Marlin Bree - Broken Seas: True Tales of Extraordinary Seafaring Adventures

In Broken Seas, veteran journalist and seasoned sailor Marlin Bree has crafted a series of stories that prove the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. A remarkable collection of well-told tales.

Herb McCormick, Editor of Cruising World and Boating Editor of The New York Times

It is no accident that our history books are filled with adventures of the sea. Sailors and non-sailors are captivated by nautical stories. Marlin Brees new book, Broken Seas, explains in gripping detail tales from both the Great Lakes and the ocean. When reading this book you will feel like you are on board during some of the harshest calamities in recent history.

Gary Jobson, World-class sailor and boating author

Marlin Brees new book Broken Seas will crank up your adrenaline and jump-start your pulse. Brees prose puts you right in the middle of these extraordinary true adventures. From crossing the Pacific in a 10-footer to braving a November blow on Lake Superior, this book will leave you with spray on your face, wind in your hair and an insatiable itching to get out on the water. Dont miss it.

Yvonne Hill, Editor of The Ensign magazine

Marlin Brees first-hand knowledge of monster waves and survival has enabled him to vividly and accurately describe six true adventures in Broken Seas. This book details triumph and tragedy and is a must-read for sailors, and even landlubbers will enjoy these amazing tales.

Chuck Luttrell, Author of Heavy Weather Boating Emergencies Broken Seas is a pleasure to read. The seafaring adventures are well researched, the characters and their struggles come to life, and best of alltheir roots are from the freshwater byways.

Capt. Thom Burns, Editor of Northern Breezes sailing magazine

Wake of the Green Storm: A Survivors Tale

Recommended. - Library Journal

Equals any oceanic adventure. - San Diego Log

This book is a must for any Lake Lovers Library. - Reader Weekly

In the Teeth of the Northeaster: A solo voyage on Lake Superior

Will set your teeth on edge. - Rocky Mountain News

A voyagers tale of sailing solo, occasionally in dangerous dark seas, on Lake Superior. A lovingly written story. - Baltimore Sun

An adventure he encountered several fierce storms - and an anecdotal history of the lake with tidbits on Indians, voyageurs, miners, sea captains as well as tales of wind, weather icy (and sometimes frozen) water, and shipwrecks. Booklist

Bree and his Persistence dared greatly, struggled greatly, and had a worthy run, told with touching candor. Bree is at his best when the lake was at its worst. - Wilmington Evening Journal

Captures the feel and wild spirit of one of the most beautiful but treacherous bodies of water in the world. - Star-Tribune, Minneapolis

Fascinating. -Sail magazine

This chronicle of a solo voyage on Lake Superior grips the reader with a hair-raising account of a sailors encounter with an unexpected northeaster. With vivid descriptions and some fast-paced action, the author places you in the open cockpit of his 20-foot wooden sailboat.
--BoatUS Reports

BROKEN SEAS

Copyright 2005
By Marlin Bree
Illustrations by Marlin Bree
All photographs throughout the book were taken by the author unless otherwise credited

Cover Photo: Clive Dudley
The chapter, The Day all Hell Broke Loose,
also appeared in Ensign magazine

BROKEN SEAS. Published by Marlor Press, Inc. All rights reserved including all under International and Pan American copyright conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including e-mail, photocopy, recording, or any storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, Marlor Press, Inc., except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper or for broadcast.

ISBN-13: 978-1-892147-09-7
ISBN-10: 1-892147-09-2

Printed in the United States of America
First Edition

Distributed to the book trade in the USA by Independent Publishers Group, Chicago Cover design by Mighty Media

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bree, Marlin, 1933

Broken seas / Marlin Bree.--1st ed.

p.cm

Includes index.

ISBN 1-892147-09-2

1. Sailing. 2. Adventure and adventurers. I. Title

GV811.B67 2005

797.124--dc22 2004059712

MARLOR PRESS, INC.
4304 Brigadoon Drive
Saint Paul, MN 55126

Dedicated
to

Loris
&
Will

My Own
Safe
Harbor

BOOKS
BY
MARLIN BREE

WAKE
OF THE
GREENS TO RM
A Survivors Tale

IN THE TEETH
OF THE
NORTHEASTER
A Solo Voyage on Lake Superior

CALL
OF THE
NORTHWIND
Voyages and Adventures on Lake Superior

BOATLOG
& RECORD
A Practical Record Keeper
for You and Your Boat

BROKEN
SEAS
True Tales of Extraordinary Seafaring Adventures

ALSO

BY GERRY SPIESS
WITH MARLINBREE

ALONE
AGAINST
THE
ATLANTIC

Prologue
STORM HARBOR

Chapter One
TEN FEET ACROSS
THE PACIFIC

Chapter Two
THE OLD MAN AND THE INLAND SEA

Chapter Three
THE LOST SCHOONER

Chapter Four
THE EDMUND FITZGERALDS LAST RACE

Chapter Five
THE PASSION OF MIKE PLANT

Chapter Six
THE DA Y ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE

The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes:
the slow moon climbs;
The deep
Moans round with many voices.

Come, my
friends,
Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

- Ulysses

By Alfred,
Lord Tennyson

On Lake Superiors rocky north shore, broken seas crash and foam.

W ED SLICE DOWN THE BACKSIDE of one wave, and then another mound of water would playfully sizzle up and tap us to starboard. Thered be a whump-like noise, a little shove and a small explosion of white - and wed bound up and down, and a little sideways.

Yes, the wind had definitely picked up. I braced myself in the cockpit of my home-built sailboat, Persistence. At the same time the breaker hit, my right hand on the tiller fed a little bow into the wave. Wed slide up and past the wave, down into the trough, and resume our ritual dance with the wind and water. Persistence was handling the building seas just fine.

I was enjoying myself on another solo sailing adventure on Lake Superior - Ive been a boater on the Big Lake for many decades. This was where I wanted to be, on the northernmost arc of the worlds largest freshwater lake, in a wilderness area as unchanged as when the ancient voyageurs paddled through on their way from New France. Around me was a panorama of sky, water and small islands.