Although only a young man of 25 when he set out on this fabulous expedition in 1907, salt water clearly flowed in his veins and it is a real pleasure to be learning, 115 years later of the unique adventure he and his small crew embarked upon in a world that had yet to journey to the South Pole.

I would like the listener to keep in mind when enjoying this book that at that time in the early part of the twentieth century, the Kerguelen Islands far to the South of Australia, to which Capt du Baty was heading; were known as the 'Islands of Desolation'. To be frank, that was as good a name as any, lying as they did at the edge of the known world- just imagine setting out now in a fishing boat with five other people to sail, and then live at the edge of the world- it's almost beyond belief.

Truly, a wooden ships and iron men.

This is a book that I have never even heard of before I found it here on the shelves of the Mariner's library, and yet within just a few pages I have found Captain du Baty to be a kindred spirit who is able to capture effortlessly the thoughts and emotions of those who venture out on surface of the deep.  

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If you have any sailing books that you think would be an interesting read for modern sailors please contact me at [email protected] and we will see if we can bring them and their forgotten voyages back to life here on Rare Nautical Reads.