After retiring from their military jobs, Julie Bradley and her husband bought the finest sailboat they could afford, sold all their possessions that wouldn’t fit on their boat, and planned to spend the next years fulltime sailing around the world.

They were seasoned sailors along the US coasts, but had no ocean experience. They took off from France and immediately landed in a hurricane. While their sailing experience saw them through, it definitely wasn’t the beginning they had envisioned for their adventure.

This is the first half of their trip chronicling some two and a half years: from France, across the Atlantic, up the Eastern coast of the US and then south again to explore a wide variety of Mediterranean Islands. From there, they made a quick stop in Venezuela, sailed through the Panama Canal, headed east enjoy various Polynesian Islands and six months in New Zealand. All along the way a variety of adventures involving off the tourist beaten paths on land, interesting people, and amazing sea life.

You’ll enjoy this book if you’ve ever contemplated abandoning your life and taking off for parts unknown. I know nothing about sailing, but enjoyed reading about their unfettered, unscheduled adventures.

The book ends just after the attacks on the US on 9/11. Completing their trip meant heading into waters that aren’t friendly to the US and the west. I enjoyed this enough that I have ordered the sequel, Crossing Pirate Waters. ( )