Book notes: Red Sky in Mourning

By Tami Oldham Ashcraft.

Got this book from my sister a year ago. I took it with me to the Swiftsure sailing race over Memorial Day weekend.

In 1983, the author survived 41 days adrift on the 44’ Ketch sailboat Hazana. They were caught under sail in Hurricane Raymod and her fiance Richard Sharp was swept overboard and the ship was de-masted. The author jury-rigged a sail and dead-reckoned a route to Hawaii at 2 knots.

The life Tami lived in her young 20s sounded like so much fun. She drove her van to the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, surfed for a bit, then crewed for sail boats around the Pacific. Why haven’t any of the rest of us thought of this?

My favorite character was the voice in her head. You’re just saying that. No, really!

The Hazana was restored and is currently at Waikiki Yacht Harbor.

The author now lives on San Juan Island. She talks about the joy of hiking up Young Hill, which brought a smile to my face because we just did that same hike a few weeks ago!

Quick read. Highly recommended!