Journey of a Hope Merchant: From Apartheid to the Elite World of Solo Yacht RacingSeemingly the most unlikely of men to compete in the elite sport of world-class yachting, Neal Petersen has lived a modern-day adventure that affirms one can overcome adversity with determination and hard work. Of mixed race, Petersen was born physically disabled and impoverished in apartheid-era South Africa, where he found healing and equality in the turbulent waters surrounding Cape Town. Petersen dreamed of building his own boat and of sailing in the great solo races of the world. Journey of a Hope Merchant recounts the epic journey that took him from a racially segregated neighborhood to the prestigious BOC Challenge and ultimately to a place in history as the first black man to race solo around the globe. Petersen's thrilling narrative places him among the ranks of such famous sailors as Joshua Slocum and Sir Francis Chichester. Petersen describes mining for diamonds underwater; rounding Cape Horn; surviving near-fatal accidents, killer storms, and a mid-Atlantic collision; capsizing in the Roaring Forties; and overcoming heartbreak, loneliness, continual financial difficulties, and adversity at every turn. a sailor, especially one alone at the helm of a homemade boat. His gripping account of the 1998-99 Around Alone race, made famous by the mid-ocean rescue of the French sailor Isabelle Autissier, will become a classic of nautical writing. While Petersen sailed his boat alone, his story extends beyond himself. He describes the unforgettable individuals who have sustained him - an activist mother, a generous community of Irish citizens, a cadre of eminent sailors including his mentor Harry Mitchell, and the woman who ultimately ended their relationship because Petersen chose to follow his dreams of sailing. Written with a freshness and style that reflect his unstoppable optimism, the story of Petersen's compelling journey is a testament to endurance, survival, perseverance, and ingenuity. His autobiography vividly portrays both the sacrifice and joy entangled in this love affair with the sea. Journey of a Hope Merchant is proof that the harshest lessons learned at sea apply to all aspects of life and that even the wildest dreams are attainable. |
Contents
Building Boats | 13 |
California | 22 |
Mining Diamonds | 27 |
Underwater diamond mining | 31 |
The Gifts | 35 |
Dad Mom and me with Mark Schrader launching vessel | 41 |
First Solo Crossing | 45 |
Ireland | 53 |
The Earth Is Flat | 107 |
Sailing with Gwen | 114 |
Choosing Charleston | 120 |
Another OSTAR | 131 |
Preparing to sail | 133 |
Back to Charleston | 143 |
Leg One | 152 |
Twentyseven thousand miles to go | 153 |
Repairing the hull | 59 |
Back to Ireland | 64 |
Me with Paddy and Willy the two Traveler boys | 72 |
ΙΟ A Family Christmas | 74 |
The BOC Atlantic Alone | 80 |
Charleston South Carolina | 87 |
Me and Gwen | 94 |
Racing to the Southern Ocean | 95 |
Leg Two | 161 |
Leg Three | 169 |
Leg Four | 183 |
A great night at sea | 190 |
Finished | 193 |
A New Start | 196 |
Me and Darlene on our first wedding anniversary in Ireland | 200 |
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ahead asked Atlantic began bilge boat BOC Challenge Brad bunk called Cape Town Charleston coast cockpit couple course crew crossed deck divers diving dream e-mail father feet felt finally finish line fish flew floating forward compartment freighter friends going Gwen Gwen's hand Harry Mitchell headed headsail Horn hull hundred miles Ireland Irish Joshua Slocum keel knew knockdown knots living looked mainsail Mark Schrader mast meals meant Minoru Saito minutes morning Mossel Bay Neal never night once OSTAR passed port Port Elizabeth Port Nolloth pulled pump Race Control racer radar radio rigging sail ship shore shouted side sleep solo sailor South Africa Southern Ocean spinnaker sponsor starting line stayed Stella-r stern stop tack told took turned Uruguay Vendée Globe vessel waiting walk wanted watched wave weather weeks wind vane yacht club