Left for Dead: The Untold Story of the Tragic 1979 Fastnet Race - Tapa blanda

"Left for Dead is Nick Ward's moving and inspirational account of his survival - against the odds" Yachting Life (June 2008) "It has taken Ward 28 years to tell his tale but it is a truly moving and inspirational piece of work" Shetland Times (July2008) "harrowing and deeply moving account of the events of August 11, 1979" Southern Daily Echo (February 2009) "Left for Dead, Nick Ward's raw account of desertion and terror in the 1979 Fastnet" Classic Boat (& The Boatman) (November 2009) '...harrowing and deeply moving account of the event of Aufus 11 1979...' PSP Southampton Boat Show (2009)

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. 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. By the time it had passed, the havoc caused was immeasurable. Even more devastating, it had mercilessly taken the lives of fifteen sailors. It had been Nick Ward's childhood ambition to sail in the Fastnet Race, and after being asked to join the crew aboard the 30-foot yacht Grimalkin it was a dream come true. But then the storm hit. Grimalkin was capsized again and again, the skipper was lost overboard and after hours of struggle, three of the crew decided to abandon the boat for the liferaft. Nick and his fellow crewmember Gerry, both injured and unconscious, were left on the beleaguered yacht in the middle of the Irish Sea. Both were presumed dead, and were taken off the priority list for rescue. Gerry died a few hours later, and Nick was left to face the storm alone. Now available as a paperback, Left for Dead is the tragic and inspirational story of Nick Ward's survival against all the odds. It is the story of an ordinary man who survived an extraordinary event. It was an experience which affected him so deeply that for over 25 years his story has remained untold - until now.