Islands in a Circle Sea

Islands in a Circle Sea captures the great diversity and sheer magic of the islands to be found in and around the North Atlantic Ocean, and which Sandra and David Clayton discover sailing their catamaran Voyager. The lush, volcanic Azores. Bahamian coral cays. Bermuda. The historic whaling ports of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Manhattan’s last pre-9/11 summer. England’s remote Scilly Isles. With wry humour, and a keen eye, at one moment Sandra can make you laugh at some aspect of domestic life afloat, or revel in a luminous sunset, then transfix you with the terrifying effects of a raging Atlantic gale on a small boat with a crew of only two. Her evocation of the seascapes and islands create pictures in the mind. The marine life is unforgettable, as is the warmth and kindness of the people the Claytons meet along the way. Sandra’s writing is enjoyed by many different people. Adventurers. Travellers, actual and armchair. Those who like to read about places they may never visit, or revisit some from a different perspective. And, of course, sailors. This is also a book about two people who gave up home and jobs to have a final fling with life before age and infirmity left them looking over their shoulders thinking, ‘If only …’ It is a voyage taken at a particular time. With freedom to roam. In a world about to change forever.