The untold story of the greatest disaster in modern sailing history. Neil tweedie joins him as he returns for the first time to the scene of his nightmare. In 1979, it was the climax of the five race admirals cup competition, as it had been since 1957 a worsethanexpected storm on the third day of the. Nick ward never bogs down in his firstperson account of the infamous 1979 fastnet race. In 1979 matthew sheahan, aged 17, was racing his fathers yacht grimalkin in the fastnet race. Anyone starting this book should make no other plans, as every interruption i experienced was deeply resented. The untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet race by nick ward,ward. Thirty years ago, nick ward was left for dead on a stricken yacht during the stormlashed fastnet race. First transmitted as part of the bbcs sea fever season, the film tells the story of the evolution of coastal rescue in the uk from the start of the 20th century. One of the readings will be by gerald butler, 69, pictured, below, at galley head, of clonakilty, who was one of three keepers on duty that fateful night. The 1979 fastnet race ended in tragedy after a freak storm hit competitors in all 15 people died and the exbritish leader edward heath went missing for a. Surviving the deadliest storm in modern sailing history. By the time it had passed, it had thrown one of the worlds most prestigious. Left for dead, a 2004 episode of the american television drama series ncis.
We all like the idea of saving a bit of cash, so when we found out how many good quality used products are out there. Left for dead audiobook by sinead obrien, nick ward. The 1979 fastnet race was the 28th royal ocean racing clubs fastnet race, a yachting race held generally every two years since 1925 on a 605mile course from cowes direct to the fastnet rock and then to plymouth via south of the isles of scilly. The worldfamous fastnet race takes yachts from the isle of wight to the fastnet rock off the southwest coast of ireland and back. But within the space of 48 hours it had turned into every sailors worst imaginable nightmare.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It is the experience of an ordinary man who survived an extraordinary event. The book was an easy and exciting read and after reading these last few books on sailing races, i have a greater respect and appreciation for the sport and the sailors. Forty years on from britains fastnet race disaster that left 19 yachtsmen dead amid 60ft waves, the survivors relive every shattering moment. Jul 12, 2019 in 1979 matthew sheahan, aged 17, was racing his fathers yacht grimalkin in the fastnet race.
Sinead obrien left for dead is the tragic and inspirational account of nick wards survival against all the odds. The force 10 gale 48 to 55 knots and very large, confused seas hit the fleet of 303 boats that was racing from the southern england, around fastnet rock off the southern tip of ireland. We all like the idea of saving a bit of cash, so when we found out how many good quality used products are out there we just had to let you know. The race was hit by a violent force 10 storm that swept. The untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet race di nick ward, sinead obrien. Five star book of the 1979 fastnet race in which 15 sailors and 3 of the 4,000. Within fortyeight hours, the deadliest storm in the history of modern sailing had blasted through the irish sea, throwing one of the worlds most prestigious races into bedlam and taking the lives of fifteen sailors. Five star book of the 1979 fastnet race in which 15 sailors and 3 of the 4,000 rescuers died and which all sailors know about. Jan, 2015 the story of the force 10 gale which decimated the 1979 fastnet race is dramatic and tragic but the ramifications for sailing continued to unfold for decades. Surviving the deadliest storm in modern sailing history is a remarkable pageturner of a book. Jun 29, 2007 the 1979 fastnet race was struck by a killer storm, as a result of which 18 yachtsmen died.
It was amazing to hear nicks story about surviving the 1979 fastnet race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. The untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet race 2nd revised edition by ward, nick, obrien, sinead isbn. Read john rousmanieres fastnet, force 10 and nick wards left for dead. In 1979, the fleet was hit by fierce winds and huge seas as it sailed the 608 miles from cowes to the fastnet rock off ireland and back to plymouth. The 1979 fastnet race was the 28th royal ocean racing clubs fastnet race, a yachting. In the aftermath of the race and the analysis published by john rousmaniere in his book fastnet force 10, many leading designers and sailors began to question the direction of design trends. Forty years on from britains fastnet race disaster that left. In left for dead, ward writes of the 30foot yacht grimalkin, from which he was the last man to be. Left for dead the untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet race by. When i read they were sailing downwind on bare poles dragging the warps i shivered. A massive search and rescue operation was begun on august 1979 as half of the 300 yachts competing went missing in a 20,000 squaremile area of the irish sea. The infamous fastnet yacht race is under way from the isle of wight on the 30th anniversary of the ferocious storm that claimed 15 lives. By the time it passed, the havoc caused was immeasurable, and fifteen sailors had lost their.
The interest comes from the fact that six started out on the nicholson yacht grimalkin and four survived. For those in peril fastnet race disaster, 1979 from hidden picture productions on vimeo. Nick wards first hand account of the disastrous fastnet race in august 1979 is a. Left for dead tells the tale of the sixhundredmile course of the uks fastnet race.
Aug 12, 2009 the 1979 fastnet race ended in tragedy after a freak storm hit competitors in all 15 people died and the exbritish leader edward heath went missing for a time the disaster resulted in a raft of. Within 48 hours, the deadliest storm in the history of modern sailing had blasted through the irish sea. Forty years on from britains fastnet race disaster that. The 1979 fastnet race was struck by a killer storm, as a result of which 18 yachtsmen died. Freak storm hits yacht race dozens of yachts have been lost and at least three people killed after a freak storm blew up in the irish sea during the fastnet yacht race. The annual graveyard mass on cape clear will honour the dead of the 1979 fastnet tragedy and pay tribute to the many hundreds who risked their lives to save many more. Nick has told the story of his amazing survival in his book left for dead. Jan 16, 2015 fastnet 1979 and the grimalkin tragedy.
Hundreds of competitors have been left stranded and there have been several reports of bodies floating in the sea. After being rolled, pitchpoled, battered and half drowned, and believing the rest of the crew to be. The story of the force 10 gale which decimated the 1979 fastnet race, the last of the admirals cup events in that year. The unwritten half is the account of those who chose the liferaft over the yacht. In august 1979, 303 yachts began the 600mile fastnet race from the isle of. The untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet race audio download. Obrien, nick ward, simon vance, audible studios for bloomsbury. This extract tells the story of the fastnet race disaster of 1979 that launched the biggest maritime rescue operation since dunkirk. After being rolled, pitchpoled, battered and half drowned, and believing the rest of the crew to be dead, he and two others had to make a crucial decision at 0830 tuesday 14 august 1979, aged 17, five minutes changed. Left for dead the untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet race. Left for dead book hennepin county library bibliocommons. It happens every two years, and is a course of 608 miles.
Left for dead, a 2000 book by mountain climber beck weathers. Left for dead the untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet. The fastnet race is the world famous yacht race from the isle of wight to the fastnet rock off the southwest coast of ireland and back. Had the publisher ensured the book include this trios side of the story the reader would discover that ward would probably have also died without the. I found left for dead as well as the other two books to be fantastic reads. The 1979 race began in perfect conditions, but was soon engulfed by the deadliest storm in the history of modern sailing. Aug 15, 2009 thirty years ago, nick ward was left for dead on a stricken yacht during the stormlashed fastnet race. Left for dead, a 2007 book by sailor nick ward about the 1979 fastnet race. Thanks for a great book and a lifetime of caring for those who go down to the sea in ships. Jun 15, 2007 onesided account of the fastnet 1979 race. In 1979, with perfect weather, the deadliest storm in the history of modern sailing took place just a mere 48 hours after the race began blasting through the irish sea, throwing one of the worlds most prestigious races into bedlam and taking the lives of fifteen sailors. The untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet race at. Aug 07, 2007 left for dead tells the tale of the sixhundredmile course of the uks fastnet race. The fastnet race is a yachting race in the united kingdom.
In august of 1979, nick ward began the 600mile course of the uks fastnet race with perfect weather. Left for dead surviving the deadliest storm in modern sailing history book. Wettern, desmond 20 august 1979 fastnet race rescue operation involved 4,000 people daily telegraph, p. In august of 1979, nick ward began the sixhundredmile course of the uks fastnet race with perfect weather. The course is unusual, as it begins off cowes, travels to the fastnet rock off the southwest coast of ireland, which the competitors round, and then back to plymouth via the south side of the isles of scilly. The untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet disaster. Left for dead 2007 horror film, a 2007 canadian horror film. The untold story of the greatest disaster in modern. The race of 1979 began in perfect weather conditions but within 48 hours, the deadliest storm in the history of modern sailing struck off the south coast of ireland. During a force 10 storm in the irish sea in 1979 the nicholson 30 yacht, grimalkin competing in the fastnet race, was abandoned by three of her crew following innumerable knockdowns and the loss of her skipper david sheahan overboard witnessed by his teenage son matt, 17.