Blue Water, Green Skipper: A Memoir of Sailing Alone Across the Atlantic

by Stuart Woods

  Fred and I had a riotous reunion in Ireland a year after the race, and, after witnessing this, the McCarthy family insisted that he go home with me. I gave him my American Express card and put him on a flight from Shannon to New York, where he was fed, watered, and emptied by the ASPCA, who then transferred him to an Atlanta flight. He lived to the age of thirteen, charming everyone he met, and he was the best dog I have ever known, with apologies to the three further Labs I have owned since, all named Fred.

  STUART WOODS

  KEY WEST, FLORIDA

  JANUARY 21, 2012

  Acknowledgments

  I believe I have mentioned nearly everyone who helped my project in the text of this book, but inevitably I may have left someone out in the rush to publication. If I have done so, I hope the persons left out will believe that they are not forgotten. It was a solo event, but literally dozens of people played absolutely essential parts in the preparations.

  I am particularly indebted to Angela Green of the Promotions Department of The Observer for her assistance in helping me learn what happened to other competitors, and for the loan of her logbook and records.

  I owe special thanks to my editor, Peter Coles of Stanford Maritime, for his continuing interest in my project and his hard work on this book, and to his colleagues Rosemary Lister and Mike Davies for their help.

  George and Elizabeth Golemis, of the Newport Loft, were very kind to me and made sure that Golden Harp was cared for and sailed after I left Newport, seeing that she survived a hurricane undamaged.

  Finally, I feel I must thank Ron Holland again for his genius, his expertise, his hard work, and his friendship. I commend him to you as the designer of your next yacht.

  Interior Photo Credits

  1, 2: Photograph by Ron Holland

  3: Chart reproduced with permission of The Observer

  4: Photograph courtesy of Cruising World

  5: Photograph by Helen Simpson

  6: Photograph by Johnathan Eastland

  7: Photograph by Chris Smith/The Observer

  8: Photograph by Chris Smith/The Observer

  9: Photograph by Chris Smith/The Observer

  10: Photograph by Chris Smith/The Observer

  11: Photograph courtesy of Cruising World

  12: Photograph by Alistair Black

  13: Photograph by Rob Humphries

  All other photographs courtesy of the author.