BASED ON [Link] WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO DIE...
IF WE CAN ALL BE
TOGETHER” -by Gordon Cook and Alan East
A dream to duplicate the round-the-world voyage
The narrator, a 37 year old businessman and his wife Mary have dreamt to voyage around the
world like the famous Captain James Cook. For the voyage, they have been perfecting their
seafaring skills for the past 16 years. They have got a professionally built, 23 metre and 30 ton
wooden-hulled boat, Wavewalker. The boat has been tested for months in the roughest of the
weathers.
The beginning of the voyage
In July 1976, the narrator, together with his wife and kids (son Jonathan, 6 and daughter
Suzanne, 7) sets sail from Plymouth, England. The initial period of the three-year journey (from
the west coast of Africa to Cape Town) proves to be quite pleasant. Before heading east, they
employ two crewmen, namely, Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler to help them tackle one of the
world‟s roughest seas, the southern Indian Ocean. The second day they encounter strong
winds and alarming waves. By December 25, they manage to reach 3,500 kilometres east of
Cape Town. Despite the bad weather, the family celebrates Christmas on the boat. However,
the weather worsens with the passing time.
A catastrophe- the attack of the huge wave
On the early morning of January 2, the family faces strong, mighty waves and screaming winds.
They attempt to slow down the boat by dropping the storm jib. They carry out life-raft drill and
prepare themselves for the worst case scenario by donning life jackets and oilskins. Later in the
evening, a “perfectly vertical”, huge, tremendous wave hits the deck of the boat throwing the
narrator off the boat. He accepts his „approaching death‟ and begins to lose consciousness.
The boat is just about to overturn when another huge wave comes and turns it right back. The
narrator grabs the guard rails and sails into the boat‟s main boom. He suffers injuries in his ribs
and mouth.
Fight for survival
Realising that the ship had water in its lower parts, he instructs Mary to take the wheel, while
Larry and Herb pump out the water. He checks on the children in their cabin, where Sue informs
him about a bump on her head to which he does not pay much attention. The narrator begins
waterproofing the gaping holes. Most of the water now deviated to the side. However, their
hand-pumps block due to debris and the electric-pump gets short-circuited. Fortunately, he finds
a spare electric pump and connects it to an out-pipe in order to drain out the water. They keep
pumping and steering all night long. Even their Mayday calls are not answered as they are in a
remote corner of the world.
Injuries of Suzanne
Sue‟s head swells, her eyes go black and has a deep cut on her arm. On being asked about her
injuries, she replies to her father that she did not want to bother him when he was trying to save
them.
Desperation to reach the land
The family manages to survive for 15 hours since the wave hit the boat. The water levels are
controlled to a considerable level but they still have leaks below the waterline. They decide to
rest and work in rotations. The wave had left Wavewalker in a considerably bad state. Since it is
not in a condition to make them reach Australia, they decide and hope to reach the nearest
island, Ile Amsterdam, a French scientific base. Unfortunately, the chances to reach the island
are very slim unless the wind and seas subside. Besides, their supporting engine had also been
damaged.
January 4 and 5
After pumping out the water for 36 hours continuously, they take a sigh of relief as just a few
centimeters of water is left to be pumped out. They decide to hoist the storm jib as the main
mast is destroyed and head towards the supposed location of the islands. Having found some
corned beef and crackers, they eat their first meal in two days. However, their relief is short-
lived. The weather starts changing for the worse and by the morning of January 5, they are
again left desperate.
Courageous Jonathan
As the narrator goes to comfort the children, he is left spellbound to see the fearlessness of his
son, Jonathan, who says that he does not fear death as long as they all are together. This fills
the narrator with determination and courage to fight the sea.
The ongoing struggle
He tries his best to protect the weakened starboard side. That evening, the narrator and his wife
sit together holding hands, feeling hopeless and thinking that their end is approaching. But still
with all the moral support that he receives from his children, he continues his efforts.
Fortunately, Wavewalker sails through the storm. He works on the wind speeds in order to
calculate their exact position. While he is thinking, Sue gives him a greeting card expressing her
love, gratitude and optimism. Though he is not very convinced, he instructs Larry to steer a
course of 185 degrees saying that if they are lucky they can hope to find the island by the
evening. He then goes to sleep with a heavy heart.
Ultimate victory
Fortunately, they sail on and manage to find Ile Amsterdam by evening. On being informed
about this, the narrator's joy knows no bound. Jonathan calls him the “best captain” and the
“best daddy” in the whole world. Soon, they get off-shore and struggle to reach the island with
the help of its inhabitants. Stepping on the land after such turmoil fills the narrator‟s thoughts
with cheerful and optimistic Larry and Herbie; supportive Mary; a brave seven-year-old girl who
did not want her parents to worry about her head injuries and a six-year-old boy who is not
afraid to die.