Then We Sailed Away

by John Ridgway, Marie Christine Ridgway, Rebecca Ridgway

In October 1993 the Ridgways closed their school of adventure and left their croft on the west coast of Scotland to embark on an 18-month adventure voyage to the Pacific and back in their yacht, the "English Rose VI". This is the story of one family's dream to "get away from it all". It tells how John Ridgway, his wife Marie Christine, their daughter Rebecca and their adopted Quechua Indian daughter Elizabeth decided to weather violent storms, tempestuous arguments and everyday domestic life against a backdrop of not-so-ordinary locations: an Atlantic crossing; the Caribbean; the Panama Canal; the South Sea Islands; South America (including a trip to Peru where Elizabeth has a moving reunion with her family); and Antactica.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 24, 1996

Reviews

[Tifnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. My husband originally read this book (unfortunately) and passed it on to me to read. I say unfortunately because it is a romantic dream of mine to sail. My Dad and I sailed during the summer on lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin and though it paled in comparison to this book, it is still treasured memories.

Then We Sailed Away is about The Ridgway Family (John, Marie Christine, Rebecca and Elizabeth) who from Scotland set out on an 18 month journey from Scotland to Antarctica. Often it was a laugh out loud book, other times it was an unbelievable story but mostly it was a wonderful recount of their time spent on their 57' simplistic yacht, English Rose IV. I marveled at the creativity the family displayed in not only cooking but managing the tight quarters with anywhere from 4 to 14 people on board. Often they would start out with a certain crew and then drop off and pick up a couple more. At times they carried friends who wished to share the experience for a short amount of time and other times it was a true sailing friend who added valuable experience.

John Ridgway told the story but also included recounts from his wife, Marie Christine and his oldest daughter, Rebecca so it was wonderful to read the tale from different points of view and at times a more realistic point of view.

After reading this book I still want to set out and sail but my husband, not so much.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kniha vznikla pravděpodobně podle zápisů v deníku a je to znát. Těžko říct, jestli je špatný jen překlad, ale mám tušení, že by redakční úpravu ze zápisků do souvislého vyprávění potřeboval i původní text.