Dark Wind: A Survivor's Tale of Love and Loss

by Gordon Chaplin

The author of Fever Coast Log describes the catastrophic voyage he and his partner, Susan Atkinson, undertook across the Pacific Ocean, a journey that ended in terrible tragedy, and his struggle to cope with the grief, anguish, and soul-searching reflections that followed. Reprint.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Gordon Chaplin is the author of the novel Joyride and several works of non-fiction, including Dark Wind: A Survivors Tale of Love and Loss: Full Fathom Five: Ocean Warming and a Father's Legacy, and Fever Coast Log: at Sea in Central America. A former journalist for Newsweek, the Baltimore Sun, and the Washington Post, he has worked on marine conservation with the Baja group Niparaja and since 2003 has been a research associate with the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. He lives with his wife Sarah and young daughter Rosie in New York City and Hebron, NY, and is the father of two older daughters, Diana and Julia.

Reviews

[Michael]

Picked up at the marina... This guy comes off as a d*&@ even when he's trying his hardest to arouse sympathy. He lost me when he ran off and ditched his family with his "best friend's" wife. She comes off as manipulative and treacherous, too. Witness the obviously fake rape story she cooks up to get revenge. And the tragic incident (not accident) around which the book revolves is entirely his fault- I say that as a rookie sailor. Anybody with this much experience should know better. Who dies in a hurricane on a boat anchored 300 feet from shore and safety? Go ashore jackass. He stops the narrative of the hurricane when he and his woman go down to brag about how, roughly: he's the captain, and the mayor of the local town knew better than to offer him a safe place to stay.

[Brian Green]

I loved this book. It is a great love story and tragedy.

[Jon Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think, at least in theory, this book was what the author needed to write to move past a seafaring tragedy that basically he admits should not have happened. I think he needed to write it for himself as well as his deceased significant others one surviving parent, siblings and especially her two daughters. To detail for himself and the other folks mentioned exactly where they went wrong. Specifically the actions he took once a typhoon initially predicted not to hit the little island atoll in the South Pacific they were anchored off, changed course and put them directly in its path. And to reflect upon the actions he could have taken that would have saved both their lives if not their sailboat too.
That being said, I wanted more of the storm and how he survived. And I wanted more of the subsequent search for Susan Atkinson along the beaches of the numerous other uninhabited tropical islands after the storm. I felt too much of the book before and after the deadly storm was spent reflecting on their lives together in general and what their relationship meant. That is perfectly acceptable territory for an author to tackle obviously. But this was described as a real life account of a storm at sea that took a women's life and ultimately very little of the book is dedicated to the description of the actual event.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up by chance in the maritime/sea section of my new library. It was very weird how I found it. I was so enthralled with this book I kept it for months and months, reading and rereading slowly. It was, is so different than what I normally read. I found it fascinating to learn new sailing terms, boat parts, things to do when the ocean gets crazy. It's a real ride. Thoughtful, very personal writing by Gordon Chaplin. I didn't want it to end. Learning about the sailing routes was also fascinating. Love this book so much.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's very hard to separate the rating of the book from one's impression of the author as a person, and thus a rating is hard to assign. The writing is engaging, and I read this book quickly, so in that sense, it is a good read. However, it is not an easy tale to tell or hear, and there's certainly a sense that in a number of the incidents covered (before the definitive incident of the book), the details and the drama are glossed, pared down perhaps to keep the two main people in the story sympathetic. Yet regardless of what led up to the tragedy, it was a tragedy. May readers learn from it.

[Grete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

This story started out very strange, with a lot of weird sexual stories and incidents. I never really did see the point of those. The second half of the story was more what I was interested in-the couple actually sailing across the Pacific and their feelings about that. What a tragic ending, and something we hope to never even come close to experiencing with our family.

[Helen Beesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick and interesting read. Makes you really think about the decisions and chances that you take.

[Deborah Rawlinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, couldn't put it down. Had to reread the paragraph of the tragedy, happened so fast I felt sure it would be fine, and he would find his partner alive and well.

[Helga · Rating 2 out of 5]

This tragic story was a little bit hard to follow at times.

[Sergio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una storia d'amore, una storia di viaggi, una storia di morte! Gordon e Susan si sono conosciuti negli anni dell'università, avvicinati dall'amore per il mare e l'interesse per la navigazione a vela, sono stati amici per anni insieme ai rispettivi partners, poi hanno scoperto di amarsi e hanno vissuto il loro amore dapprima clandestinamente e poi, una volta separatisi dai coniugi, come compagni di vita e viaggiare per mare su un dodici metri è stata la loro comune passione che li ha spinti a decidere, partendo dallo stretto di Panama, di affrontare la navigazione attraverso l'Oceano Pacifico fino alle Haway e oltre ancora fino all'arcipelago delle Marshall dove si è consumata l'inattesa tragedia a causa di un tifone che ha investito la loro barca facendoli naufragare. Susan è morta annegata e Gordon, distrutto dal dolore e dai sensi di colpa, ha voluto scrivere questo libro che raccontasse di loro due e lo aiutasse a ritrovare la voglia di vivere e fare pace con i suoi fantasmi. Questo libro non è un capolavoro ma la sua lettura è gradevole e scorrevole grazie anche all'onestà d'intenti e alla capacità di indagare nella profondità dell'animo umano e dei suoi contrastanti sentimenti e umori.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The name was appropriate; the author's adulterous affair with Susan wove in and out of this story of their voyage from Florida to Panama and then on to the Marshall Islands. Their intent was to continue sailing for years and to write about their adventures along the way but Typhoon Gay put an end to that. The boat was beaten to pieces on a reef and Susan's body was never found. This is pretty much a wrenching, cathartic memoir.

[Laurie Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, but what a jerk. This is a re-read, I found this book touching and dramatic in my 20s…but now I’m like, just go ashore idiot, way to take her down with you (and I don’t just mean during the typhoon).

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Unfortunately, I had read the part about Chaplin losing his partner already in an anthology, but that didn't detract from the book too much.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a used book store on a trip after I had run out of books to read. It was interesting enough.