Bound for Distant Seas by James Baldwin

 I am listening to the book "Bound for Distant Seas - A Voyage Alone to Asia Aboard the 28-Foot Sailboat Atom" by James Baldwin

"Bound for Distant Seas" is a maritime adventure memoir by James Baldwin, detailing his solo circumnavigation of the globe aboard his small sailboat, Atom. Baldwin shares his experiences from preparation to completion, including challenges at sea, the solitude of long passages, the cultures he encounters at various landfalls, and the deep personal insights gained through the journey. The narrative goes beyond mere adventure, delving into Baldwin's philosophy on life, self-reliance, and the pursuit of dreams against daunting odds.

Q: Who is James Baldwin in the context of sailing?

A: James Baldwin is a renowned sailor and author in the sailing community, known for his extensive solo voyages and contributions to sailing literature. Baldwin is particularly celebrated for his ability to undertake long-distance sailing adventures on a modest budget, demonstrating that such feats are accessible to individuals willing to embrace simplicity and the challenges of the sea. His works, including "Bound for Distant Seas," inspire and inform both seasoned sailors and those dreaming of casting off the dock lines for distant horizons.

Q: What can readers learn from "Bound for Distant Seas"?

A: Readers can learn a multitude of lessons from "Bound for Distant Seas," ranging from practical sailing techniques and preparations for extended voyages to deeper philosophical reflections on life's purpose and the value of pursuing one's dreams. Baldwin's narrative encapsulates the essence of adventure, the resilience required to overcome adversities at sea, and the transformative power of solitude and self-discovery. Additionally, the book serves as a guide and inspiration for those yearning to explore the world by sail, emphasizing the attainability of such ambitions with determination and resourcefulness.

Q: How does "Bound for Distant Seas" contribute to the genre of adventure and sailing literature?

A: "Bound for Distant Seas" is a significant contribution to the genre of adventure and sailing literature, offering a unique blend of thrilling sea voyages, insightful personal reflections, and practical sailing wisdom. Baldwin's articulate narration and deep connection with the sea enrich the reader's understanding of the complexities and rewards of solo sailing. His story adds a valuable perspective to the body of maritime literature, highlighting the indomitable spirit of human adventure and the profound lessons learned in the pursuit of one's passions on the open ocean.

Kon-Tiki

Based on the true events, this movie depicts a Norwegian anthropologist’s quest to prove the theory that the French Polynesia was populated from the South America and not from Asia.

Thru the chain of what I would call mistakes and errors, the team nearly gets themselves killed multiple times. 

The movie is well made, inspiring and exciting. 

I also have read the book.

Guam

Reading of the book by Bernard Moitessier "Tamata and the Alliance" makes you think about the Pacific and its islands. 

Pacific has always been a realm of dreams for me. As a child I have read Julius Verne and watched "Dolphin Oum" cartoons. Later, in life I visited some of these places. 

The coast of Washington and Oregon are by far the most beautiful places I have ever been to. California carries its dreamy spirit where I have spent many evenings sitting on the beach looking at the balmy sunsets. I lived in Okinawa for three years and dove countless times on the coral reefs. I visited Hawaii twice in transit, but I have never been to the South Seas.

The closest I have ever gotten to the equatorial paradise on Earth was Guam.

My visit to Guam was brief, just a long lay over on the flight from Hawaii to Okinawa. I was on the military flight in the enormous Air Force C-5 Galaxy cargo plane, I don't remember anymore if Guam was a scheduled stop, or not, but I remember vividly that our plane broke down and we had an emergency landing and evacuation on some back-strip of the Andersen Air Force base in the middle of the night amongst tall cane, or grasses. The evacuation was brief, we were not to take any personal things with us, we stood some few hundred feet away from the plane, and I just remember seeing some kind of hydraulic fluid shooting up in the fountain from the port wing. When I asked on of the crew if that happens often, he said "Every time you get on it..."

To give you some idea about what it means to realize that your plane broke over the Pacific you have to imagine that the distance from Hawaii to Guam is twice as far as California to Florida and there are only couple of small islands between: Wake Island and Marshal Islands far to the south and absolutely nothing between, except sharks. Okinawa is another New York to Denver distance away.

Next day, I needed to find some other arrangement to fly to Okinawa and that would not happen for the next 16 hours, so I hitchhiked to the beach.

For someone who spent 3 years in Okinawa, you might think another island will not make much impression, but Guam was different. It is not so much for the climate (Guam is about 12 degree north of the Equator), but rather for the coconut palms and the people. I remember walking the sandy groves of the coconut palms and watching the absolutely cute brown skinned local kids playing between the palms and on the white sandy beach. Absolute paradise.

I did not see much of the island but my trip to the beach showed me enough, it planted in me a desire to come back to South Pacific.

Since I was really shaken about flying the military craft so soon again, especially since I know that our own Marine jets are old and held together on duck tape and chewing gum, I was glad to jump on a small slick looking medical jet only to find out that I was the only passenger there that wasn't on the verge of dying. 

Two Happiest Days of The Boat Owner's Life.

Many people told me there are two happiest days in the boat owner's life: when they buy the boat and sell it.

I am not sure it is true for real sailors; I have seen many happy long-time owners, but there must be something to it since this truism is repeated so often.

So far the ownership was nothing but an extreme stress to me. I mean extreme.

Below are some of the problems I was dealing with since I bought her.

After I put her on the water she was was leaking. I was worried: Will she sink? Will I come back in the morning and see the mast top breaking the surface? The bilge pump is not automatic, should I visit/pump her every day? (1 hr. trip, each way). I just talked to a guy whose boat sunk in the port. Two weeks later I realized that she is tight, the water particles tend to plug up any small cracks. She does not leak any more. I did install an automatic bilge pump.

The masts had to be taken down to pass under the bridges in Chicago; I had to pay to take the mast down, then wait in Belmont for a week, and step back up—a pretty expensive adventure.

The engine transmission does not work. Should I look for a mechanic to fix a tranny, or to install the outboard?
The first outboard did not work. I made many trips from Chicago to the suburbs and back, each time installing, removing, and carrying the heavy (85 lbs.) engine. The second, new, engine is very expensive!

The masthead broke off with the backstay, the fix is VERY expensive and time-consuming. Will the mast on supported halyards alone fall and break some other boat, sink my boat?

Most of all every daily trip to the store seems to cost $250, like magic, always.


- outboard bracket $230
- new wire-to-rope halyards $250
- new shackes and exit plates $250
- new mast head fix $300 + much headache
- rigging labor $400 + $300 + $180
- mast up/down/up $400
- battery-to-engine cables and misc stuff $250
- automatic bilge pump and wire $100
- engine $3200

I don't want to scare the potential boat owners, but this sport is not for a faint-of- heart. 

Consider becoming a crew before you drown all your savings in a boat.


I will keep the boat because I have dreams of sailing to Canada, 30,000 islands of Georgian Bay, maybe Lake Superior in next couple of years.






I also dream about the Pacific, French Polynesia, Galapagos ...