In 2007, Kiwi musician and radio personality Andrew Fagan set sail alone in his 5.4 metre plywood yacht, 'Swirly
World', to circumnavigate New Zealand. And just to make it more
difficult Fagan included a leg to the
sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands in the notorious Southern Ocean, setting a world
record in the process.
All in all he
sailed over 3000 miles in two months. Facing such potentially lethal conditions
in such a tiny craft took careful planning mixed with extreme determination,
serious fortitude and uncommon daring.
Andrew offers a refreshing perspective on the world of solo sailing, .He tells of having to avoid icebergs, sailing through a Force Ten
storm in the Southern Ocean and visiting sites of shipwrecks at Port Ross in
the Auckland Island group: ‘With the genuine concern of a very fatigued person,
I was sailing for my life and I knew it!’
In a country fed on
a regular diet of exceptional sailing feats, his voyage was immediately
embraced and celebrated. Swirly World
Sails South is an accurate and humorous narrative blend written from
Andrew’s journal accounts and accompanied by photographs, a selection of which appear below.
He offers a unique
and refreshing perspective on the world of solo sailing, bringing the intensity
and self-doubt alive and revealing the extreme emotional endurance required in
order to complete such a long and multi-faceted journey alone.
Even for a non-sailor like me I have to say I was captivated.Why people take on adventures like this is beyond me but I must say it makes for entertaining reading, and I have the greatest admiration for his daring endeavours, even if I think he is slightly nuts!
Note the book is not available for another three weeks yet. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance review copy.
Even for a non-sailor like me I have to say I was captivated.Why people take on adventures like this is beyond me but I must say it makes for entertaining reading, and I have the greatest admiration for his daring endeavours, even if I think he is slightly nuts!
Note the book is not available for another three weeks yet. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance review copy.
About the author:
Andrew Fagan is a
prominent New Zealand writer, singer and songwriter who gained fame in New
Zealand in the 1980s as the lead singer of pop group ‘The Mockers’.
Years ago I lived on Northcote Point during the years when Andrew was with The Mockers and he lived on his boat in Little Shoal Bay. He found out where I lived and rowed ashore on evening to see if I would be interested in publishing his poetry. I wasn’t but recall I gave him some suggestions about how to go about getting published. Over the years he has had several collections published. A multi-talented fellow.
Years ago I lived on Northcote Point during the years when Andrew was with The Mockers and he lived on his boat in Little Shoal Bay. He found out where I lived and rowed ashore on evening to see if I would be interested in publishing his poetry. I wasn’t but recall I gave him some suggestions about how to go about getting published. Over the years he has had several collections published. A multi-talented fellow.
Following the
success of The Mockers 1984 hit ‘Forever Tuesday Morning’, Fagan won the RIANZ 1985 award for Top Male Vocalist. Since ‘The Mockers’ broke
up he has recorded and performed as a solo artist and is also the author of a
sailing autobiography, Swirly World: The
Solo Voyages, which captured his epic solo journey across the Tasman. He
currently co-hosts a talkback show on Radio Live with his partner, Karyn Hay.
NOTE - Release Date: 4 June 2012
HarperCollins NZ - RRP $34.99
Footnote:
Saturday 9 June - 1.00pm
Andrew will be at the Maritime Museum, along with his boat Swirly World,
to meet the public and sign books. 
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