Seraffyn's Mediterranean Adventure

by Lin Pardey, Larry Pardey

Lin and Larry Pardey s first book, Cruising in Seraffyn is credited with launching 50,000 dreams. This third book in the Seraffyn series chronicles the three years spent exploring Ulysses wine-colored sea and clearly illustrates how they kept that dream afloat. Lin and Larry meander under sail, eastward from the rocky monolith of Gibraltar to the imposing stone ramparts of Malta. Along the way they share stories of the kaleidoscope of people who filled their days, from the naval officers who joined them for day races to the officials who helped turn them into smugglers (not drugs but a boat full of yeast, flour and vegetables and eventually twenty dollars worth of noodles!) But it is not just the shore side stories that will keep you intrigued, just as compelling are the clear concise descriptions of the days and nights they spent at sea. Lin s warm hearted story telling will draw you into her cruising life and show you the secrets that kept this well known couple wandering the watery reaches of the world for more than 40 years. Lin and Larry paid for their apparent freedom by working along the way delivering and repairing yachts, writing for magazines around the world. Seraffyn s Mediterranean Adventure, originally published in 1981, will inspire and entertain readers and show why the Pardey s motto Go Small, Go Simple, Go Now may be more relevant today than it was 30 years ago.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1981

About the author

Lin Pardey (aka Mary Lin Pardey) is famous internationally for her expertise and experience in small boat sailing. Together with her husband Larry Pardey she has been sailing and writing for many years.

Lin's (& Larry's) sailing records speak for themselves:
Smallest boat to have circumnavigated contrary to the prevailing winds around all the great southern capes

Only couple to have circumnavigated both east-about and west about on boats they built them selves, using traditional means of navigation and having no engine.

Their awards tell about their dedication to the world and spirit of ocean cruising:

Ocean Cruising Club Award - for contributions to Seamanship for small boat sailing. Presented to Lin Pardey 1996.

Geoff Pac Memorial Award- to both Lin and Larry for fostering and encouraging ocean cruising in small yachts

Cruising World Hall of Fame-2000
Ocean Cruising Club Merit Award -To Lin and Larry for inspiring voyages including a west-about rounding of Cape Horn

Seven Seas Cruising Club Service Award - To Lin and Larry for their lifetime voyaging achievements 2004

Cruising Club of America Far Horizons Award – To Lin and Larry for life time achievements and contributions to seamanship 2009

Sail Magazines Top 40 Sailors who made a Difference – 2010 – As America’s first couple fo cruising, Lin and Larry have inspired countless sailors.


Lin and Larry currently make their home port in New Zealand.

Reviews

[Mrs Olga A Danes-Volkov]

What is there to say!

Anyone interested at all in sailing will know the legendary names of Lin and Larry Pardey who travelled thousands of miles first in the 24ft Seraffyn, the boat in this book and later in the slightly larger Taliesin. Both of these wooden cutters were built painstakingly by Larry.

The subject is in the title of this book and delightfully describes their sailing in the Mediterranean in the 70s. Sadly a search on Google of the various towns and villages they moor up alongside reveals just how much change there has been since this book was written. Consequently it's better just to read about things as they were. As they never had an engine, they dazzle with the ease with which they sail into harbours where lesser mortals just turn on their engines. A lovely book.

[Kelly]

This book is written in the same style as the first two books. They touch on some of the people and cultures that they visit. They focus more on the actual aspect of live aboard sailing. If you aren't familiar with the terminology of sailing, some of the jargon can be hard to follow. Still a pleasant enough read.

[John Posnett]

So far this has been a brilliant book. Not just a diary of events or "how to" book, but grippingly narrated story of a fantastic sounding adventure through the Mediterranean.