of the LUCETTE
By Douglas Robertson
372 pp. 16 color photos, maps, line drawings. 2005. Paperback. $23.95
ISBN 1 57409 206 5
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Douglas Robertson has taken his father's classic book, Survive the Savage Sea, as his starting point. On board their 43-foot schooner, LUCETTE, the Robertson family set sail from the south of England in January 1971 – in June 1972, LUCETTE was holed by killer whales and sank in the Pacific Ocean. Four adults and two children survived the next 38 days adrift, first in a rubber life raft, then crammed into a 9-foot fiberglass dinghy, before being rescued by a passing Japanese fishing vessel.
This is the story of the 18-month voyage of the LUCETTE, across the Atlantic, around the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal and into the Pacific, and how the family survived their shipwreck. It is a vivid account of the delights and hardships, the excitements and the dangers, the emotional highs and lows experienced by the family both before and after the shipwreck.
The author has drawn upon a wealth of other sources, including his own memories of a life-changing experience, to bring us this true story of adventure, of relationships strained to the bursting point, of conflict and resolution – ultimately a very human and humbling tale.
“You'll be spellbound…” —The ENSIGN
“This is a fascinating read.” —Lattitudes & Attitudes
“A fantastic read and thoroughly recommended. I could not believe what I was reading!” —The Nautical Magazine
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About the Author:
Douglas Robertson, eldest son of Linda and Dougal Robertson, went into the British Merchant Navy as a cadet, finally serving as Chief Officer. He left the sea in 1980 and lives with his family in London.