Editorial
Reviews
L.
P. Pearson, PM. of
Canada
I
do wish to extend my sincere congratulation to your wife and
yourself for the fine accomplishment of sailing such a small boat
around the world.
Eleanor
Lansing Dulles (Sister of former Secretary of State)
The
first, and only, boat I built was a 12-foot pram. Unfortunately, the
starboard gunwale measured three inches more than the port. It was a
flop. It became a standing joke (spread by those who knew about it)
within the State Department I later served. I'm pleased that Siggi
and Hein's skills in boatbuilding surpassed mine by far which
resulted in a most magnificent vessel they so successfully sailed
around the world. I'm very happy to call them my dear friends.
Mrs.
Grayce
Northcross -Editorial Staff Smithsonian and
Life
magazines
As
a woman my deep admiration for an outstanding venture must go to
Siggi who overcame impossible odds and deprivation, yet stuck to her
man. The book is not only a classic sailing story, but also a tale
of great love and respect for each other.
Jack
Eckhart Hamburg, Germany
February 19, 2000
An
extremely gutsy Adventure
Years
ago I came across an article in the Flying Fish (the official
publication of the Ocean Cruising Club) where Hein Zenker elaborated
on the couple's circumnavigation. A reviewer remarked – and which
is my observation as well – "Luck must be on the side of
those who reach out to achieve the seemingly impossible and
survive". I done my share of ocean sailing (albeit in a much
larger vessel and with a big crew), now that I read their book I
firmly believe that the couple's remarkable stamina and the gift to
improvise saved them from total destruction. Hein has every reason
to be thankful for having a partner like Siggi who (as my wife
pointed out) must have suffered a lot to satisfy her man's
ambitions. The book quite vividly describes the inner feelings of
pleasure found: "away from the dictates of society" or the
mental anguish of an approaching storm when: "for the x-time I
pondered why apparently sane people venture into this mess
repeatedly". What impressed me most is the generous hospitality
they found wherever they landed; may it been some primitive island
in the South Pacific or sophisticated countries like New Zealand or
South Africa. This may well be attributed to the couple's obvious
modesty in every respect. The book is fascinating reading, not
necessarily for those brave women and men who are about to venture
into unknown territory .
Marlene
&
Benno Klopfer
Toronto, Canada March 1, 2000
There
are as many books to buy as there are pebbles on a beach. But once a
while you find a gem. My wife and I took turns reading "West!
Sail West, Man!" You inhale the book! It gets worn in your
hands! When Irving Johnson, one of the most famous U.S. sailors,
admires Hein and Siggi for their courage, it beats any "Gold
Medal". A ships carpenter, who walked the deck of the Coast
Guard's "Eagle" before she became a war prize, graduating
to circumnavigator in team with his beloved Siggi. A book for your
library next to Joshua Slocum.
Bob
Nadel Irvington, Virginia
USA February 20, 2000
Following
a
dream
Just
imagine you are a healthy, workaholic, lumberjack, "Hein",
with a passion for woodworking and an impossible dream ...to sail
around the world. You are extremely limited since you have little
money and a girlfriend, "Siggi", whom you do not wish to
leave behind. So, what to do? You cut down a tree and marry the
girl, of course. You construct a 20–
foot sailboat and trundle it a few thousand miles to California
where you wet the keel. Never having sailed before, you quickly
learn what works and what doesn't, and with confidence of a
renaissance man you start on a voyage of 32000 miles. This all
happens before Loran and GPS, so Siggi in no uncertain terms insists
that Hein learn Celestial Navigation before sailing from Panama to
the Galapagos. The admonition? "Like hell we will! Another
Siggiism? "If you keep cursing, we'll NEVER see land again!
" What happens between these pages is the amazing story of how
Hein and Siggi succeeded, and the adventure they had which rival
"The Perils of Pau1ine." Only the iron will of the two
protagonists enable them to complete the circumnavigation scarred
but alive. What I particularly like about "West! Sail West,
Man! Is that having read the book, TWICE, I now feel that I actually
know these two characters.
"Straight
forward and
to the
point, simply
a book
that shouldn't
be missed
on any bookshelf."
Alcard
Woodrich - Ocean Cruising Club
"My
privilege and
pleasure to
welcome an
outstanding Canadian
couple to
our club
and to read
about their commendable voyage."
Colonel
Ovens - The Royal Canadian Yacht Club
"I
credit myself
having read
most–if not
all–cruising stories
and definitely
place West! Sail
West, Man! in the top half a dozen."
James
Tazelaar - Slocum Society
Imagine
someone sailing
the mighty
oceans of
the world
in a
20-foot sailboat.
One may think
of them
either "slightly
adrift" or
heroes–or both! After
reading their
book I'm
inclined to
give them credit
for being extremely gutsy and well versed in telling it as it is.
Nicely written and highly recommended
to those with a thirst for adventure.
Toronto
Star Editorial Dept.
I'm
honored to
be asked
to comment
on the
book written
by Hein
Zenker. I
read it
with mounting interest
to a
point when
I had
to fight
my wife
over established
priority. Of
particular interest
to me,
as a
former East
German and
of the
same generation,
is the chapter
on the
struggle to
survive the
war and
aftereffects. The
whole book
I find extremely
fascinating and
a reminder
that sailing
the world
should be
taken seriously
and with necessary preparedness.
Erich
Schulte-Detloff - Naval Institute
"This
is not
a bedtime
story that
will put
you to
sleep, rather
the opposite.
Hein tells
it how it
is and
to the
point without
mucho and
fanfare. Sometimes
humorous, sometimes
sad, above
it all
determined to
see it
through despite
all obstacles.
And what
a magnificent
gal Siggi must be! Read about it!
The
Adventurers Club, Los Angeles
Recommendation
for the Blue Water Medal of the Cruising Club of America:
I
know Hein and Siggi very well. We circumnavigated at the same time
and met in many places. Without a doubt, Siggi is the most amazing
woman I ever met. I attest to the couple's superb moral
character and fine seamanship worthy to be considered for the medal.
Frank
Casper – Yacht ELSIE
Recommendation
for the Blue Water Medal of the Cruising Club of America:
A
committee asked me to verify certain dates from my meeting with Hein
and Siggi Zenker and their gallant little ship, the THLALOCA. The
dates given are correct. Additionally, I'm deeply touched
and excited by the fact that so many people recognize the
outstanding accomplishment of this wonderful couple who made a
lasting impression not only on me but on so many members of the
Point Yacht Club. I consider
the couple deserving recipients of the prestigious medal.
Dr.
Hamish Campbell,
Durban, South Africa
Recommendation
for the Blue Water Medal of the
Cruising
Club of
America
Our
hats off
to Siggi
and Hein,
followed by
a deep
bow. We
felt that
way as
soon we
got to know
them and
their little
Thlaloca. Their
big accomplishment
in sailing
around the world
in such a tiny vessel must call up the admiration of every sailor.
We felt richer by being their friends. Exy and I highly recommend
this fine couple for the Blue Water Medal of America.
Mr.
and Mrs. Irving Johnson
Recommendation
for the Blue Water Medal of the Cruising Club of America
"I'm in
the unique
position knowing
the couple
personally and
having read
the first
draft of their
proposed book.
I hardly
could be
more impressed,
of their
writing and
their modesty which,
of the
latter, is
in stark
contrast to
people I
know who
by comparison
accomplished very
little but
seem to
know it
all. It
is a
privilege to
recommend this
fine couple for the Blue Water Medal"
Dr.
P. Tilden - Cruising Club of America
