A Speck on the Sea: Epic Voyages in the Most Improbable Vessels

For the purpose of this book a 'small boat' (a.k.a. microboat) is defined by the author as one that is less than roughly twenty feet in length and is pushed to the extremes of its design limitations to complete a journey that spans great distances, often oceans. From the 16th century to present day, William Longyard takes the reader on a historic journey of the greatest small-boat voyages ever attempted. Some were successful, some ended in disaster. From the first documented long voyage of Diego Mendez's (Columbus' lieutenant) rescue; the 16th century Algerian slave, William Okeley, who escaped in a folding rowboat; and the bored office worker who, in the 1960's, captured the world's imagination with his 13-foot sailboat, Tinkerbelle, to the tragic loss of Peter Bird who, in the 1990's, died on his attempt to row across the Pacific, A Speck on the Sea recreates these awe-inspiring adventures in fascinating detail. The author spent six years researching this book, traveled to numerous maritime museums around Europe and the United States and interviewing a number of the sailors or their descendents. More than 100 photos (many given by the subjects profiled) and illustrations will acc