The Voyage of the Manteo: The Education of a Modern-Day Expeditioner

Adventurer John Haslett narrates two epic ocean voyages he made over a four-year period in the mid-1990s. Sailing on large balsa rafts that he crafted from ancient designs, Haslett first attempts to reach Hawaii, only to find himself marooned in Panama. In another expedition, Haslett heads for western Mexico and winds up wrecked in Costa Rica. Ostensibly, this modern-day Heyerdahl is attempting to follow trade routes used by pre-Columbian balsa-raft sailors; however, Haslett makes it quite clear that he is really after adventures. There is certainly no shortage of those, including hurricanes, shark attacks, tropical diseases, a U.S. warship, psychotic crewmen and ravenous sea worms that devour Haslett's ship under his feet. Haslett is at his best describing his struggles and the superhuman endurance necessary to mount expeditions of this type. While readers are given little in the way of history, anthropology or psychological insight, the lack is barely felt. Haslett's two most important characters are the sea and the raft, and they come alive on almost every page. In an age when even Mt. Everest and the South Pole have been domesticated, Haslett offers all the romance of an old-fashioned sea tale. (Dec.)