When the Wind Blows

Extraordinary adventures with a deadly twist

by Maggi Ansell

  Author@Maggi-Ansell.com

300 pages quality trade paperback ISBN 141209922-6
Price CAD$24.95

Buying an ex-drug boat in the Cayman Islands leads to clashes with the government; adventures in Cuba; South Pacific island-hopping involving a wine-lover in the Bay of Cannibals and black pearls in Ahé. It climaxes in a devastating cyclone and dramatic helicopter rescue.

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About the Book

One hot November day in the Cayman Islands, Robin falls in love with a newly-confiscated drug boat offered for sale by the government. Maggi suggests he submit a bid, never believing that he would be successful. It is a bitter-sweet surprise to her when they become the owners of a 55-foot ferro-cement yacht. Now she must learn to sail, as Robin intends to go cruising.

Months of hard work, fun and mishaps follow while they refurbish the newly-christened yacht, Orca, move on board and take her on sea trials in preparation for a Pacific Ocean crossing. Reality sets in when Maggi finds herself alone on night-watch for the first time. They settle into an uneasy routine for the 36-day passage from Panama to the Marquesas, tackling each adventure and adversity as it arises.

En route to Australia, idyllic days are spent on South Pacific islands where they encounter some hilarious and entertaining characters. This is the year when the SE Trade Winds refuse to blow. Sailing seems all about too little or too much wind: they roll in the doldrums and battle one of many squalls to avoid being run down by a Korean factory-fishing vessel.

After several months in Australia, Robin and Maggi prepare the boat for the journey round the North Pacific to Canada via the Solomon Islands, Japan, Korea, Russia and Alaska. Two days outside the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea, Orca is overtaken by an unforeseen cyclone which refuses to move. They struggle to set a parachute-anchor, their last line of defence in untenable conditions. Orca is knocked down and the adventure peaks in the powerful telling of an incredible air-to-sea rescue at dusk, when Orca is abandoned just 8 miles from the reef where she will founder before morning.

The rescue crew received many commendations and bravery awards, including the Bronze Cross; an award endorsed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the Golden Hour Award for the most outstanding helicopter rescue world-wide for 1997.