The Sea Takes No Prisoners: Offshore voyages in an open dinghy (Paperback)

Peter Clutterbuck was lucky enough to be a teenager in the 1960s, when long summer holidays meant uninhibited opportunities to find freedom - and danger. Encouraged by his parents to become more independent, he decided to see how far he could get in his family's small open dinghy, Calypso. Aged 16, he spent a winter restoring the 16ft Wayfarer before pootling straight out into a force 7 gale and very nearly capsizing. The adventures that followed were even more exciting. Setting out on incredible voyages across the high seas, he and a series of intrepid crew sailed across the Channel, braved the notorious Bay of Biscay, cruised the Mediterranean, before tackling the North Sea and Baltic. Sailing on the edge, often on stormy nights, they survived towering waves, gales, capsizes, dismasting, nine rudder breakages, getting lost in fog, and hallucinations caused by sleep deprivation. In this book Peter details his unforgettable adventures. Beautifully and charmingly written, with plenty of offbeat humour, this is a lovely insight into a golden age of freedom and adventure. With a Foreword by world-famous yachtsman Brian Thompson, it is a great read, but will be of immense practical use to anyone wanting to follow in Peter's wake.