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When The Ship Hits The Fan
Captain Rob Anderson spills the beans on a lifetime of incidents, accidents and shenanigans of every type, in every ocean of the world, during an era when the seas were largely unregulated and more like the Wild West than anything witnessed on land.
Since he first went to sea at 15 Captain Rob has been a magnet for trouble but, somewhat preposterously, as matter, he has more often been the one responsible for keeping each enterprise afloat and picking up the pieces when the ships hit the fan.
Whether it’s stashing a headless body in the freezer, losing another body before a sea burial, accidentally sabotaging the annual Roebuck Bay Hotel Race in Broome, nearly losing his scrotum in a Japanese spa, or catapulting a mate off the roof of his truck when racing from the dock for last orders…it was all part of the job for Captain Rob. No wonder, when it eventually came time to ‘swallow the anchor’ he got as far inland as he practically could!
Since he first went to sea at 15 Captain Rob has been a magnet for trouble but, somewhat preposterously, as matter, he has more often been the one responsible for keeping each enterprise afloat and picking up the pieces when the ships hit the fan.
Whether it’s stashing a headless body in the freezer, losing another body before a sea burial, accidentally sabotaging the annual Roebuck Bay Hotel Race in Broome, nearly losing his scrotum in a Japanese spa, or catapulting a mate off the roof of his truck when racing from the dock for last orders…it was all part of the job for Captain Rob. No wonder, when it eventually came time to ‘swallow the anchor’ he got as far inland as he practically could!
- GenresNonfictionMaritime
288 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2020
8 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Rob Anderson
1 bookABOUT CAPTAIN ROB
From his early days as a deck boy prowling the waters of the world, on ships of dubious safety and cleanliness, he worked his way up to Captain by 29 years old. Captain Rob has always attracted trouble and adventure!
Rob was away at sea for stints of 6 months or more at a time. During this he used to write and draw picture books of his travels for his two young daughters.
"When the Ship Hits the Fan" is his first book of short stories released in July 2020 and this is just a short sample of the fun and shenanigans he has enjoyed in a long, salty sea career.
While he has "swallowed the anchor", Rob enjoys a semi-quiet life with a bunch of high performance motorcycles on a farm in Victoria surrounded by rolling hills, wildlife, menagerie of animals and a variety of broken down racecars.
He lists his occupation now as "stunt man".
From his early days as a deck boy prowling the waters of the world, on ships of dubious safety and cleanliness, he worked his way up to Captain by 29 years old. Captain Rob has always attracted trouble and adventure!
Rob was away at sea for stints of 6 months or more at a time. During this he used to write and draw picture books of his travels for his two young daughters.
"When the Ship Hits the Fan" is his first book of short stories released in July 2020 and this is just a short sample of the fun and shenanigans he has enjoyed in a long, salty sea career.
While he has "swallowed the anchor", Rob enjoys a semi-quiet life with a bunch of high performance motorcycles on a farm in Victoria surrounded by rolling hills, wildlife, menagerie of animals and a variety of broken down racecars.
He lists his occupation now as "stunt man".
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 22, 2021
Over the last 45 years, Robie and I sailed together and crossed paths on many occasions. His book is an understatement of what really happened! I assume for censorship, politeness and legal reasons many events have been left out...! I have enough stories about him to fill a book! He is truely one of the great rogues of our time. Like all rogues, under pinning everything he did was a huge depth of experience and commitment to getting the job done and quality seamanship.
December 25, 2020
A good story of a world at Sea
Bob is telling a good story and obviously had an interesting life at Sea in many ships. But I do feel some of your experiences have been embellished quite a bit. However, as an 30 + year experienced Master of an "anchor clanker" myself, amongst other assignments at Sea, I had a few good chuckles as some of it brought memories back of similar nature, albeit less dramatic, that were long buried.
Bob is telling a good story and obviously had an interesting life at Sea in many ships. But I do feel some of your experiences have been embellished quite a bit. However, as an 30 + year experienced Master of an "anchor clanker" myself, amongst other assignments at Sea, I had a few good chuckles as some of it brought memories back of similar nature, albeit less dramatic, that were long buried.
September 5, 2020
4.5 stars
When the Ship Hits the Fan is a fantastic read of short stories reliving the adventures; good, bad and otherwise, of Captain Rob Anderson’s life at sea.
Filled with rip roaring yarns, many of which will have you laughing out loud; it details Anderson’s time on a wide variety of ships, which he worked on and captained all over the world. Each of the stories are short in length, making this an easy book to pick up and put down or to read in one sitting as I did. I loved all the stories and the crazy characters, close calls, gob smacking events and heartfelt moments that they featured. I also liked the underlying theme of how Anderson takes the reader through the changes to shipping industry over the decades; from when he first went to sea at age fifteen to the current day when big companies have people that have never been on a ship on their life dictate to captains about how to run their ships.
I really enjoyed When the Ship Hits the Fan. It has something for everyone and I think you’d be hard pressed not to enjoy it. However, if you like author Paul Carter, have an interest in ships, or like the memoir genre, then you’ll love it. I highly recommend this new release and highly recommend that you enjoy it with a cold one!
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
When the Ship Hits the Fan is a fantastic read of short stories reliving the adventures; good, bad and otherwise, of Captain Rob Anderson’s life at sea.
Filled with rip roaring yarns, many of which will have you laughing out loud; it details Anderson’s time on a wide variety of ships, which he worked on and captained all over the world. Each of the stories are short in length, making this an easy book to pick up and put down or to read in one sitting as I did. I loved all the stories and the crazy characters, close calls, gob smacking events and heartfelt moments that they featured. I also liked the underlying theme of how Anderson takes the reader through the changes to shipping industry over the decades; from when he first went to sea at age fifteen to the current day when big companies have people that have never been on a ship on their life dictate to captains about how to run their ships.
I really enjoyed When the Ship Hits the Fan. It has something for everyone and I think you’d be hard pressed not to enjoy it. However, if you like author Paul Carter, have an interest in ships, or like the memoir genre, then you’ll love it. I highly recommend this new release and highly recommend that you enjoy it with a cold one!
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
July 29, 2021
A really entertaining read as Anderson smacks us with his wit and dry good-humour. Definitely a touch of Aussie larrikinism, the short bursts of story-telling replete with sailor-friendly expletives gave me a few hearty chuckles. As a near-2-decade waterfront worker I had a few flashbacks to my time spent working aboard cargo ships in port, and the many musings about what life at sea must be like for lifelong seafarers (including those whom go missing at sea, and the potential for being trapped in enclosed/confined spaces...answers to these q's to be found in this book). Left me wanting more, but satisfied overall.
June 19, 2022
This book is a collection of anecdotes from an old sailor that I expect will appeal mainly to other old sailors or older workers in similar industries. (Some of the events reminded me of experiences in the mining industry last century.) Many of the stories appear to have grown in the telling and the humour is often of the "poo and spew" or serious bodily injury variety. While it is an interesting insight into life at sea in bygone days it is also often a case of "OMG did people really used to do this?" The three stars is for those few stories that avoid these traps and really have something to contribute.
December 24, 2025
Entertaining book in the mould of all those others like "Don't tell mum I work on the rigs".
Some outrageous stories, bodies being buried at sea by mistake, human bones being found inside water tanks onboard, etc. What an entertaining experience it would be to have a beer with this guy.
Suffers a bit in the actual "telling", there's some clunky writing and it's more anecdotes rather than a coherent story so I can't quite bring myself to give if 5 stars but a strong 4 star is warranted. Not everything needs to be literature. I enjoyed it.
Some outrageous stories, bodies being buried at sea by mistake, human bones being found inside water tanks onboard, etc. What an entertaining experience it would be to have a beer with this guy.
Suffers a bit in the actual "telling", there's some clunky writing and it's more anecdotes rather than a coherent story so I can't quite bring myself to give if 5 stars but a strong 4 star is warranted. Not everything needs to be literature. I enjoyed it.
September 9, 2024
Where to start?
DNF
Why?
The author has a myriad of maritime qualifications & certificates, and it’s a shame that creative writing isn’t among them.
This is a loose collection of tall tales from the sea written from the perspective of an enthusiastic participant. The author, being Australian, is what we’d call a cashed-up bogan. If he were English, he’d be a geezer, innit?
The stories feature stupidity, ignorance, incredulity and terrible writing.
Don’t waste your time
DNF
Why?
The author has a myriad of maritime qualifications & certificates, and it’s a shame that creative writing isn’t among them.
This is a loose collection of tall tales from the sea written from the perspective of an enthusiastic participant. The author, being Australian, is what we’d call a cashed-up bogan. If he were English, he’d be a geezer, innit?
The stories feature stupidity, ignorance, incredulity and terrible writing.
Don’t waste your time
October 4, 2023
Great read!
Tremendous read about life at sea and the strange things that can happen, both afloat and ashore. Even if you don't have any interest in things maritime, you'll bust a gut laughing.
Tremendous read about life at sea and the strange things that can happen, both afloat and ashore. Even if you don't have any interest in things maritime, you'll bust a gut laughing.
October 18, 2023
Dymocks Summer 2023 Challenge - Book with Water on the Cover
An extremely funny book written by Captain Rob, regarding his time on the water.
Glad my workplace is not like this.
Some great stories, and awkward tales.
Well worth a read.
An extremely funny book written by Captain Rob, regarding his time on the water.
Glad my workplace is not like this.
Some great stories, and awkward tales.
Well worth a read.
March 29, 2024
awesome
A fantastic read showing some amazing times in Australia and hearing how it really was. A well written book with so much insight to the industry. I hope there is a book No 2
A fantastic read showing some amazing times in Australia and hearing how it really was. A well written book with so much insight to the industry. I hope there is a book No 2
September 22, 2020
This book was highly entertaining and interesting. You don't need any expertise in the field to read and enjoy it. It is filled with great little short stories that will make you laugh.
December 25, 2020
Loved this!
Great yarns made all the better for knowing how true it all is. Brings back memories of times, places and people. Very real and lovely warm writing
Great yarns made all the better for knowing how true it all is. Brings back memories of times, places and people. Very real and lovely warm writing
January 3, 2021
I bought this for my 18 year old son. It is difficult to find him books. He adored this book. Every time he picked up the book - there was laughter. I also enjoyed it
January 8, 2021
A great read. Short stories from an Australian ship's captain. One of the few books that I have read that makes me laugh out loud.
July 27, 2021
Interesting stories that put you in the moment. Laughed out loud a few times which has to be the sign of a great read!!
October 2, 2021
Good collection of short stories from a man whos made his life on boats. Very raw as well.
January 15, 2022
Entertaining Book
I enjoyed reading the book. It is not always funny but the stories are interesting. Whoever come up with the title should get rewarded.
I enjoyed reading the book. It is not always funny but the stories are interesting. Whoever come up with the title should get rewarded.
February 24, 2024
Easy reading with short stories and had me in stitches at points.
July 17, 2024
3.5 Stars.
September 8, 2025
An easy collection of short stories of Capt Rob’s life at sea from lowly apprentice to ship’s master.
A no-nonsense hilarious account of the crazy things he and the men he lived with at sea got up to. A healthy respect for the rules and danger of life onboard, yet the ability to let loose when it was safe to do so – especially once shoreside. Told like he was sitting next to you at the pub, telling of the wild antics of himself & crew with no real timeline required to follow along.
Really enjoyed reading his adventures and this is a book I had been wanting to read for some time.
A no-nonsense hilarious account of the crazy things he and the men he lived with at sea got up to. A healthy respect for the rules and danger of life onboard, yet the ability to let loose when it was safe to do so – especially once shoreside. Told like he was sitting next to you at the pub, telling of the wild antics of himself & crew with no real timeline required to follow along.
Really enjoyed reading his adventures and this is a book I had been wanting to read for some time.
May 22, 2024
I'm only halfway through this book (hence the 3 stars, because I don't know how it ends) but so far it's very candid and informative. It's fascinating to see what really happens in occupations like these, and the opening pages are funny when he lays out the difference between how things used to roll, and the way they had to operate when he left the job, and who did what, and what became expected of them as time (and policy) wore on.
There are some tall tales in here, and they're not for the delicate as they do become crass or excessive on language that is *not* PG. If this guy came to dinner, you could sell tickets.
There are some tall tales in here, and they're not for the delicate as they do become crass or excessive on language that is *not* PG. If this guy came to dinner, you could sell tickets.
February 2, 2021
Light, entertaining read
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews