At the Mercy of the Sea

by John Kretschmer

A “normal” Caribbean hurricane travels from east to west, but Lenny was anything but normal. Spawned south of Cuba in November 1999, this late-season storm defied all predictions by moving steadily east toward the Leeward Islands. Eventually building almost to Category 5 strength, Lenny squatted for two days between the Virgin Islands and St. Martin, whipping the ocean with 155 mile-per-hour winds and 60-foot seas. In its path in the Anegada Passage were three sailboats and their unfortunate La Vie en Rose , a 41-foot sloop captained by ex-army lieutenant colonel Carl Wake; English Braids , a tiny 21-foot racer skippered by would-be elite competitive sailor Steve Rigby; and Frederic-Anne , a 65-foot schooner rigged for day-sail charters out of St. Martin and skippered by ambitious young Guillaume Llobregat. None of the men knew each other, yet they converged by fate in a tiny circle of the sea in the midst of a hellish storm no boat could withstand. And even as he battled for survival, Carl Wake lived the crowning hours of his life. John Kretschmer's At the Mercy of the Sea retraces the journeys of these three sailors through life and across oceans. It is a taut, suspenseful re-creation that seeks to make sense of the improbable intersection of three lives at the height of a storm, and a gripping reconstruction of Carl Wake's search for meaning and, ultimately, for his soul. Praise for At the Mercy of the “The tale of Carl Wake and the hurricane that was waiting for him goes straight to the heart of the greatest sea they are not about man against the sea, but man against himself. John Kretschmer's book is as perfectly shaped and flawlessly written as such a story can be. In addition to being the best depiction I have ever read of what it is like to be inside a hurricane at sea, At the Mercy of the Sea is as moving a story of a man's failure and redemption as can be found anywhere in the literature of the sea. This book is surely destined to become a classic.”—Peter Nichols, author, Sea Change and A Voyage for Madmen “John Kretschmer is a first-class seaman who is also a fine writer. Once begun, his vivid and powerful narrative is impossible to put down.”—Derek Lundy, author, Godforsaken Sea and The Way of a Ship “ At the Mercy of the Sea kept me plunging ahead to the tragic end and left me feeling humbled and lucky to be alive. I felt I knew Carl Wake, because John Kretschmer found in him an archetype—an aging sailor with an age-old dream.”—Jim Carrier, transatlantic sailor and author, The Ship and the Hurricane Mitch and the Loss of the Fantome “Gathering his tools as a loyal friend, a master mariner, and a natural storyteller, John Kretschmer has crafted an unforgettable tale of high-seas adventure, salvation, and loss. A remarkable book, impossible to put down.”—Herb McCormick, sailing journalist “John Kretschmer’s account of three fellow captains whose lives converge in one of history’s most erratic hurricanes builds like the storm itself. Detail after detail reveals the sailors’ personal histories, their foibles, their goals, and finally their tragic miscalculations. With expert analysis and taut writing, he draws readers into that mad storm. You can’t turn away. You keep reading until it breaks your heart.”—Fred Grimm, columnist, Miami Herald

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival, Adventure, Nautical, Biography

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2006

Reviews

[Sean Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Kretschmer is well known in the sailing community as a well-seasoned and experience bluewater skipper. In "At the Mercy of the Sea", he tells the story of three sailors who perished in Hurricane Lenny, which came through the Caribbean in 1999. One of the sailors who perished was John's own friend Carl Wake.

The three men in the story started in three different sailboats, from three different places, but all ended up in the middle of the hurricane. Carl Wake was solo sailing from Virginia to St. Thomas, VI, in a 41 ft sloop. Steve Rigby was sailing from the island of Guadeloupe to the Virgina Islands, in a 21 ft raceing boat. Finally, Guillaume Llobregat was sailing a 65 ft schooner with one crewmember out of St. Martin.

None of the three boats mentioned above survived the hurrican and three of the four men died. Kretschmer methodically describes the voyage of each man and how they ultimately ended up in the middle of the storm. Out of necessity, Kretschmer recreates many of the details, but given his vast experience in bluewater sailing and his having sailed with Carl Wake, he very believably reconstructs what likely happened on each boat.

"At the Mercy of the Sea" is a reminder of how unforgiving the weather can be, even in the relatively calm Caribbean Sea. Kretschmer makes it clear that none of the boats had much hope for surviving the hurricane, once they were in the middle of it.

[Mark Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not an avid reader -- take a look at my list and frequency. And yet when I first saw this book, I ordered a paperback version and was intrigued with the storyline.

I won't ruin the ending for anyone, but I just had to know what happened to Carl Wake?!? Was it a bad decision, lack of experience, the boat or equipment, or a combination of all -- or simply just sheer back luck with a storm that was going places no one had predicted?

John does a great job introducing us to four sailors on three boats and providing as much information he was able to obtain. I felt he pieced the events together well. I imagined the waves pounding on the sides of the boats.

I'm already searching for my next John K. book.

[Premal Vora · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1999, a "rogue" hurricane moved from the west to east through the Caribbean Sea inflicting a good bit of damage on several islands. It was unusual in that it moved eastwards and it was the second strongest hurricane on record in November in the Atlantic hurricane season.

This is the story of three sailors on three different sailboats who perished very close to each other and at roughly the same time because their sailboats were caught in the storm. Although the three sailors started in very different locations (in three very different sailboats) due to some random decisions they ended up in the same area of the sea. In fact, one of the sailors abandoned his boat and was rescued by another, then they perished together.

What makes this story interesting is that the author knew one of the sailors very well and the readers are given much insight into this sailor's life and psychology. Also, I furthered my knowledge of sailboat designs and sailing in rough seas through this narrative. The author is himself a highly accomplished sailor and writer with a lively writing style. If you are into sailing, you'll enjoy this book.

[Scott W. Hinsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the Mercy of the Sea is a moving recounting of the lives of sailors Carl, Guillaume and Steve, the dreams they held dear and of the sailboats and people they loved. Author John Kretschmer does a masterful job of bringing their struggle and ultimate tragedy to life. Kretchmer’s knowledge of sailing, of the sea and survival conditions is palpable and engaging, but it’s the powerfully emotional connection to each character that makes this an unstoppable read. I never met the protagonists of this tale but feel I know them. I did not experience Hurricane Lenny’s wrath first hand, but feel I somehow survived while others did not.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Kretschmer is a powerful writer who can make settings and situations come fully alive so that you feel you're there. Yes, another book about sailboats and sailing and sailors - can't seem to get enough - and yet telling a tale that I'm immensely glad I've not experienced. Both autobiographical as well as biographical, the story is told in detail with reflection and touching empathy for a good friend and fellow sailor who loses his life during a hurricane while at sea.

[B.M. Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing was good, but the story was better. If you are a sailor, or if you dreamed of being a sailor, or if you simply enjoy reading sailing stories then this is a must read. It's the true story of three different sailboat that were caught in an unexpected hurricane. The book dragged in a couple of places simply because a couple of unneeded stories were thrown in the mix, but all in all, it's a good sailing book.

[James Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sad book. It had a lost-ness and a sense of longing that almost felt like the author wished it had been himself who was lost at sea. Very well researched, and meticulous in its speculations about what those harrowing final moments may have been like for the three sailors trapped by a furious battle between sea and sky. I recommend, but it's not a beach read.

[Kes · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1999, there was hurricane Lenny. 3 boats were caught in it. This book is about the sailors who died.

I knew the outcome but it was still sad to read the final chapters.

This book is great if you want to learn about sailing; it describes nautical terms in novice friendly language and relies a lot on the author’s first hand experience of sailing.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turns out, I prefer travel adventure stories in which at the end of the adventure, everyone gathers in a tropical bar to out boast each other about the hurricane they survived. This was not that book.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realize Kretschmer had a personal relationship to one of the sailors. That was a nice touch. I was expecting it to be less gonzo. I would’ve kept it focused there rather than adding a separate sailor that doesn’t intersect, or maybe I’m missing something.

[Lisa Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, and scary how this could happen to three accomplished sailors. It was beautiful tribute and attempt to make sense of his friends death. Amazing research. Lessons to be learned for all of us as we go to sea.

[Kathleen Nagro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this true adventure tale and it is a page turner. If you sail or live in an area where there are hurricanes, or just love the power of the sea, you make enjoy this amazing tale of man meets sailboat and together they meet the force of Mother Nature.

[Rick Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched account blended with personal experience and relationships with the individuals impacted by the storm and their families. A well documented emotional experience.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was alot of technical information in the first half of the book. I didn't think the hurricane would ever start.

[Richard Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story teller. If you like to sail or fancy yourself as a sailor, this is a must read.

[Lesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing read! You really get to know Carl Wake and visualize the boats and storm so vividly.

[Darren Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and well written

Liked the mix or story line and science. Author did a great job depicting how small man is in comparison with the ocean.

[Vicky Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick short read, a somewhat enjoyable and easy plot to follow for the cold winter months. It is short enough to be read all in one sitting, which I did.

It is somewhat difficult to classify this story. It would be a memoir if it had been written by a survivor. It'd be a biography if about the sailors' lives. It'd be a coming of age, or bildungsroman if it involved a young man in the same situation. I'd say it was more of a writer surmising what his friend's last hours might have been like, and even the meaning of that life in the end. And, it was certainly somewhat of a mid-life crisis story.

Not that any life is inconsequential, because all life is important. But, I found it hard to classify the main character as a hero. It seemed more like the method of classifying a man dead as a hero after the fact of his unexpected death. I don't mean that to sound cold. But, in the book Unbroken, the survivors were serving some purpose in the world. I never saw a purpose for these cruisers. They were on a thrill ride. It went bad.

It is somewhat like the book Miracle in the Andes. But, in that book, the survivor finds something good from the experience, something motivating and life changing to their previous selfish lifestyles. That doesn't happen here. While Carl's dreams end in disaster, he spends his final hour struggling to save the lives of himself and a fellow sailor. It doesn't work out. The writer is mellow about this and Carl's many shortcomings, but is long on praise for what? I really don't know. I found it hard to be emotionally invested.

[Jonathan Gudger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intimate and intriguing telling

Thoroughly researched narrative of three parties' tragic encounter with Hurricane Lenny. Filled with John's signature subtle humor and pragmatism, and an even more fascinating read as you begin to understand his deep connection with Carl. The author's salesmanship and subject matter expertise makes for a fascinating read as he often understands the subjects' behavior end conditions better than they did themselves.

[k e · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its really two stories, a harrowing tale of what not to do during really bad weather at sea and a study in the folly of stubbornness on the part of man. Fairly well written with perhaps a tad too much conjecture though with 3 of the 4 subjects perished, conjecture is all one is left with for certain parts of the story.

[Joe Brunory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kretschmer's book elevated sailing past any sport or hobby that I imagined it to be. I learned what it takes to buy a boat, advantages of some boats over others, navigation, and generally got a great idea of the scenarios that one might encounter. This particular unfortunate story bodes caution as a helmsman's best friend, presenting the hard realities that are at bay.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful narrative aided by what appears to be an exhaustive amount of research and an author who does a great job of establishing his authority both as a sailor, and as the close friend of one of the men involved in these events. If you have an interest in sailing and the natural drama that forms at the nexus of circumstance and fateful decision, I'd definitely recommend this book.

[Karen]

This is a tale from more recent times. It is about 3 sailors who find themselves in the middle of an unexpected hurricane. 1 of the sailors is a personal friend of the author and his story sounds like the most sad, yet heroic story of all.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is very easy to read and the true story was fascinating! I'd highly recommend this particular book for anyone interested in sailing - particularly cruising and blue water sailing. Spoiler alert... A sailboat may survive a hurricane but her crew wont.

[Jeri Kane risin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning about sailing by reading is awesome

The tale was tragic but I learned a lot about storms and sailing. Survival in a storm did not happen here and the morale of this story is avoid hurricanes

[Marc Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting. A speculative account of the fates of 3 sailors in trapped in the middle of Hurricane Lenny.

[Melody Eads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

[J C Landwer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I think Kretschmer is a highly talented writer, this book was not my favorite, for technical reasons. Otherwise it was great. I read it in nearly one sitting.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of sailors in the Caribbean during Hurricane Lenny, in 1999.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absorbing account of a ferocious storm that took the lives of three Caribbean sailors. The narrative rattles along like a well trimmed sloop in a blow. Read in one sitting