Just Sea and Sky cover art

Just Sea and Sky

England to New Zealand the Hard Way

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Just Sea and Sky

By: Ben Pester, Dick Durham - introduction
Narrated by: Matthew Waterson
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About this listen

This charming account of the voyage of two men in a small boat half way round the world from Plymouth to New Zealand in 1953 is a rare insight into a time, not long ago, when sailors had no GPS, electronics, radio or any of the mod cons that we take for granted today. Without lifejacket or a life raft, they 'just took what came along', hand steering all the way, navigating by sextant, hand-cranking their engine and using oil lamps for light at night and for navigation. Sailors will be staggered how primitive conditions were only a few decades ago, even though it was the norm at the time. Part travelogue and part adventure story, the two friends encountered drunken harbor masters, the mafia, the legacy of slavery and lost civilizations in the Pacific. Beautifully written, vivid in its descriptions of the two men's exploits ashore and on board, this quirky and entertaining audiobook will be a fascinating listen for sailors and non-sailors alike.

"A compelling story - I feel like I have sailed with them." (Yachting Monthly)

©2010 Ben Pester (P)2014 Audible Inc. Adventure Travel Australia & Oceania Oceania Sailing Sailing & Boating Travel Writing & Commentary Water Sports Adventure Sports
All stars
Most relevant

What made the experience of listening to Just Sea and Sky the most enjoyable?

It's a good story with plenty of information about sailing, and the description of the boat paints a vivid picture.

Narration a little slow, thus slightly irratating.

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Great adventure and story..... Made me long to go to sea and explore... Thanks.. Great view of the ocean world

Two true gents enjoying their lives

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not a very inspiring read, marred even further by odd pronunciation of proper names. dull

rather dull

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Would you try another book written by Ben Pester and Dick Durham (introduction) or narrated by Matthew Waterson?

I never want to hear Watersons voice again

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Matthew Waterson?

an answering machine would be better

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

yes, the underlying story is quite good, just the narrator is tedious.

Any additional comments?

THE worst audible book in my life. And I am quite cross, as I can hear there is a good story trying to get out by the author. Imagine a story narrated by a plummy voiced bore, who can only speak in cadences like tony blair soundbites, and has no understanding of puntuation as he reads something' and it's at least twice as bad as that again. Interminable, tedious droning rubbish. Whoever chose this guy to narrate should be shot.

I managed halfway by gritting my teeth and screaming occasionally, it was a very long car drive, before I gave up and sang to myself for the next 3 hours. And my singing is worse than his narration.

I am off to buy the physical book.

How to ruin a good story, unlistenable

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