Race France to France: Leave Antarctica to Starboard: An American in the Vendée Globe, Racing Solo, Non-Stop, Around the World

by Rich Wilson

"The Vendée Globe is even a greater challenge than climbing Mt. Everest.” …Sen. John Kerry, in U.S. Senate Tribute to Rich Wilson “The Vendée Globe is a race that is almost beyond belief.” …Gary Jobson, ESPN Commentator In 2008-9, Rich Wilson became only the second American to finish the Vendée Globe, deemed the “most grueling and dangerous prolonged competition on the planet.” (Garry Emmons, HBS Bulletin, 2009) The senior skipper at age 58, and a severe asthmatic, Wilson finished 9th of 11 finishers of 30 starters, racing 29,000 miles over 121 days in his 60’ boat Great American III. He endured broken ribs, a bloody facial gash, a climb up the mast on his run to Cape Horn, sleep deprivation, exhaustion and fear, while ten gales battered his trusty GA3 on her 4th race around the world. Wilson’s tenacity, perseverance, determination and skill inspire and motivate: that we can all do more than we think. Written intensely, engagingly, and humbly, Wilson’s book brings you onto his boat in the heat and doldrums of the tropics, in the gales and cold of the south, to see the beauty of the flying fish, albatross and southern stars, and to feel his fear, fatigue and emotions in the unending stress of a global ocean race. Life lessons abound: the camaraderie among competitors (the defending champion sacrificing his own race to rescue a fellow skipper); a French boy on the dock declaring “the important thing is to participate”; and the attitude of the engaged French public saying simply “if you finish this race, you’re a winner.” A lifelong educator, Wilson also achieved a primary goal of his race: to excite and engage K12 students about science, geography, and math in the real world, via a program published online, and for 15 weeks by Newspaper in Education departments in 50 US Newspapers, including 25 in our Missouri heartland, a thousand miles from ocean in any direction. Reaching 7 million readers weekly, and 200,000 students, Wilson and a Team of Experts (doctors, professors, merchant mariners, artists and authors) wrote essays for students and answered their questions. Within this human story of adventure, challenge and perseverance, there is something for everyone: sailors, adventurers, seniors, asthmatics, K12, and France lovers. All will be engaged by Wilson’s remarkable story. “Haven’t put your book down since receiving my copy this morning! What a thrilling story! Your drive and passion to overcome all obstacles, including chronic severe asthma, is an inspiration to everyone struggling with breathing difficulties. Let’s go 2016!” …Bill McLin, CEO, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America "Reading RACE FRANCE TO FRANCE put me through the vicarious terror and exhilaration of your voyage. I applaud your efforts both in sailing the course and writing the book. A hearty 'Bravo!' and 'Bien fait!'“ ...Dava Sobel, author, Longitude

Genres: Nonfiction

334 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2012

Reviews

[Sjors · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vendée Globe sailing competition in which competitors are racing solo around the world in a 20 meter (60 ft) yacht is called “the Mt Everest of sailing” due to its very tough nature and the high failure rate. In fact, one hundred times more people have reached the summit of Everest than came across the finish line in the Vendée Global. One of the qualification criteria is that the prospective racer has competed in at least one solo race across the Atlantic which in itself is a feat only few can pull off (or even dare attempt).

Rich Wilson writes about his 121 days alone at sea, covering 28,700 sea miles and being buffeted by endless storms. He intersperses his account of the race with flashbacks to his earlier races and life, and his hard work to connect the racing experience with students in their classrooms in a program called “sitesalive”. If I’m honest, I felt “sitesalive” got too much attention in the book - although I appreciate the reason why. That’s my only niggle about this book and it is why it gets 4 out of 5 stars from me.

121 days sailing solo at sea means waging a constant fight with the elements and working 150% to take care of your yacht and yourself. Snatching 1-2 hours of sleep per day, if any. Cramming in 6,000 calories per day to keep the body working. Constantly modifying course and sail, inspect and repair anything that may or has failed. Making mentally taxing weather predictions and navigational choices amidst howling gales and when towering fatigue just blankets the brain. Early on in the race, Rich get thrown through the cabin of his boat, cracking multiple ribs which made him extremely uncomfortable performing the many necessary physically demanding job on the boat. It would not be the last injury he sustains. Also his vessel takes regular beatings and over the course of the race we see how both skipper and yacht are punished over and over again and worn down bit by bit. I like how frank and direct the author records his troubles, his lack of sleep and consequent lack of mental acuity and even visions, how he loudly cusses the wind gods in the face of the nth raging storm, how he talks himself through his sailing maneuvers so as to not make mistakes, how he felt utterly hopeless at some points. But he didn’t give up, he persevered, did the work, kept the ship going, kept himself going. And he made it..!

This is a great book that gives us landlubbers a glimpse into the exciting and tough world of solo ocean racing and fits squarely in the “suffering greatness” genre of accounts by mountain climbers, polar explorers, and their ilk.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, unbelievable and captivating story about this race. Sometimes a bit technical for people with very limited sailing experience, but that is probably not the main target audience. The only thing I was a little bit disappointed about was that he didn't tell a lot about his physical and mental recovery after the race (whereas he told very much about all the problems about these underway). I was especially interested to know how long it takes to get back a normal sleep rithm after such a voyage and if the only thing you want when you come ashore is to sleep, sleep and sleep! I can imagine you have too much adrenaline and are very happy when you see your friends back and a very enthusiastic public. Maybe you can handle than a lot of extra hours non sleep, but I had liked it to hear about those things.

[Guitarranalongmail.Com · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book for someone not involved in any manner of sailing.
The first third maybe too much information about the school program that the author sold to justify his adventure. The rest more interesting and a great tale of storm endurance.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

well written account of a great adventure

This book is a well written account of a tremendously difficult and interesting race. I very much recommend this book to anyone interested in sailing or a great adventure.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written, exciting story of sailing non-stop, unassisted, round the world race.

[Doug Haskin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing story, well told by the author. Not only does he manage to bring home the incredible challenge of this round-the-world race, he also manages to keep the story alive and interesting throughout with details of the planning for, support of, and larger goals of his race program.

If you sail at all, you'll quickly understand why this race is called "Sailing's Mount Everest" (although it's easier to climb Everest these days than it is to sail and complete this race). If you don't sail, you'll finish the book with a new appreciation of the sport of competitive ocean racing.

[Herb Cohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I have a great respect for everyone who undertakes this race. The author is very understated, but the whole event is high drama, a great sea story, and conditions are unbelievably tough as the entire fleet avoids sea ice and rounds Cape Horn and heads back to France.

[William Graney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the author a lot as we seem to share a very similar world view and I thought the last 30 or so pages were extremely well done. The only drawback for me was that there were some fairly substantial sections of the book that read like a repair manual. I'll be watching the Vendée Globe race very closely in the future because of this book.

[Chip Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing read. This books bleeds emotion.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book about an incredible event.