JEAN-DU-SUD AND THE MAGICK-BYRD
By Yves Gelinas
Translated by Karen Caruana
59 North, Ltd., 2017, 180 pages
The subscript of the title reads A Solo Round the World Voyage Through the Southern Ocean. So it is. Gelinas made his attempt to go non-stop in his sailboat name Jean-du-Sud. The Magick Byrd is about a little bird made out of folded reeds. Along the way he recorded film (this happened before small-format video cameras were available in the early 1980s) that was made into a documentary for BBC. The original was written in the author's native French language.
Aside from relaying his progress along the journey, Gelinas shares many detailed logistical information. He also shares the opposite end of the spectrum, his philosophical musings he came to during the experience, and later as he penned the memoir. The events culminate when heavy weather and waves rolled the boat and broke down his mast. Despite the drama and danger, Gelinas limps to the nearest port.
For sailors, there are very helpful suggestions and perspectives as one contemplates any sort of off-shore sail. For the adventure-minded the balance of risk and reward are well discussed. The psychological insight to a person so inexperienced with sailing at all, yet alone taking on such a challenging attempt offers insight as well.
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