North Atlantic Odyssey: Sailing to the Arctic Circle

In the summer of 1982, Gould, his wife and three children set out from Nantucket to cross the Atlantic in a 47-foot sloop, the Free Spirit . It was the second departure; earlier, they had turned back because of storms and illness. The voyage would take them to Ireland, the North Sea and coastal Norway, where they would store the boat for the winter. It was an exciting experience for this Massachussets family, with more adventure than they had anticipated: storms at sea, a collision with a fishing boat off the Irish coast, gear failure, new friends and lots of hospitality ashore. Gould recounts his past voyages; he seems to attract stormy weather wherever he sails. When he reclaimed Free Spirit after the winter, he sailed to Spain and Portugal with his son and a friend. For the crossing home Gould advertised for a crew; it was not a pleasant voyage. This is an engaging book. Photos. (Aug.)