8th July will see the launch of Paul Heiney’s new book – a passage north to the Arctic circle.
Billed as “An honest portrait of human life on the ocean waves and a colourful, good-humoured insight into the private life of the much-loved puffin,” it follows Paul as he sets sail from the east coast of England bound for Iceland, propelled by a desire for the high latitudes, and to follow in the wake of generations of sailors who have made this often treacherous journey since the 13th century. In almost every harbour he encountered maritime history and anecdotes, and came face to face with his own past as he sailed north along his childhood coastline of east Yorkshire towards the Arctic Circle.
But there was one major thing missing from this voyage – the sight of the puffin. To see them and share their waters was also part of Heiney’s ambition. Imagine his disappointment when, first, no puffins appeared off the Farne Islands, then none were to be seen on puffin hotspots like Orkney. When he failed to see puffins on Iceland, Heiney sensed that a new chapter was about to be written, and it is one in which we may have to say farewell to this much-loved and remarkable bird.Withinspiring travel writing and good-humoured reflections on his sailing journey, Heiney brings us this delightful book – a love letter to the puffin, to Iceland and the north, and to the pure pleasure of being at sea.
“It would be hard to imagine a more thoughtful, intelligent and companionable person to go to sea with than Paul Heiney.”– Bill Bryson
“High comedy on the high seas. Informative and warm and freezing. It’s quite a combination.” – Griff Rhys Jones
PAUL HEINEY is a writer and broadcaster. Amongst his ocean sailing and racing, he has completed a cruise from the UK to Cape Horn and back – a round trip of 18,000 miles of which he sailed 11,000 miles alone. His account of this trip was published in his much-acclaimed book One Wild Song (Adlard Coles), and he has since published Ocean Sailing, also with Adlard Coles. He is currently Commodore of the Royal Cruising Club and Younger Brother, Trinity House.
From Adlard Coles PR