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book not realizing that it was actually a true story. And it was an interesting story, although I couldn't help but shake my head at a few of Caldwell's decisions.

Caldwell, after having to leave his new wife behind in Australia, decides that he can't stay away any longer, and buys a small sailboat in which to sail from Panama back to Australia. And he goes alone, with only two kittens as company. He suffers through more hardships than can be imagined. Some of its due to the weather, but sometimes its due to his own foolishness as well. But he meets some interesting people along the way, and also nearly starves. A very exciting adventure in all. And his descriptions of sailing on a boat for so long are very detailed and probably paint a very accurate picture of what he experienced.

Since its mainly Caldwell and the kittens on the boat, he spends a lot of time with his thoughts. And he doesn't tend to describe himself very often, unless its to comment on the state of his non-shaving. But he does think often of his wife and that's very admirable. She must have been some woman, and you could definitely tell he loved her enough to put himself through such an ordeal. I also liked his take on the islanders, he always described them favorably. And his description of the cats, wonderful. They were very entertaining.

I had a hard time with the parts of this book that described some technical aspects of sailing the boat. It just took away from the actual story for me and there's only so many times you can hear about pumping out the bilges really. And some of the things he does to himself just has me cringing. I guess I just wouldn't take such risks with my life on an already risky adventure. But then again I was only getting part of it as I'm sure he didn't give the whole story in the book. But I did admire his courage, and the fact that he survived such a journey.

An interesting book. Maybe not to my tastes but anyone who's into nautical journeys should find it interesting. And since its a true story, it makes the tale quite amazing.

Desperate Voyage
Copyright 1949
243 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2012

More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com

[Svensgaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining read, but a bit of a tall story! From dolphins that followed him halfway across the Pacific to alleged tropical cyclones in September 1946 that I cannot find any record of. But as they say, why let the truth get in the way of a good story? To be read with a grain of salt or two (easily found in the Pacific Ocean).

[Shamae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummm this wasn't the best of books. You know that struggle you have when you are talking to someone with a very heavy accent, you have to concentrate really hard to understand what they are saying? Well this is what it was like reading the book. I didn't care for the writing at all.

[Mum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic tale of sailing from Panama towards Australia in 1946, solo. Very well written prose and very exciting! Loved it.

[Robstall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing lesson in how not to make an ocean passage.

[Joe Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book! I almost gave it a 5 star but decided to be stingy. It is a 4.5 for sure! One thing that really impressed me about this book is the reminder that I can do anything I set my mind to. Though he had some sailing experience in the merchant service, John Caldwell didn't know anything about sailing the little sailboat he bought to get from Panama to Australia after WWII. He learned as he went. Through grit, determination, and a lot of luck he made it home. This lesson offered me real, practical help. The past year, I've been learning to work on my car - doing oil changes, recharging the AC, putting in new brake pads, replacing headlights, and other small repairs. This book has been the most influential thing in helping me keep going when I've messed up and thought about quitting (which has happened several times). I figure if John Caldwell could learn to sail across the Pacific in a little boat, I can learn to be a mechanic. While this book was entertaining, if all I got out of it was a good story, I'd have only given it 3 stars. The very real lesson I learned from it is what pushed it to a 4.5. If you are determined, dedicated, and hard working you can do anything.

[Mark McTague · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever sailed offshore, even a mile or two, or have done wilderness backpacking days from anyone else, or you just relish a good true adventure story, this is the page-turning book for you. The author had been in the merchant marine during World War II, sailing across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans many times, but sailing aboard a 15,000 ton merchant vessel that's longer than a football field is far different from a 29-foot wooden sailboat (a cutter rig, mainsail and two jibs), especially if a major piece of your equipment is a book on how to sail.

Unable to get passage on any ship headed to Australia (to rejoin his wife of a few months there), the author, who had gotten as far as Panama late in 1945, sees a boat for sale and has just enough money to buy it and his provisions for a trans-Pacific sail. Undaunted by his almost complete lack of sailing experience, the author nevertheless sets sail. What ensues is a story you can't put down.

[Jeanie Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about the amazing journey of a man single-handing a small sail boat from Panama heading for Australia to see his wife. They'd only been married for a year and John was in the Merchant Marine when the war ended. He had no way of transport, so he ventured out alone, with two kittens, on a long, horrendous trip across the sea. The author has a wonderful voice and sense of humor about the disasters he faced. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and recommend for anyone who loves sailing. It was quite exciting. A lovable author and a fantastic read. I will read this one again!

[Chuck Prichard · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun book, but it's clearly at least largely fabricated. A 20 foot wooden sailboat with worn out canvas sails doesn't go 7 knots. Sharks don't jump in the cockpit. The list goes on. He wrote this book without any significant transoceanic sailing experience.

Add this to the list of great adventure books that stretch the truth.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a greenhorn at sailing and navigation, Mr. Caldwell proceeds to sail across the Pacific Ocean by himself, from Panama to Australia, to see his wife once again. An incredible story of adventure, loss, friendships and perseverance.

[Robert Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well named!

A great read of an incredible sailing voyage. Very well written, descriptions of the sea, the weather, personal insights and native culture, along with a simple but desperate life on the sea all woven together into one of the greatest tales of survival.

[JackCanoes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting stories. Impressed by the author's resourcefulness but he was definitely careless. Maybe brave because he fought in the war?

[Jack Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courageous Voyage

More challenging and danger packed than a novel. Heroic. Fascinating read for young and old.

[Marcus Ellard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read. I enjoyed the many adventures in this well written account of an incredible, impossible journey under sail.

[Hans Guttmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adventure. Gripping.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The five stars are not really for the writing, although this is a well written book, but for the entire trip, which was so amazing it’s almost unbelievable!

[Jayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly incredible story. The animals described in this story were my favorite. I am not a sailor so some of the vocabulary used was difficult, but a learning experience!

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. What a crazy story and what a crazy man. I couldn't help but admire his dedication, perseverance and resourcefulness. He has nine lives or possibly more, I would have perished ten times over. Or gone mad and jumped overboard. But then again I would never have undertaken such such a crazy voyage in the first place. sometimes I had to be angry with his hot-headed risk taking and bluntness. I still can't understand how he could watch dolphins accompany his boat for thousands of miles, even give them names and yet harpoon them even when food was not scarce. Nevertheless it is an amazing story and his account of starvation made my insides churn. I'm glad he lived through his desperate voyage to write about it, it's amazing reading for anyone interested in sailing. But be warned: it might be off-putting if you think sailing is what they make it out to be around harbor-cruising yacht clubs ;)

[Larry Tysome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this whilst sailing the Atlantic! (so I could kind of relate to it although there were no comparisons to what Cauldwell did in terms of sheer guts, determination and courage).

It's an incredible story of a man who, following being de-mobbed after WW II on the wrong side of the Pacific, ends up buying a small boat (he had never sailed before) and sailing back to Australia to be with the girl he had married during the war. As you read it you wonder at the kind of emotion that leads a man to put himself in a near certain death situation and, although he does not die he gets astonishingly close to it (and I never knew you could eat and get sustenance from engine grease and after-shave lotion). Could I ever imagine having such strong feelings for someone that I would do this - I fear I would not (or at least I'd take another route!!). What a man!

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mum gave me this book to read almost a decade ago, as my great uncle happened to be this man's accountant (in his later years, of course). The story was so tragic, after his ship was wrecked I remember being in absolute tears, unwilling to finish the tale. Of course, I knew he survived, and eventually I mustered up the courage to keep reading.

It always fascinated me how fantastical and perfectly the story played out, as if it was meant to be a fiction novel, or perhaps a gritty movie. I mean, how lucky was it that he was alone when the storm hit? Otherwise there would have been some gruesome tale of him killing and cooking up his crewmates.

If anyone's curious, I can definitely assure that he lived out his last years wonderfully, on a little dreamy island called Bequia.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

During WWII John Caldwell married an Australian woman. Once mustered out in the States he wants to get back to her, but all transportation to Australia is booked. So he does what any reasonable man would do—he gets himself to Panama, buys a small sailboat (he has never sailed) and teaches himself to sail—including the well-known mistake of throwing the anchor over without tying down the bitter end of the rode. Then he sets off alone for Down Under. This true story is filled with misadventures, including boarding a shark and a hurricane that spoiled his supplies (including water—he actually drank motor oil). Fascinating!

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read on an excellent single-handed voyage across the southern Pacific ocean by a man trying to return to his sweetie. Very dramatic and action-packed although in his somewhat dry fashion he recounted how he got himself into an amazing amount of trouble. A happy ending nonetheless.

- found this while researching sailing novels. Checked it out as an ILL. It came from Kansas and was threadbare. Published in 1949 and this hardbound copy printed then the physical record of it's every 5 year or so checkout was still under the front cover.....

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! The author, John Caldwell, found himself stuck in Panama at the end of WWII with no way to get home to his wife in Australia. So he bought a little 29-foot sailboat and set out alone, determined to get home, unconcerned about the fact that he knew absolutely nothing about sailing or navigation. What could possibly go wrong? I refuse to say anything more for fear of spoiling the story for others, except for the fact that I loved his little shipmates, the kittens Flotsam and Jetsam. This is a man that I would truly love to have met.

[L. Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

How not to cross the Pacific Ocean. Stranded in Panama after WWII with no way to reach his wife in Australia, the author does the only logical thing: having never sailed, he buys a boat sight unseen, fits it out, and proceeds to sail solo to Sydney. Ultimately, he gets there, but not before cheating death too many times to count, surviving gales, hurricanes, sharks, shipwreck, and rescue by generous indigenes. Reading like a thriller, this is an excellent guide to all the things one should not do with a sail boat on the ocean.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling story of a human experience that is so fantastic that it almost seems unbelievable. The author writes in an easy comfortable style in the first person. Parts of the story drag and if it were fiction would be wildly unbelievable. The fact that it is a real life experience makes it more compelling.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. A man with no sailing experience decides to sail from Panama to Australia alone. Predictably, it's not the smoothest of trips. Some of his decisions leaving you wondering about his critical thinking skills, but very well written and entertaining.