By Charles J. Doane
The sea has erased all the wakes of Charlie Doane’s voyages, but his pen reveals them in this waterbiography of a life spent crossing oceans, sailing in craft as diverse as a schooner, an engineless yawl, and a Styrofoam dayboat. The Cruising Editor of America’s Sail magazine, Charlie has thrown his kitbag aboard craft crewed by prophets, world-girdlers and eccentrics. Like all the best writers he puts us in the minds of them all as well as candidly showing us his own salt-encrusted soul.
US blue water guru, John Kretschmer, describes the book as one of the best he’s ever read on or offshore. On the UK side of the Atlantic, expert sailor and author, Tom Cunliffe, says the tome opens streams of consciousness others miss. I can only agree and for all those who want the full, fascinating story of the abandoned catamaran, Be Good Too (see this month’s Sailors’ Stories) it’s all here.
The Sea Is Not Full, by Charles J. Doane, published by Seapoint Books + Media LLC, £19.63