By Nick Ward with Sinead O'Brien. Pbk, 152mm x 233mm, 186 pages.
Sailing in the Fastnet Race on the yacht Grimalkin had been a dream come true for Nick, but the dream turned to a nightmare when, in the midst of colossal waves and unremitting winds, Grimalkin was capsized again and again. The skipper was lost overboard, and after hours of exhausting struggle three of the crew abandoned the boat for the life raft. Nick and his fellow crewmemeber Gerry, both injured and unconscious, were left on the beleaguered yacht, presumed dead.
In the middle of the deadliest storm in the history of modern sailing, Nick Ward somehow managed to live to tell his tale. The world famous Fastnet Race of 1979 began in near perfect weather, but within 48 hours was struck by a horrific storm. By the time it has passed, it had mercilessly taken the lives of 15 sailors.
This is Nick Ward's moving and inspirational account of his survival - against all odds - a story that has remained untold for 27 years, until now.