Val Howells and the new edition of Sailing Into Solitude
Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 11:10 am
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In June, 1960, with no fanfare, five sailors left Millbay Docks, Plymouth to race across the North Atlantic in the first Singlehanded Trans-Atlantic Race. At that time, the voyage they were embarking on was viewed by many in the yachting community as not just challenging, but practically impossible. The gale-swept ocean with its prevailing westerly winds was seen as an overwhelming force that no small yacht could prevail against for 3,000 miles, let alone a singlehander.
One of these was Val Howells. Now at age 84 he has formed his own publishing company and is setting up a website. He is publishing a new edition of 'Sailing Into Solitude', his very personal account of that historic race. I am currently reading the lavishly produced hardback version, and will be writing a review when I have finished it.
The book is available on Amazon for Kindle, but thisis one I would recommend getting for your collection in the rather sumptuous stitch bound hardback, which features high quality silk finished paper. The hardback is crammed full of fascinating photographs, right down to the menu of the original 'half crown dinner'. See Landsker Publications for more info.
I previously wrote a review of another one of Val's books, 'Up That Particular Creek' , for BlueMoment. If you haven't read either of these books then I thoroughly recommend them.
In June, 1960, with no fanfare, five sailors left Millbay Docks, Plymouth to race across the North Atlantic in the first Singlehanded Trans-Atlantic Race. At that time, the voyage they were embarking on was viewed by many in the yachting community as not just challenging, but practically impossible. The gale-swept ocean with its prevailing westerly winds was seen as an overwhelming force that no small yacht could prevail against for 3,000 miles, let alone a singlehander.
One of these was Val Howells. Now at age 84 he has formed his own publishing company and is setting up a website. He is publishing a new edition of 'Sailing Into Solitude', his very personal account of that historic race. I am currently reading the lavishly produced hardback version, and will be writing a review when I have finished it.
The book is available on Amazon for Kindle, but thisis one I would recommend getting for your collection in the rather sumptuous stitch bound hardback, which features high quality silk finished paper. The hardback is crammed full of fascinating photographs, right down to the menu of the original 'half crown dinner'. See Landsker Publications for more info.
I previously wrote a review of another one of Val's books, 'Up That Particular Creek' , for BlueMoment. If you haven't read either of these books then I thoroughly recommend them.
