An Ocean to Cross: Daring the Atlantic, Claiming a New Life

by Liz Fordred

"A spirited story of adventure. . . . Highly inspiring."--Kirkus, starred review It was an extraordinary dream fueled by hope and courage. Liz Fordred and her husband, Pete, both paralyzed and with no sailing experience, made the unlikely decision to build a boat, haul it 1,200 miles to the coast, and set sail alone to see the world. Their plan seemed impossible, the obstacles insurmountable. They had only time, the gift of laughter, an unstoppable resolve, and each other. After years of labor, their struggle to reclaim lives of purpose and adventure--lives lived without limits--launched them into the vast Atlantic. They had the whole world before them--and somewhere in it a new home and a new life were waiting to be claimed . . . Life is about how you respond to not only the challenges you're dealt but the challenges you seek. . . . If you have no goals, no mountains to climb, your soul dies."--Liz Fordred

Genres: Biography

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Glenys Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe a film should be made about this story. I have read this book 3 times now and it give you encouragement to get on with your life.
Such a brave thing to do when you are fit and well but to overcome their issues its amazing.
Wonderful people.

[Esther Dushinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written very simply, sharing facts with very small glimpses of the emotional aspect of her experience. The story is fascinating. I just wish the writer would have shared more details into her inner world and less details about the boat and the technicalities on their journeys.

[Sil Azevedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the amazing true story of a paraplegic couple from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), a landlocked state in Southern Africa, who decided to build a sailboat and cross the Atlantic, without any previous experience. The challenges they faced, the improbability of their success, and their ultimate triumph are the stuff of legend. Because the story is so incredible, I wish it were better written. At times the narrative gets very technical, by virtue of the nature of the enterprise, for sure, but still, I would like a little more poetics into the narrative. Little things like the over use of contractions (“I’d” for I would, I could, I had, for instance) bothered me a bit. The incredible thing is that despite this I could not stop till I reached the end, together with Liz and Pete as they reached their final destination across the Atlantic. What a journey.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So impressive and inspiring, and the author is hilarious.

[LN · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10, this was an interesting memoir but now that I look back at it it was quite simple but effective and the main character, Liz Fordred, really shined in this book. Despite being paralysed Liz just embarked on her greatest adventure yet by building her own boat along with her husband which she names Usikusiku. The first half of the memoir talks about actually building the boat and trying to get it to a port where she can start her journey and the second half actually described the journey itself which other than a few issues on the boat itself it was quite tranquil and placid, I think the main purpose of the journey is just to escape her own country to find a hopefully new better country which she liked and she also reflects on all the ableism she faced ever since the accident which showed how resilient she was which I liked. In the end there was a section where she describes her new life in the United States of America and I thought all the pictures within this book were a nice touch and made the book a bit more engaging. If you like an interesting and obscure memoir this is the book for you.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever say, -I'm not young enough, or healthy enough, or in-shape enough, or whatever enough-, to go sailing, read this book.

[Lorraine Sulick-Morecraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story of determination & fortitude. Overcame more obstacles in South African bureaucracy than their disabilities to sail across the Atlantic in a boat they built.