Some sailors created their own adventures like Sir Francis Chichester who in 1966 at the age of 65 tried to be the first man to circumnavigate the globe west to east in Gipsy Moth Circles The World. Others took part in organized races, like Pete Goss who in 1996 was competing in a nonstop, single-handed round the world race when he risked his life and headed into a hurricane to rescue fellow competitor Raphael Dinelli, which he details in Close to the Wind.

Most of the excerpts read more like newspaper accounts as the writing is very matter of fact and economical. That’s not to say the stories aren’t compelling because they are, but there’s almost no insight into these men’s minds for those of us who don’t understand what drives them. For non-nautical types the boating jargon might be a little tough to understand but it gives an authenticity to the writers’ voices.  A glossary would have been ideal, but they are easy to look up. While not as many, there are women who participate in sailing; however, none are heard from in this book for some reason.

The most amazing part of the book is that none of the writers exhibit bitterness towards God or fate or nature at what has befallen. They readily accept the circumstances as par for the course. Steven Callahan might best explain their logical acceptance in his perfect description of the ocean: “...she is merely there, immense, powerful, and indifferent.”

…High Seas offers a great series of adventures for readers who sail and those who sit in the comfort of their armchair.