Sailing to the Edge of Time: The Promise, the Challenges, and the Freedom of Ocean Voyaging

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 657 ratings

Price: 13.36

Last update: 09-02-2024


About this item

John Kretschmer is sailing’s practical philosopher – as much a doer as a thinker. And that is the overarching theme of this chronicle of a sailing life. Often amusing, sometimes poignant, occasionally terrifying but always inspiring, his deeply personal account is a welcome reminder of the good life waiting at sea.

With hundreds of thousands of nautical miles under his keel, John’s adventures have taken him several times around the world, with challenging crossings of the Atlantic and the Pacific, a narrow escape from a coup in Yemen, an unlikely deliverance from a coral reef off Belize as well as more serene, introspective passages where trade winds are blowing and stories are flowing. His crew has included CEOs, actors, writers, teachers, kids – in essence, everyone.

John’s narrative is interwoven with practical tips and advice in seamanship, but also, and just as importantly, his hard-won insights about making the most of our lives. He truly believes we find out who we really are, and what we are capable of, far from the shackles of land, when we find a place where time changes shape – days may merge into one another, but minutes are memorable.

To live adventurously is to live more fully, and that is the life John Kretschmer continues to live. In this book he shares his simple profundities that will inspire those who live to sail, and those seeking something more rewarding from life.

Top reviews from the United States

chris hachet
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2024
This reads like a novel. Lots of fun....trying to read 100 books this year and this was a meaningful milepost on the way.
Dennis w Clifton
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Stuff…Nice educational story telling!
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2022
Absolutely the real stuff with discussions to back up the authors (sometimes barely controversial) sailing advice.
Howto safely sail offshore is illustrated with first hand knowlege.
A very good sailing book.
Bruce S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Not your average sailing book!
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2018
This is a great book - more than sailing stories - Kretschmer makes the point that we are living our lives now, and how we spend our time defines our life. Maintaining a spirit of adventure can lead to a full life with no regrets in the end. John's writing does not merely paint visions of his vast sailing and traveling experience, but conveys spiritual feeling and historical context.
PickyPicky
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read.
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2022
John is not only one of the worlds most experienced and knowledgeable sailors, but he is an excellent story teller/writer. The wisdom he imparts is both helpful to all sailors (sail or power) and very enjoyable to read.
The Captain
5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring and engaging read
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
Beautifully written, the book is more than a simply a series of sea stories - harrowing and humorous as they can be. It is truly a voyage to the edge of time, in which, along with Kretschmer, we contemplate how a life at sea inspires one to contemplate the deeper meanings of our existence. Highly recommended not only for salty dogs, but for those who simply wonder what a life of spent sailing the great blue marble is like.
Caleb B.
4.0 out of 5 stars Not a Sailor... but I Dream
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2019
I really enjoyed most of this book. It gets four stars because it was so entertaining, even when I had no idea what he was talking about. I'm not a sailor, although I've always dreamed of owning a sailboat. So some of the terminology or even a basic understanding of the wind or currents was beyond me. But I tried and it really didn't detract from the book. He tells a great story, writes a great memoir, and is very likable. The only criticism I have is that there is a last chapter or epilogue that is all advice about boats, and I understood none of it.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for any sailor going over the horizon
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2018
Beyond Kretchmer’s interesting, harrowing, humorous and enlightening stories, he captures the spirit of being on the water like few nautical authors. He’s reaffirmed my spiritual attitude about sailing and deepened my understanding of offshore passagemaking. Have an atlas or set of charts handy when you read it; seeing the places he describes while you read will heighten the experience. And, as usual, he refers to a number of books that I’ve added to my boating library, so have a pencil on the ready as well.
nickd7
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2019
Kretschmer letting you see a little more than just his sailing passion. Dives deeper into his thoughts on sailings past and future, his close friendships he has formed in his years at sea, the use of electronics, his insight on the "right boat", and much more that you don't see in some of his earlier work. Less of a story collection and more of a memoir. I will re-read it for sure.

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