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Worse Things Happen at Sea: Tales of Nautical Mishap, Misery & Mystery from NZ & Around the World

$40.00

Worse Things Happen at Sea: Tales of Nautical Mishap, Misery & Mystery from NZ & Around the World

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SKU: 9781988538761 Category:

ISBN: 9781988538761
Title: Worse Things Happen at Sea: Tales of Nautical Mishap, Misery & Mystery from NZ & Around the World
Author: MCCRYSTAL JOHN

From the mysterious to the tragic, the miraculous to the ridiculous, this collection of action-packed true tales is a fascinating account of our maritime disasters.

Being an adventurous nation with a proud seafaring tradition, Aotearoa New Zealand has had more than its fair share of nautical misadventure. This engrossing account of the worst nautical disasters from New Zealand and around the world were inspired by John McCrystal’s radio series Shipwreck Tales. From heart-wrenching stories of survival against the odds to gob-smacking acts of foolish hubris, Worse Things Happen at Sea will keep you suitably enthralled with every page from the safety of dry land. Including the following well-known maritime tragedies:

• 1968 – Caught in a sudden violent storm, the Wahine ferry foundered after running aground on Barrett’s Reef, attempting to enter Wellington Harbour. Battered mercilessly by the elements, the Wahine was listing heavily to starboard when the order to abandon ship was given. The tragic events that followed became our nation’s worst modern maritime disaster.
• 1945 – Struck by torpedoes, the USS Indianapolis sunk leaving around 880 sailors exposed in shark-infested waters with few life rafts, no food or drinking water and no sign of rescue. Their wait in those perilous waters as hope of survival slowly slipped away has become the stuff of naval nightmares.
• 1872 – Found seaworthy with no signs of life onboard and her cargo intact, few maritime mysteries are as intriguing and mystifying as that of the abandoned Mary Celeste. Were the absent crew a victim of mutiny or foul play? Or was this a clever case of insurance fraud?

JOHN McCRYSTAL has written, ghostwritten and edited 50 non-fiction titles on a diverse range of subjects, including biography, social history, travel, sport, and economics. His latest book is Singing the Trail: The Story of Mapping Aotearoa New Zealand.

Format: Paperback
Price: $40.00