Describe in brief how the voyage began in July 1976 from Plymouth, England and ended at a small island lle Amsterdam in the South Indian Ocean.
The narrator wanted ‘to duplicate’ the round-the-world voyage made 200 years earlier by Captain James Cook. For the past 16 years they had been making preparations. They got a boat professionally built for this purpose. It was a 23 metre, 30 tonne wooden-hulled boat. It was tested for months in the roughest weather. The first leg of their 1,05,000 kilometre journey passed pleasantly. They sailed down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town. Before heading east, they employed two crewmen—American Larry Vigil and Swiss Herb Seigler.
Their troubles started on the second day out of Cape Town. They encountered strong gales. Waves rose as high as their main mast. On January 2, the waves were alarming. The boat was slowed down. The storm jib was dropped. Heavy ropes were looped across the stern. Lifelines were attached, oilskins and life jackets were donned. Wavewalker was near capsizing. Sue got a big bump over her eyes. The narrator was tossed over the deck. His left ribs cracked and teeth were broken. By morning on January 3, Larry and Herb brought the water level sufficiently under control.
On January 4, they received some respite. On January 5, the respite proved to be short lived. The situation was again quite grim. Jon asked if they were going to die. They were not afraid of dying if they could all die together. But by the morning of 6 January, Wavewalker rode out (of) the storm. Jon gave the great news. lle Amsterdam was just in front of them. The next day all 28 inhabitants cheered and helped them ashore.
Tips: -
Imp.
Whom did the narrator and his family want to duplicate and why?
Describe the behaviour of the narrator and his family, particularly of his children Jon and Sue, during the voyage.
Describe the steps taken by the captain and the crewmen to protect the boat from the storm and the gigantic waves. Were they successful?
Imagine yourself Jonathan, the son of the narrator. Write a letter to your friend Matthew describing him how you ianded safely at lle Amsterdam after the stormy waves and gales had crippled your boat.
