My Old Man and the Sea: A Father and Son Sail Around Cape Horn

David and Daniel Hays are the first Americans to sail around Cape Horn in a boat under 30 feet in length. "My Old Man and the Sea" is the inspiring true story of a father and son's 17,000-mile voyage in a 25-foot yacht named Sparrow to the bottom of the world and back.Although David and Dan sailed the easier route from the Pacific into the Atlantic with the prevailing westerly winds and currents they endured horrific storms that included Dan being tossed overboard during Sparrows dangerous sideways roll.The tale is even more impressive when you learn that they chose to sail simply, without an engine and used a sextant and compass instead of a navigational system. David explains, "Our sport is to tune our senses not our instruments."David and Dan's eloquent descriptions of the magnificence of the ocean and the magic of sailing brought back fond memories of my own six-month adventure hitchhiking on sailboats in the Bahamas. Like them, I was inspired to write a book titled "Earth, the Forgotten Temple." Tales concerning profound encounters with Mother Ocean and her other wilderness places need to be shared. Most moving of all, despite conflicts, the deep love between the father and the son shine through to warm us all.

I found the book an inspiration. They challenged themselves and the sea. The authors conveyed the feeling that one has when, they discover one's ability to test oneself, and go further then they thought possible. Like jogging and going an extra mile when you felt you couldn't take one more step. The story spawns energy into the daily mundane routine that we have. If time and circumstances permit, I too may enjoy the same adventures and rewards that, these two have shared. This is a book about the coming of self. The story, although Nautical, transcends every aspect of life. If feel that anyone would find pieces of themselves in this book.

This book was a wonderful surprise, one I heartily recommend to sailors and land-lovers with equal enthusiasm. The thrill of this father-son journey 17,000 miles around Cape Horn is an exciting and entertaining adventure, recorded each step of the way in a jointly kept journal. Each man has a definite perspective on the trip, and their evolving relationship is as interesting as the ports of call. Cramped together in a confined space, virtually exposed to the elements and at sea for weeks at a time, a kind of role-reversal takes place on board -- David recognizes that he's not in charge and his son is the one who'll be responsible for taking them safely around the Horn, while Daniel grapples with the realization that comes to all children, that his father is only human.

This book lived up to all of its reviews. The father and son team set out on a voyage to overcome sailings most famous foe only to find themselves forced to deal with their own relationship. Though the overlying theme is based on a sailing voyage, the authors use a boating vocabulary which doesn't alienate the non-sailng reader.

Extremely entertaining and very readable. We discover through a profoundly human relationship between a father and son much hope and encouragement. We are reminded that life provides all of us with great oportunities for love, joy, laughter, and sharp pointed humor. Perhaps the best thing they both have ever done was to recognize and appreciate each others uniqueness. Dan reminds us of our common error of not seeing people as the miracles they are and not seeing ourselves as the miracles we are. A witty stimulating read. Davids writing is beautiful and earthbound. Dan is an absolute riot. We can only hope they do it again.