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Title: Best read by the sailor
Review: Knox-Johnston took on a terrific challenge, conquered it, and survived none the worse for the experience. The adventure is written well, with interspersed drama throughout the voyage. I've read a number of true life adventures and some are written for the audience-at-large, while others are focused more for the informed expert. Throughout this account Knox-Johnston uses technical jargon, always describing experiences as a seasoned seaman would discuss it with other seamen. He uses hundreds of terms and procedures that even the pleasure sailor would not have experienced and would probably not comprehend. For that reason, the account grew a bit tedious at times. For a good comparison/contrast you might want to pick up the book Adrift, in which a man drifts in a liferaft for over 70 days when he loses his boat on the high seas. Still, a story of a great achievement.
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