linda K Ford Author www.lindakfordauthor.com Category:  Inspirational Publisher: Linda K Ford Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 250 Copyright: May 6, 2018 On May 5th, 1994, at 9.30 am on a chilly, sunlit day, Ebony a 36ft Roberts Spray yacht, left the safety of Lyttelton Harbour in New Zealand, to venture into the unknown, where nothing would be predictable. The voyage plan was to follow the famous trade wind route, sailing from New Zealand to England. All too soon they found themselves battling their way to Sydney, Australia, their dream quickly turning into their worst nightmare. Caught in a ruthless storm with no contact with the outside world, they were truly alone. All the romantic notions of the ultimate cruising life disappeared into oblivion. Step aboard Ebony and take an adventure, an epic 15-month voyage. Experience this day-to-day passionate tale, packed with intrigue, and at times suspense. Experience the delights of the lands visited and learn more about the world of international sailing. This was a life changing adventure, with a dramatic, unexpected, ending. Buy Now On May 5th, 1994, at 9.30 am on a chilly, sunlit day, Ebony a 36ft Roberts Spray yacht, left the safety of Lyttelton Harbour in New Zealand, to venture into the unknown, where nothing would be predictable. The voyage plan was to follow the famous trade wind route, sailing from New Zealand to England. All too soon they found themselves battling their way to Sydney, Australia, their dream quickly turning into their worst nightmare. Caught in a ruthless storm with no contact with the outside world, they were truly alone. All the romantic notions of the ultimate cruising life disappeared into oblivion. Step on board Ebony and take an adventure, an epic 15-month voyage. Experience this day-to-day passionate tale, packed with intrigue, and at times suspense. Experience the delights of the lands visited and learn more about the world of international sailing. This was a life changing adventure, with a dramatic, unexpected, ending. Note: Caution To The Wind is in colour and contains colour photos. https://www.lindakfordauthor.com/books                    Caution to the Wind Book Advert by Hugh Chaston from Hugh Chaston on Vimeo. Excerpt Table of Contents Map of the route travelled 01. A Dream or Reality 02. Finding the Right Yacht 03. Oodles of Preparations 04. May 5th D-Day 05. Set Sail for Sydney 06. Port Taranaki & Mike’s Decision 07. Thoughts of Flying to Brisbane 08. The Storm 09. Hasty Getaway 10. Change of Course to Nouméa 11. The Arrival 12. The Delights of Day-Sailing up the East Coast of Australia 13. Darwin 14. The Plague 15. Ashmore Reef & Contact with Ocean Reaper 16. Christmas Island 17. Sri Lanka 18. A Pleasant Sojourn by Train 19. The Question of India 20. Paradise at the Maldives 21. Oman or Mukalla ‘Yemen’? 22. Pakistani Friends 23. Fun Times at Mukalla 24. The Red Sea & its Many Guises 25. Stepping Back in Time in ‘Suakin’ 26. Convoy up The Red Sea 27. Meeting with the Prince 28. Big Decisions: to Continue or to Fly Home 29. Freedom from the Red Sea 30. Compass Problems & Repairs at Paphos ‘Cyprus’ 31. Change of Course to Kastellorizon 32. Sailing Overload 33. The Beauty of Stromboli 34. Port St Louis & the Canal & River Experience 35. The Beauty of Lyon 36. Ebony in Paris 37. Across The English Channel 38. What after Cruising? About the Author Glossary of Sailing Terms e-book available www.lindakfordauthor.com

Caution to the Wind
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Five Stars!

Caution to the Wind by Linda K Ford is a powerful memoir that had me spellbound — at first I thought it was fiction — a breathtaking adventure across the seas and a battle against the worst of nature’s tempers. The story begins with Geoff telling Linda, the
narrator, in a matter-of-fact tone: “I've had a yearning to sail to England ... I've reached a stage in my life where if I don't make the
attempt now, it may be lost forever.” So saying, he invites her to plan for the adventure. And she does. They plan for months and finally set out aboard the Ebony, a 36-ft Roberts Spray on May 5th 1994. The plan is to travel from New Zealand through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean, across the Med and motor up through the French canals to Calais, and finally crossing to England, but that
never happened. The crew find themselves fighting their way against a devastating storm to Sydney.
The writing is cinematic and the reader is left in no doubt that the narrator played an important part in this adventure. The setting is wonderful and it captures the feeling of being at sea, the elements of the weather and environmental aspects with vivid detail, like the sound of the surf sporadically pounding against the shore, the swirl of the long strands of kelp, and the stony grey surfaces against which the water laps. Linda K Ford writes with grace and uses a
language that vividly depicts her kinship with the water. The reader follows the crew in their day-to-day life for many months. The
narrative is intriguing, the prose exquisitely beautiful and lyrical at
times, and the events well-structured to keep readers wanting to know what happens next. Love, friendship, and adventure are
among the themes expertly written into the narrative. I couldn’t put this one down. Linda K Ford will make you want to pack your bags
and set off for the sea.


Caution to the Wind
"She and her partner answered the call of the sea. They wanted to heed to the breeze and sway to the wind. Such was the image of what would be expected of the sojourn. The reality was different. Marred with seasickness, a faulty water trap, uncooperative winds, and even loss of a crew member, Lin and Geoff were in for the ride of their lives. So many hurdles thrown into their plans and expectations. Frequently doubting their plans. Getting on each other’s nerves at some point. This is an outline of the journey from New Zealand to England. With an unexpected end, this story is one of a kind.

In Caution to the Wind the author does not leave even the bad parts untold. If you are going to tell a story, tell the whole of it. That is what Linda Ford has done. She has given the reader an inside view into her adventure. Her passion for the sea is evident in her narration. However, she does not let her expertise boggle the reader’s mind. She tells her story in simple language. Even providing a glossary in the back which will come in handy because this book is immersive.

Linda has quite the writing skill. Her descriptions are vivid which is perfect for the many picturesque scenes that this story sails into. The book is fairly short and can be read in one siting. From the first page, I was taken with Lin and Geoff, and did not want to put the story down until the end. The author clearly knows how to capture the readers attention.

You know when you walk up to a group of people having a conversation and it takes you a little while to catch up? That is the feeling one might experience in the beginning. The first chapter sort of starts in the middle. It feels like there should have been something before that first chapter. However, you will catch on quickly to the flow of the story.

The chapters are really short and lends to the idea that this is more of a journal with the chapters being akin to journal entries of sorts, but I was left wanting a bit more structure to allow me to be immersed in this fantastic story even further.

Some talk about bravery. Others talk about going for it. This story is inspiring in it’s ability to unveil a story that captures both of these things. I mean if Lin and Geoff can stand against treacherous weather at sea for months with overlapping disappointments, surely no goal is too ambitious. This book will have you on the edge of your seat then it will have you off that seat going after whatever that goal is that you set aside. The story is one big adventurous metaphor for the way to live life."

"What a great book!" - Literary Titan