RTW - Female sailor in the 1970's

Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

Are you thinking of "Children of Cape Horn" by Rosie Swales? Not sure about the colour of the boat, though.
 
Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

Hi guys, I don't think this is the lady?

I was chatting to my younger brother a couple of days ago and he mentioned reading a book about a young lady who set sail around the world on a white catamaran in the 1970's and mentioned that it was a very good read as, once started, he couldn't put the book down.

She took her two children with her, no husband or partner as far as he can remember or none mentioned in the book, so technically she was sailing alone! Apparently, she was an ex-model (not sure what type, Playboy, topless or just cat-walk). My brother is a professional photographer.

The front cover of the book, had her standing 'at the front' (catamaran) totally naked, she was looking forward and the photo was taken from the stern just incase you might get any ideas? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The book you mention states, on Amazon.co.uk, that this was 'a family of four' who sailed round Cape Horn and the cover photo is not the same?
 
Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

Check out the biography, it is the same Rosie. I think the cat trip was with her husband and there was a split later, hence (maybe) the lack of a mention for the old boy. I think the press has reported a pretty colourful private life, but it seems she married again.
Must read the story again, you often see it at boat jumbles etc.
 
Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

Thanks for that Dougy.

Still doesn't explain how the cover of the book that my brother saw was a naked lady on the prow of a Catamaran?

All the copies of the book, on Amazon, that you mention bears (pun intended) no relationship to that image? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

Thanks for that info Searush. I will have to get on to my younger brother and tell him he gave me duff information.

Thanks for everyone else who suggested the same authoress.

If I get a copy, perhaps I will catch her running back to Wales towing her trailer? Get her to autograph my copy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

Rosie Swale's boat was an Oceanic, designed and I think built by Bill O'Brian, as a grp development of the 10 metre Bobcat.

Probably not what you would choose for rounding Cape Horn today, but as I remember they covered the windows with plywood and this was certainly a notable voyage long before it became the norm.
 
Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

I'm with Searush on this. The image may be her other book. I think it was Rosie Darling. We got it off the shelf the other day when she was on the national news after landing in Scotland on the last stage of her walk. The book chronicles her early adventures hitch hiking. Well worth reading.

I remember buying the book in a second hand book shop and the book seller showing me a copy of Fiesta that she was in.

Quite a character.
 
Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

It's Rosie Swales all right. We have Children of Cape Horn on board (but deep in bilges at the mo!); there may be one that came before that too. Our cover pic is very innocuous - children in lifejackets with mum if I recall.

There is one topless pic in it, because that is how they financed the trip. She;s very upfront about it, and took a load of stick for it at the time I think. At least one of the children was born at sea. They sailed their cat around the Horn when everyone was telling them it couldn't be done. It's a good read because, in a very breezy understated way, she tells the story of really impressive voyage. Two tiny children, one small and elderly catamaran and the Southern Ocean!
 
Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

Good old Rosie, is or was she an inspiration to you?

She certainly was for me as I was in my early 20's when I read her books and no sign of ever being able to afford a boat.
 
Re: RTW - Female sailor in the 1970\'s

The Granary Loafer may be the name of the catamaran. She was a 60 foot white cat. I crewed on her in the Caribbean in 1981 after she was refitted following being demasted in a gale in the Atlantic and beached in the Bahamas. She was said to have had a female round the world skipper when she had her accident.
 
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