Earlier in the year I read 'Sailing Alone Around the World', a story of the first solo circumnavigation of the globe. It was a great book, one of the best I've read this year. Reading about the subject led me to a race in the 60's sponsored by a British newspaper, a competition to be the first person to sail solo around the world without stopping at any port. I mentally filed it away as interesting, wondering if there was a book about it. Last night, while looking at Netflix, I discovered that a documentary had been made and released in 2006.
The film mostly follows a man named Donald Crowhurst. Most of the sailors who entered the race were quite experienced, but not Crowhurst. He thought that he could use the most advanced equipment and win fame and fortune for his family. In the process he mortgaged everything. A quick failure would mean he would lose his house and his family would be destitute.
Things do not go well for Crowhurst. He sails (slowly) through the Atlantic but as he goes, the ship develops problems. It becomes clear that it won't weather the Southern Ocean and his life would be in real danger. But if he stops, he'll ruin his family. He is trapped.
His solution is somewhat novel. He starts lying about his position in hopes that he can eventually figure a way through. Soon he is out of place and in serious trouble. He can't just sail into port and be thousands of miles out place. He'd be humiliated.
Add to his mountain of problems that he is all alone. His entire world consists of a small boat and water in all directions. Even the radio won't help as any transmission would give away his location. Crowhurst's sanity slips.
The movie is quite good. Sometimes it gets a bit too arty in presentation but the story is a good one and it tells it well. If you find a romantic element of sailing (which I do) then you'll really enjoy it.
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