A Speck on the Sea

More than Seventy Accounts of Big Adventures in Small Boats In A Speck on the Sea, William Longyard reaches back through five centuries to gather a collection of sea adventures in which the smallest, unlikeliest craft--and the daring individuals aboard them--completed extraordinary voyages against great odds. From canoes and small sailboats to a pair of strap-to-your-feet pontoons, the watercraft in these true stories make nearly as varied a collection as the mariners who piloted them. The intrepid seafarers and their feats of seamanship include:

• Ed Gillet's kite-powered transpacific kayak voyage
• Gladys Gradely's 1902 quest to become the first woman to solo the Atlantic
• Ben Lecomte's swim across an ocean for love
• Hugo Vihlen's 1968 ocean crossing in the 6-foot sailboat April Fool
• Peter Bird's tragic attempt to row across the Pacific
• And scores more Whether driven by desperation, adventure, or a desire for fame and fortune, the risktakers in these stories show what vast oceans can be crossed in tiny contrivances by those who dare. "Great fun to read."--Cruising World "Very few reference books make for such riveting reading."--Good Old Boat "Re-creates these awe-inspiring adventures in fascinating detail."--NW Yachting "Seagoing heroes and scalawags come alive with rich detail in Longyard's volume of salty tales."--Judy Blumhorst, Commodore Emeritus, Northern California Association of West Wight Potter Owners and Webmaster, www.trailersailer.com William H. Longyard has spent twenty-five years paddling, rowing, and sailing small boats of all kinds. He has published several books and written numerous articles for boating journals.

William H. Longyard has published several books and has written numerous articles for boating, auto and airplane journals. He has also produced the video, Kayaking in Europe. He has been an English teacher at North Davidson High School for 15 years and is an avid boater and car enthusiast. HOMETOWN: Winston-Salem, NC

"Bill Longyard has put together a gripping compendium of noteworthy small-boat voyages made over the centuries. This is destined to remain the definitive study of this topic for years. A great read!" - John Harland, maritime historian and author of Seamanship in the Age of Sail"