The sailor Sir Francis Chichester, recently returned from his 1967 single-handed voyage round the world, described the book as "the best sea story I have ever read", a quote which the publishers adopted for use on the novel's front cover. Also used on the book's jacket in Britain was a heartfelt quote from the author Mary Renault, "A spirited sea-tale with cracking pace and a brilliant sense of period. In a highly competitive field it goes straight to the top. A real first-rater".
The sailor Sir Francis Chichester recently returned from his 1967 single-handed voyage round the world described the book as "the best sea story I have ever read" a quote which the publishers adopted for use on the novel's front cover Also used on the book's jacket in Britain was a heartfelt quote from the author Mary Renault "A spirited sea-tale with cracking pace and a brilliant sense of period In a highly competitive field it goes straight to the top A real first-rater"