Out of the Blue - Anne Milner

[Helgafolkboot]

Anne Miller did an Atlantic circuit in 1984/1986. While her exploit may not be up there with other single handed female sailors, her writing is far more enjoyable in my opinion. A lot of humour is evident despite being involved in a collision with a ship in the Bay of Biscay. Her boat Rupert which she always refers to in the masculine t-boned the ship which sailed blithely on despite Anne letting off numerous flares. At one stage she signs on as second officer on a cargo ship running between Madeira and Lisbon to earn funds. The captain remarks that they keep the radar turned off as its beeping tends to wake the watch keeper.

A great book if you enjoy a good sea story well told.

 

[Wansworth]

Was on a Spanish trawler when we came across her and the skipper gave her directions to Coruna,trawler was mentioned in her book……the SIBON

 

[dgadee]

Female sailors are usually constantly on the phone (or radio) home.

 

[Wansworth]

Female sailors are usually constantly on the phone (or radio) home.

This was in 1985/6. It was a small 27 footer and she makes no reference to phoning home throughout her circumnavigation of the north atlantic

 

[dgadee]

This was in 1985/6. It was a small 27 footer and she makes no reference to phoning home throughout her circumnavigation of the north atlantic

Good to hear it. Will look for a copy.

 

[Wansworth]

Good to hear it. Will look for a copy.

I had just bought an Albin Vega and came across the book

 

[BobnLesley]

I consider rhat and Anne Hammick's Cruising on a budget (or something similarly named) the two best/most useful books we had aboard.

 

[Helgafolkboot]

Was on a Spanish trawler when we came across her and the skipper gave her directions to Coruna,trawler was mentioned in her book……the SIBON

Were you the trawler that towed her in to La Coruna?

 

[Minerva]

Female sailors are usually constantly on the phone (or radio) home.

let’s just keep your misogyny in your wee head and not on the forum.

 

[Wansworth]

Were you the trawler that towed her in to La Coruna?

No we just gave her directions,she didn’t ask for a tow and the SIBON was on its way to the fishing grounds

 

[dgadee]

let’s just keep your misogyny in your wee head and not on the forum.

Hardly - you know me not but feel able to criticise my personality? How weird.

My very large collection of sailing books attests to my knowledge of which sailors are usually on the phone/radio home.

 

[dgadee]

Well, Anne Miller's book arrived and was promptly read. Not what I expected (more than the usual traumas) but with a laid back style which makes it very readable. Well worth a purchase.

She, Minerva note, did not have communications home but certainly wished she had so she could "telephone home for a chat every night" (p116). The book is all the better for that lack (in my opinion).

Very young when she did this - a time when cruising seems to have been more open to all. I was in my 20s too when I was getting into trouble as a boat owner, but my monthly rent in the Elephant and Castle was only £12. Add two zeros to that nowadays and no wonder there's a lack of the young.

What struck me was no stern ladder - she had problems in getting the rudder onto her hydrovane. What would she have done to get back on board, I wonder, in case of going over?