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Rescue of the Bounty: Disaster and Survival in Superstorm Sandy
An all-new harrowing maritime tale of the sinking and rescue efforts surrounding the HMS Bounty —the actual replica used in the 1962 remake of the 1935 classic Mutiny on the Bounty— which sank during Hurricane Sandy with sixteen aboard.
The harrowing story of the sinking and rescue of Bounty—the tall ship used in the classic 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty —which was caught in the path of Hurricane Sandy with sixteen aboard
On Thursday, October 25, 2012, Captain Robin Walbridge made the fateful decision to sail Bounty from New London, Connecticut, to St. Petersburg, Florida. Walbridge was well aware that a hurricane was forecast to travel north from the Caribbean toward the eastern seaboard. Yet the captain was determined to sail. As he explained to his crew of a ship is always safer at sea than in port. He intended to sail “around the hurricane” and told the crew that anyone who did not want to come on the voyage could leave the ship—there would be no hard feelings. As fate would have it, no one took the captain up on his offer.
Four days into the voyage, Superstorm Sandy made an almost direct hit on Bounty. The vessel’s failing pumps could not keep up with the incoming water. The ship began to lose power as it was beaten and rocked by hurricane winds that spanned eight hundred miles. A few hours later, in the dark of night, the ship suddenly overturned ninety miles off the North Carolina coast in the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” sending the crew tumbling into an ocean filled with towering thirty-foot waves. The coast guard then launched one of the most complex and massive rescues in its history, flying two Jayhawk helicopter crews into the hurricane and lowering rescue swimmers into the raging seas again and again, despite the danger to their own lives.
In the uproar heard across American media in the days following, a single question Why did the captain decide to sail? Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the crew members, their families, and the coast guard, the masterful duo of Michael J. Tougias and Douglas A. Campbell creates an in-depth portrait of the enigmatic Captain Walbridge, his motivations, and what truly occurred aboard Bounty during those terrifying days at sea.
Dripping with suspense and vivid high-stakes drama, Rescue of the Bounty is an unforgettable tale about the brutality of nature and the human will to survive.
The harrowing story of the sinking and rescue of Bounty—the tall ship used in the classic 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty —which was caught in the path of Hurricane Sandy with sixteen aboard
On Thursday, October 25, 2012, Captain Robin Walbridge made the fateful decision to sail Bounty from New London, Connecticut, to St. Petersburg, Florida. Walbridge was well aware that a hurricane was forecast to travel north from the Caribbean toward the eastern seaboard. Yet the captain was determined to sail. As he explained to his crew of a ship is always safer at sea than in port. He intended to sail “around the hurricane” and told the crew that anyone who did not want to come on the voyage could leave the ship—there would be no hard feelings. As fate would have it, no one took the captain up on his offer.
Four days into the voyage, Superstorm Sandy made an almost direct hit on Bounty. The vessel’s failing pumps could not keep up with the incoming water. The ship began to lose power as it was beaten and rocked by hurricane winds that spanned eight hundred miles. A few hours later, in the dark of night, the ship suddenly overturned ninety miles off the North Carolina coast in the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” sending the crew tumbling into an ocean filled with towering thirty-foot waves. The coast guard then launched one of the most complex and massive rescues in its history, flying two Jayhawk helicopter crews into the hurricane and lowering rescue swimmers into the raging seas again and again, despite the danger to their own lives.
In the uproar heard across American media in the days following, a single question Why did the captain decide to sail? Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the crew members, their families, and the coast guard, the masterful duo of Michael J. Tougias and Douglas A. Campbell creates an in-depth portrait of the enigmatic Captain Walbridge, his motivations, and what truly occurred aboard Bounty during those terrifying days at sea.
Dripping with suspense and vivid high-stakes drama, Rescue of the Bounty is an unforgettable tale about the brutality of nature and the human will to survive.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
32 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Michael J. Tougias
69 books158 followersAdventure is the theme that runs through most of my books, from outdoors titles (The Connecticut River from Source to Sea, Exploring the Hidden Charles) to fiction (Until I Have No Country) to nonfiction sea rescues (Overboard! A Storm Too Soon, Rescue of the Bounty).
One of my current adventures is waiting to see if Disney will begin filming a movie-length version of the Coast Guard rescue book The Finest Hours. Another adventure for me is publishing a funny family memoir with my daughter, called The Cringe Chronicles (Mortifying Misadventures with my Dad).
My friends have been asking if I'll write a sequel to There's a Porcupine in my Outhouse (2003 Outdoor Book of the Year) but I think they just want me to revise their characters so they don't look so dumb!
One of my current adventures is waiting to see if Disney will begin filming a movie-length version of the Coast Guard rescue book The Finest Hours. Another adventure for me is publishing a funny family memoir with my daughter, called The Cringe Chronicles (Mortifying Misadventures with my Dad).
My friends have been asking if I'll write a sequel to There's a Porcupine in my Outhouse (2003 Outdoor Book of the Year) but I think they just want me to revise their characters so they don't look so dumb!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 7, 2018
I'm devouring these sea disaster books by Michael Tougias. He's a good writer; his nonfiction reads like good fiction, and he really does his research. He elucidates people's characters, provides credible detail, paints scenes, and weaves a plot as well as any novelist would. His description of ships caught up in horrendous storms (almost) makes me fearful of ever setting foot on a boat again. (Oh wait, I just booked a cruise for my vacation next year!) This particular book revolves around the tall ship Bounty, which was built as a replica of the original Bounty of Fletcher Christian/Captain Bligh fame/infamy. The captain of the ship, who had a wonderful reputation as a sailor and teacher, for some reason (it made sense to him at the time) chose to sail the Bounty, with its crew of sixteen, into the heart of the storm that we now know as Hurricane Sandy. The heroics of the Coast Guard flyers and "swimmers" who saved almost all of the crew are astonishing: flying a massive C130 as well as 4 helicopters into that hurricane to save lives...when they themselves could easily have been lost. This book is a fascinating read.
December 15, 2014
During Hurricane Sandy, I remember hearing about the Bounty being out in the middle of the storm. And thinking, "What was that ship doing THERE?????"
Now I know. The captain's idea was to get out of the storm's path, thinking the boat was likely to suffer serious damage if it were caught at the dock. If the hurricane was something like normal, the plan might have worked. But Sandy was so huge, to an unprecedented and unexpected degree, that the Bounty never stood a chance.
Now, it is obvious that it was not a good plan to sail toward Sandy. But that is after the fact. The captain was highly qualified, and he made what ended up being a bad decision based on things he did not know. He certainly had no intentions to sail directly into Sandy's path; he had planned to skirt around it, instead.
A big part of the problem was the condition of the Bounty's equipment, with pumps that were not in good working condition. The Bounty leaked so much that the ability to pump out water was crucial, and this was not functioning to anywhere near an acceptable level. Big, huge, serious problem. Compounded by the structural integrity of the ship, which had been constructed as a movie prop rather than as a commercial, ocean going vessel. Maintaining any ship is very expensive, especially the tall masted Bounty, and her obvious status as a white elephant made for severe difficulties in paying for proper maintenance. It is no wonder she was not in good condition; the miracle is that she was still in service anywhere, that she ever left port even in calm seas.
Had the pumps been working well, maybe the Bounty would have survived. Or maybe not. Either way, it was the loss of two lives and a classic ship.
Now I know. The captain's idea was to get out of the storm's path, thinking the boat was likely to suffer serious damage if it were caught at the dock. If the hurricane was something like normal, the plan might have worked. But Sandy was so huge, to an unprecedented and unexpected degree, that the Bounty never stood a chance.
Now, it is obvious that it was not a good plan to sail toward Sandy. But that is after the fact. The captain was highly qualified, and he made what ended up being a bad decision based on things he did not know. He certainly had no intentions to sail directly into Sandy's path; he had planned to skirt around it, instead.
A big part of the problem was the condition of the Bounty's equipment, with pumps that were not in good working condition. The Bounty leaked so much that the ability to pump out water was crucial, and this was not functioning to anywhere near an acceptable level. Big, huge, serious problem. Compounded by the structural integrity of the ship, which had been constructed as a movie prop rather than as a commercial, ocean going vessel. Maintaining any ship is very expensive, especially the tall masted Bounty, and her obvious status as a white elephant made for severe difficulties in paying for proper maintenance. It is no wonder she was not in good condition; the miracle is that she was still in service anywhere, that she ever left port even in calm seas.
Had the pumps been working well, maybe the Bounty would have survived. Or maybe not. Either way, it was the loss of two lives and a classic ship.
January 16, 2023
A good story about the hard working crew of the Bounty, a ship created for the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty.
Not much to say about this one except those folks were in the wrong place and wrong time and nearly paid the price.
If you enjoy books about the sea and ship life I’d recommend it.
Not much to say about this one except those folks were in the wrong place and wrong time and nearly paid the price.
If you enjoy books about the sea and ship life I’d recommend it.
November 10, 2021
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a well-researched account that highlighted the actions, inactions, and conditions that sealed the fate of the Bounty and changed the lives of her crew. A great deal of history about the ship and her captain was also included, providing an even greater understanding of both the Bounty and Robin Walbridge. As engaging as it was, however, there were a couple of things that prevented me from rating it higher.
I don't usually like it when authors provide a list of characters at the beginning of a book, but I feel that this one would have benefitted from one. There were so many people involved that it was very difficult to keep them all straight. A few crew members were mentioned often enough to become recognizable, but many others were not. There was even one person who was referred to by his surname in the beginning, and by his given name near the end and it took me a few minutes to figure out who he was. There were also people who were not on board who were mentioned, and I lost track of several of those individuals and their roles in events. I often caught myself flipping back to try and refresh my memory about someone, which drew me away from the book and made it less enjoyable to read.
The other frustrating thing about this book is the order in which it is written. If it were a fiction novel, I would say that the authors had developed the terrible habit of using flashbacks in an attempt to add to the suspense, but only succeeded in drawing the reader out of the action, slowing down the plot and making it less enjoyable. Every bit of information that was included was interesting and relevant to the book, but when you start a chapter expecting to see how the ship and crew were managing in the storm only to find yourself reading an account from the captain's childhood, it gets kind of tedious. I felt it would have been preferable if events were presented in the order in which they occurred, rather than repeatedly interrupting the account of the Bounty's final struggles with information about things that had happened many years prior.
I knew how this book would end from the beginning, but that did not detract from the account in the least. There were a lot of edge-of-your-seat moments, and at times, I had trouble putting it down. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to read about survival and heroism through natural disasters, and to fans of maritime history.
I don't usually like it when authors provide a list of characters at the beginning of a book, but I feel that this one would have benefitted from one. There were so many people involved that it was very difficult to keep them all straight. A few crew members were mentioned often enough to become recognizable, but many others were not. There was even one person who was referred to by his surname in the beginning, and by his given name near the end and it took me a few minutes to figure out who he was. There were also people who were not on board who were mentioned, and I lost track of several of those individuals and their roles in events. I often caught myself flipping back to try and refresh my memory about someone, which drew me away from the book and made it less enjoyable to read.
The other frustrating thing about this book is the order in which it is written. If it were a fiction novel, I would say that the authors had developed the terrible habit of using flashbacks in an attempt to add to the suspense, but only succeeded in drawing the reader out of the action, slowing down the plot and making it less enjoyable. Every bit of information that was included was interesting and relevant to the book, but when you start a chapter expecting to see how the ship and crew were managing in the storm only to find yourself reading an account from the captain's childhood, it gets kind of tedious. I felt it would have been preferable if events were presented in the order in which they occurred, rather than repeatedly interrupting the account of the Bounty's final struggles with information about things that had happened many years prior.
I knew how this book would end from the beginning, but that did not detract from the account in the least. There were a lot of edge-of-your-seat moments, and at times, I had trouble putting it down. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to read about survival and heroism through natural disasters, and to fans of maritime history.
August 9, 2024
Made my top-20 shelf. Admittedly, some of my love for the book is tied to my own trip on the Bounty in 1998. But even apart from that, this would still have garnered 5-stars with me. This author is a tremendous writer, and the book held me rapt. I had no idea what the crew had to go through as they sought to save the ship, and the grievous injuries that some received as a result. The descriptions of the sea state as the hurricane approached and the Coast Guard sought to rescue the survivors were vivid. And the author did a great job in a relatively short book of humanizing all of the sailors and rescue personnel with short bios of most.
In January 1998 some family members and I boarded the Bounty at The Landing in Jacksonville and paid to be part of the crew on its trip to Miami (on its way to St. Petersburg, FL). Afterwards, the ship was always known to us as the Ship of Fools.
We and the other paying customers were taken around the ship in small groups for a tour of our duties to accomplish during our assigned watches. Problem is, none of us got the same training. On my watch, we got berated for letting the Zodiac (inflatable boat) on the main deck deflate. That’s because the kid that took me and some of the others on the tour of our duties neglected to tell us that we had to check the Zodiac every watch to make sure it wasn’t losing air too much, you know, because it had a hole in it. Yes, that’s right, a critical piece of the Bounty’s equipment in the event of having to abandon ship had a hole in it.
One night another family member got yelled at for not noticing that one of the Bounty’s running lights extinguished. Again, the family member was never told that that was something to look out for, causing us to nearly be run down by another ship in the middle of the night.
On another occasion massive amounts of diesel fuel overflowed onto the weather deck.
Oh, and the pumps to keep the boat from taking on too much water—what ultimately led to the loss of the Bounty—were deficient even then, 15 years before the sinking.
Ultimately, I’m grateful for getting to sail and work on a tall ship, but the warning signs were there, even then. Captain Wallbridge was the only crew member during Hurricane Sandy that was there with us back in 1998: the lowest common denominator.
In January 1998 some family members and I boarded the Bounty at The Landing in Jacksonville and paid to be part of the crew on its trip to Miami (on its way to St. Petersburg, FL). Afterwards, the ship was always known to us as the Ship of Fools.
We and the other paying customers were taken around the ship in small groups for a tour of our duties to accomplish during our assigned watches. Problem is, none of us got the same training. On my watch, we got berated for letting the Zodiac (inflatable boat) on the main deck deflate. That’s because the kid that took me and some of the others on the tour of our duties neglected to tell us that we had to check the Zodiac every watch to make sure it wasn’t losing air too much, you know, because it had a hole in it. Yes, that’s right, a critical piece of the Bounty’s equipment in the event of having to abandon ship had a hole in it.
One night another family member got yelled at for not noticing that one of the Bounty’s running lights extinguished. Again, the family member was never told that that was something to look out for, causing us to nearly be run down by another ship in the middle of the night.
On another occasion massive amounts of diesel fuel overflowed onto the weather deck.
Oh, and the pumps to keep the boat from taking on too much water—what ultimately led to the loss of the Bounty—were deficient even then, 15 years before the sinking.
Ultimately, I’m grateful for getting to sail and work on a tall ship, but the warning signs were there, even then. Captain Wallbridge was the only crew member during Hurricane Sandy that was there with us back in 1998: the lowest common denominator.
September 23, 2021
Fascinating true story of the ship Bounty, built by MGM in the early 1960s as a replica of the Bounty of mutiny fame in order to film the famous story. The tall ship met an untimely end during hurricane Sandy that played out on national television.
The authors do an admirable job of describing the background of the ship and its final voyage's 16-member crew; they presented just the right amount of detail with the single exception of far too little detail on Captain Robin Walbridge's wife.
The author's writing in the second section, on the fateful decision to try to sail around Sandy, the ship's foundering and sinking is lively, colorful and descriptive keeping a reader (or listener in this case) captivated by the increasing peril the crew faced and then the terror of being summarily dumped into 4o-foot waves by a too-late decision to abandon ship.
Similarly, the third section describing the rescue of most of the ship's company is full of hair-raising prose on the dangers of hours-long flight in and through the edges of a hurricane and the amazing courage of Coast Guard rescue swimmers who willingly enter 40-foot seas in 40 knot winds in order to extract a crew in mortal danger.
Thank God America still has men and women willing to do these tasks. Few other nations do.
This survival / rescue genre is particularly suited to audio books. Rescue of the Bounty was a great example of that fit.
The authors do an admirable job of describing the background of the ship and its final voyage's 16-member crew; they presented just the right amount of detail with the single exception of far too little detail on Captain Robin Walbridge's wife.
The author's writing in the second section, on the fateful decision to try to sail around Sandy, the ship's foundering and sinking is lively, colorful and descriptive keeping a reader (or listener in this case) captivated by the increasing peril the crew faced and then the terror of being summarily dumped into 4o-foot waves by a too-late decision to abandon ship.
Similarly, the third section describing the rescue of most of the ship's company is full of hair-raising prose on the dangers of hours-long flight in and through the edges of a hurricane and the amazing courage of Coast Guard rescue swimmers who willingly enter 40-foot seas in 40 knot winds in order to extract a crew in mortal danger.
Thank God America still has men and women willing to do these tasks. Few other nations do.
This survival / rescue genre is particularly suited to audio books. Rescue of the Bounty was a great example of that fit.
October 2, 2018
Brisk, enjoyable read about a tragic loss that needn't have happened. Authors Tougias and Campbell paint a more nuanced picture of the Bounty's officers and crew than media reports of the day. While the captain's reasons for sailing into the teeth of such a horrific storm can never be known, this book does a serviceable job of fleshing out the personalities and shipboard routines leading up to that fateful event.
The skill and heroism of the USCG aircrews sent out to rescue them is covered as well, and if anything, is perhaps a little underplayed.
Some background knowledge of nautical and sailing jargon is beneficial, as the authors are not always at pains to explain the terms they use.
The skill and heroism of the USCG aircrews sent out to rescue them is covered as well, and if anything, is perhaps a little underplayed.
Some background knowledge of nautical and sailing jargon is beneficial, as the authors are not always at pains to explain the terms they use.
June 10, 2019
The most haunting quote: "In the end, the pump problem was ignored." The historic replica of the sailing ship HMS Bounty was sunk during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Despite many warnings, the captain chose to sail the ship toward the storm in an attempt to make it to a southern port for the winter. The ship would most likely have weathered the storm but the seeming less threatening warning of faulty pumps was ignored. This is a true story of faulty human wisdom and pride and the resulting heroic rescue by the Coast Guard. A quick read.
March 14, 2019
I wanted to like this book, but I can't help but think it was a tale of two authors not on the same page. The storyline has too much backstory dropped in between progress of the read itself. To right this vessel, cut out all the incidental sidelines of the characters that had no effect on the outcome. There were just too many wake zones slowing this ship down. I eventually had to sink it prematurely, fortunately, I knew how the story ended.
June 3, 2025
Fascinating story and well narrated. I was also struck by the poor judgment and lack of ability to take and process feedback on the part of the late Captain Robin Walbridge. True enough that it’s easier to judge in hindsight but the findings of the Coast Guard do match what readers can plainly see: the ship sank because Robin Walbridge decided against the advice of his own crew to sail Bounty into a hurricane.
April 24, 2018
A very good story about a tragic event. I wasn't able to give this 5 stars, due to the extensive history on various crew members of the Bounty. Much of it could have been shortened. For that reason, I couldn't quite give it 5, unlike other books by Michael J. Tougias I've read. Once the history was dealt with, I felt more engaged with the subjects of the story.
November 10, 2017
This author does such a wonderful job of drawing the reader in that I felt as though I was there, in the water, swimming, rescuing, surviving. And again, my respect and awe for the Coast Guard continues. The men and women who serve are nothing short of heroes.
October 30, 2020
A well written non-fiction account of the HMS Bounty tall ship history and the decision to continue sailing to their destination even though Hurricane Sandy was coming up the coast. It thoroughly covers the recovery of the crew.
September 19, 2023
The Coast Guard’s finest
Tough and Campbell describe the most dangerous rescue at sea by the CG. The reader gets caught up in this rescue from start to finish. So glad we have dedicated servicemen and women that put their lives on the line for their fellow man. They are true heroes.
Tough and Campbell describe the most dangerous rescue at sea by the CG. The reader gets caught up in this rescue from start to finish. So glad we have dedicated servicemen and women that put their lives on the line for their fellow man. They are true heroes.
March 9, 2025
Not my usual nonfiction but was a great book! Heroism to those that survived the Bounty sinking and to the two that didn’t survive and also the courage of the Coast Guard. Great retelling and biography of the rescuers and those on ship.
October 8, 2021
Harrowing rescue mission for all involved. Well written.
November 17, 2022
Amazing Story!
March 22, 2024
Excellent book, tragic story. I remember the Bounty coming into a nearby Harbor just a few weeks before it was lost in Superstorm Sandy.
July 11, 2024
The harrowing story of the sinking and rescue of the HMS Bounty after the captain decided to sail into the path of Hurricane Sandy.
December 10, 2021
Not my first Micheal Tougias book. And honestly, they all read the same ways. It’s great. He has an uncanny ability of writing nonfiction in a way that reads like fiction.
January 31, 2022
Another great sea tale of a ship caught in a storm and the daring Coast Guard rescue. This one is an enlarged version of the HMS Bounty, used in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and for all manor of tourist functions the foolish Captain takes his partially volunteer crew out to sea as Hurricane Sandy is approaching. No one else is stupid enough to be out there and the darn wooden ship starts leaking pretty bad and the pumps aren’t working. Oops… Well narrated and Mr Tougias has gotten pretty good at spinning these sea rescue tales 3.75****
February 23, 2017
Reviewed by Eric Heimbuch
In 2012, I had the opportunity to drive across country in route to my new duty station, located in Portsmouth, NH. I had to make a stop on the way in New London, CT, and as it happened, I was also chasing the last remnants of Superstorm Sandy. I got to see first hand some of the destruction that this storm put down on the east coast of the US, and it was awesome.
You can read this entire review and others like it at San Diego Book Review.
In 2012, I had the opportunity to drive across country in route to my new duty station, located in Portsmouth, NH. I had to make a stop on the way in New London, CT, and as it happened, I was also chasing the last remnants of Superstorm Sandy. I got to see first hand some of the destruction that this storm put down on the east coast of the US, and it was awesome.
You can read this entire review and others like it at San Diego Book Review.
July 3, 2014
I remember as we were preparing for Sandy ourselves watching this ship flounder in the waves on TV and thinking even then, how could this have happened? I was surprised to see this at the library and grabbed it right up. The book sucked me in but at the same time there was that feeling as you read about the Captain and his life you knew that this was going to end badly and that's all that's going to be remembered. As I read I wondered if there was more to the sinking then over confidence in the ship and it's condition and underestimating the storm, but by the end I never got away from that. The book was a page turner that sucked me in and made me forget the other things I had to do this afternoon until I finished it. On the all in all the main feeling I came away with was sadness, that this shouldn't have happened.
June 17, 2015
This is exactly what I expect from Michael Tougias!!.....A cohesive, informational disaster at sea that reads like a novel! As in his other books, I found myself unconsciously holding my breath from one paragraph to the next, feeling like I was 'there', witnessing firsthand the efforts to locate and rescue the Bounty and its crew. Other reviews can summarize the story. My review is to express that the book is an amazing, honest tribute to the Bounty's Captain and crew, as well as to the courageous, skilled professionals who risked their lives in the rescue. I am again captivated by Tougias's writing. I recommend this book!!
February 13, 2016
Actually, I was disappointed in this book. Why? Both writers are experienced and superb reporters. However, as you go through this short book, it becomes pretty clear they relied primarily on publicly available information. I found little in depth interviews with crew members or even foundation members. Reporters of this caliber should have been able to accomplish this.
Ultimately, reading Rescue is like watching a tragedy happen that never should have happened. Bounty should not have left the dock. Period. Yes, blame the captain but also blame the Bounty foundation which enabled the Bounty to toss its lines and head out to sea.
Ultimately, reading Rescue is like watching a tragedy happen that never should have happened. Bounty should not have left the dock. Period. Yes, blame the captain but also blame the Bounty foundation which enabled the Bounty to toss its lines and head out to sea.
April 17, 2014
Another great rescue at sea story from Michael Tougias, this time coauthored with Doug Campbell. The two writers try to get into the ship captain's head by dissecting his background and his personality: was he overconfident in his abilities when he decided to try sailing "around" one of the largest recorded hurricanes? The result is a compelling read that says a lot about decision making and unquestioned loyalty. It's also another great (exciting) salute to the skills of US Coast Guard, who monitored the ship's sinking and plucked survivors from the ocean in hurricane conditions.
July 21, 2014
This book was fascinating and I read it in 12 hours. Since I have sailed on a 3 masted ship, I was interested in what led up to the sinking of the ship. The author was detail oriented and also wrote about the crew in a way that was interesting. At times there was a lot of jumping between past and present, but overall a very concise book that starts from the days leading up to the sailing through the entire rescue process.
August 13, 2016
I saw the author speak at a book fair and he did a wonderful job telling the story and in Annapolis sailing stories are always compelling. But his writing was not nearly as good as his presentation. Or perhaps he had a really poor editor. 20 pages of backstory on each crew member, completely unnecessary. And switching back and forth between the captain's other voyages made the flow of the story very sloppy.
July 18, 2014
Great book on the rescue of the crew of the Bounty. As usual i came away with the utmost admiration for the flight crews and especially the Swimmers who go into the water and save peoples lives. The book takes us through the various crew members and especially the Captain showing how little problems can manifest until it is really dangerous for everyone. Very good read.
November 21, 2014
I have enjoyed all of Michael Tougias' naval disaster books, and this is no exception. He balances the level of background of the sailors with the action sequences of their rescue very well. As a sailor, I feel like I learn something from every one of his books I read and here I found out that my knowledge of the fatalities was actually incorrect.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews