What do you think?
Rate this book
Capsized: The True Story of Four Men Lost at Sea for 119 Days
In April 1989 four men set sail for Tonga from New Zealand. Three days out they ran into a gale and their boat capsized. The men huddled together in a tiny compartment in the hull. A strong will to live bound them together as each man's strength and character was truly tested. James Nalepka was one of the four, and Steven Callahan is the bestselling author of Adrift.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
1 person is currently reading
110 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 19, 2019
I used my bookshelf tag 'adventure' loosely here. These men did have one, but it was not one they were counting on. Sailing from New Zealand to Tonga on a trimaran, four men soon end up on a capsized boat. A few things worked in their favor:
1) the boat did not sink
2) they had quite a bit of stores onboard that they were able to retrieve and use
3) they managed to build a rain catchment
4) they eventually were able to catch some fish to supplement their supplies
This is basically a story of survival, but it is also so much more. The author shines light on what living in close, uncomfortable quarters is like, how different personalities can upset the delicate façade of cooperation, the thoughts that can go through one's mind in such a situation and how their predicament changed their views on their preconceived notions of what was important in life. He was brutally honest with his own feelings which added to the story as a whole.
1) the boat did not sink
2) they had quite a bit of stores onboard that they were able to retrieve and use
3) they managed to build a rain catchment
4) they eventually were able to catch some fish to supplement their supplies
This is basically a story of survival, but it is also so much more. The author shines light on what living in close, uncomfortable quarters is like, how different personalities can upset the delicate façade of cooperation, the thoughts that can go through one's mind in such a situation and how their predicament changed their views on their preconceived notions of what was important in life. He was brutally honest with his own feelings which added to the story as a whole.
November 27, 2012
Four men, not well known to each other, capsized, co-existing in an upside down trimaran, with no help in sight, for 119 days. Complex, ever changing relationships and personalities whose strengths and weaknesses affect the group. Well written, not fictionalized, just true. Of course from the author's point of view. Fantastic.
November 13, 2024
I was intrigued with the idea of survival on the ocean with scant resources between these 4 men. I grew to not like them very much as there was so much bickering and negativity. I was amazed they made it to shore. It became 2 books; the survival part then the second part about the relationship between the 2 men after all the lime light died down. I wanted to know more about what kind of men the 3 men became. I wanted to know more about their character, after surviving the ship wreck. I didn't get much of a sense of the authors life after his friend died. That would have been a nice ending. Instead, I was guessing as to what kind of man the author became.
May 8, 2022
Was intriguing story about how four men survived an unbelievable amount of time capsized off the coast of New Zealand. They happened to have very fortuitous events occur to go along with their stamina and mental toughness to be able to last so long. Not the best written book but an adventure to read about.
August 29, 2018
Really enjoyed the audiobook. Great survival story where at times truly thought some of the people were not going to make it.
May 21, 2021
Un-putdownable.
Read
November 24, 20253.5
January 28, 2013
As a fan of both survival literature and anything to do with the sea, this book was tailor made for me. Setting sail in May, 1989, from New Zealand in a trimaran for a short hop to a neighboring island, four men encounter disaster when their sailing vessel overturns in a storm. For 119 days they drift with the currents in the upside-down vessel, spending most of their time in a compartment the size of a double bed and only 20 inches high. They survive by scavenging for food from the submerged supplies that remain trapped below the water, by fashioning a rain-catching system, and by (eventually) learning how to lure and catch fish and the occasional sea bird.
The book is written by Jim Nalepka, one of the four survivors, with Steve Callahan, author of Adrift, his own account of deep sea survival. In the preface, Callahan writes that before getting involved in this project he wondered whether this story would “add any new dimensions to the small library of ocean survival books.” In the end, he realized that it was Nalepka’s perspective that was new, and fortunately he agreed to co-write the book.
This account is interesting and worth reading as a tale of survival. What elevates it is Nalepka’s reflective nature and his observations and questions regarding the personalities and dynamics of the four men on board. In some ways the men represent archetypes, and the differences among them could have easily led to strife and eventually violence. Navigating the perils of personal relationships in such close confines is no less important to this account than the constant struggle for food, water, and hope. Nalepka’s reflections on male identity and the fragile nature of feelings between men are interspersed among his thoughts about the particular relationships on board and his re-telling of the daily routines and struggles during their four months adrift.
The added layer of introspection only occasionally interferes with the narrative of the men’s daily life during their ordeal. For the most part the action and reflection are evenly balanced in a way that keeps the story moving, but in a meaningful way. An interesting and thought-provoking book.
The book is written by Jim Nalepka, one of the four survivors, with Steve Callahan, author of Adrift, his own account of deep sea survival. In the preface, Callahan writes that before getting involved in this project he wondered whether this story would “add any new dimensions to the small library of ocean survival books.” In the end, he realized that it was Nalepka’s perspective that was new, and fortunately he agreed to co-write the book.
This account is interesting and worth reading as a tale of survival. What elevates it is Nalepka’s reflective nature and his observations and questions regarding the personalities and dynamics of the four men on board. In some ways the men represent archetypes, and the differences among them could have easily led to strife and eventually violence. Navigating the perils of personal relationships in such close confines is no less important to this account than the constant struggle for food, water, and hope. Nalepka’s reflections on male identity and the fragile nature of feelings between men are interspersed among his thoughts about the particular relationships on board and his re-telling of the daily routines and struggles during their four months adrift.
The added layer of introspection only occasionally interferes with the narrative of the men’s daily life during their ordeal. For the most part the action and reflection are evenly balanced in a way that keeps the story moving, but in a meaningful way. An interesting and thought-provoking book.
June 19, 2015
Most survival books i've read demonstrate how a disaster or survival episode brings out the character in individuals. This book is the opposite . The author who is really James Nalepka, contacted Steven Callahan to assist him. Callahan had a similar experience of survival in the book Adrift. Napepka a member of the four man party of the ill-fated Rose Noelle describes the events in such biased way, two of the individuals are portrayed so negatively and the third who is supposedly his close friend not much better. In a book of this nature you want to root for their success and survival, but in this case the authors petty and vicious nature and the constant condesension left me not really caring that much what happened.The author does eventually show how the party eventually learns to appreciate each other more and a sense of attempted cooperation sets in, but it is too late as he may have lost.
The skipper of the Rose Noelle John Glennie also wrote another version of the events, it might be interesting to compare the two interpretations. Callahan in his preface describes the members of the Rose Noelle as flawed, and I guess he was right.
One other aspect is the author grandiosely describes himself as this masterful chef pulling all kinds of spices, and ingredients together to make various sauces and gravies. This may be true, but it reduces much of the tension or sympathy the reader might feel otherwise.
The skipper of the Rose Noelle John Glennie also wrote another version of the events, it might be interesting to compare the two interpretations. Callahan in his preface describes the members of the Rose Noelle as flawed, and I guess he was right.
One other aspect is the author grandiosely describes himself as this masterful chef pulling all kinds of spices, and ingredients together to make various sauces and gravies. This may be true, but it reduces much of the tension or sympathy the reader might feel otherwise.
July 31, 2011
Counterpoints the book written by the captain. The author suspected the captain of going kind of religiously bonkers, believing that God was going to save them, and in order to display their faith to god, it was necessary that they not act to save themselves. Nalepka even suspected the captain of jettisoning valuable supplies (water, etc) as a display of his faith.
This same theme has come up in at least one other raft book, and appears in other tales of religious enthusiasm. There is something about this idea, that action to help ones self and others is a sign of lack-of-faith, that the raft books bring into clear focus.
This same theme has come up in at least one other raft book, and appears in other tales of religious enthusiasm. There is something about this idea, that action to help ones self and others is a sign of lack-of-faith, that the raft books bring into clear focus.
January 25, 2016
Really enjoyed this - but I am a sucker for a good sea survival tale! Well told with plenty of detail on day to day life, cookery and survival techniques in case you are ever caught in an upturned catamaran.
December 5, 2014
The authors must have painted the events and the characters so well that my drifting away from the book- even though for weeks - never affected the clear picture engraved in my mind!!
Well done
Well done
November 7, 2014
Full disclosure, I work with Jim. He is a scholar and a gentleman.
October 25, 2015
It took me a while to get going but once I got into it I read it very very quickly and I even enjoyed it
December 7, 2008
A wild tale of survival in the sea. Four men, four months, one bed!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews