This is one of my all-time favorite books - it's my fourth of fifth reading of it.
Partly because of my love for the sea - and partly because I find the father-son story endearing. I did not enjoy a healthy relationship with my father... but I can feel what one might be like thanks to the Hays. Geeking out over their design, sail plan, stores load, etc... was also a plus. It's just an easy read - and the dueling perspectives is entertaining. I recommend it to everyone even remotely interested in sailing.

Sailing books, especially small boat sailing, captivate me. The authors of this book are a father and son team who decide that they want to sail around Cape Horn from New York and back (1984). While much of the book describes nautical detail, I still liked the premise of sailing a little bit every day to accomplish a great task. Much preparation must be done before the journey can even start. While I didn’t understand all of the references to the building the interior of the 28 foot boat, I was fascinated by the detail and care the father son team took to get the shell of the boat ready for its journey. I liked the descriptions of the travels and the few places they stopped. The father told too much of his past history for me. The parts I didn’t like were the frequent crude references to bodily functions that the two of them insisted on putting in the book. I did like the book but a person should be for warned if he/she decides to read it.

If you you grew up in the 80's or 90's, you may need some time getting over the fact that you had a fling with someone like Daniel in college. He was confident and brash with peoples' feelings and confident in his ability to charm his way out of every inconsiderate misstep he made. If you can do that and get over the air of self-entitlement and East Coast snootiness, you'll perhaps be able to immerse yourself in a great adventure story filled with delicious metaphors and, even better perhaps, a sweet examination of father/son relationships.

I enjoyed this audio book very much. I did know a little a about sailing and which added to the story for me, but nautical knowledge is not required to fully enjoy this memoir. The father-son relationship was unexpectedly candid. The print version was enhanced with visuals like the ship layout, inside and out, and a peek at the daily logs. . I wish I had looked at the map before I read the book to know the route beforehand. I was able to find it at https://archive.org/details/myoldmans.... Their whole story from making the boat to sailing it includes trips father and son, solo son, and various other friends and family. I do not think I'd be even tempted to go along! I highly recommend reading it. I listed to the newer Recorded Books 2020 edition narrated by John Goodman and George Guidall.

A wonderful account of a father and son who don't always get along, but find joy in taking a harrowing sailing trip around Cape Horn.

A very powerful book...dragged at times, especially when it got into the really technical aspects of sailing...but it also managed to convey the loneliness and boredom that comes with being at sea for such a long time. The authors' accounts of their journey, and of their father/son relationship, was very poignant.

An okay book.. but got kind of dull after a while

This book is a little slow at first. Once you get through the first chapter or two it picks up and is hard to put down. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in sailing and what it actually takes to plan and execute a trip around Cape Horn.

A great read that is a true story about a father and son sailing journey around Cape Horn but also about their relationship and their self-reflection on it and themselves.

3.5 stars.

Quote: There are moments when I wish a giant eraser would come down from the sky and quietly smudge me out.

Very underrated. Loved this book. Great family conflict. Pet drama.