The Splendid Indian

Peter Barker recounts the story of sailing solo across the Indian Ocean from Australia to South Africa. At the age of 53, put his career into the wardrobe along with his pinstriped suits and did what he always wanted to do - sail around the world on his own. In 2007, he discovered the challenge and vulnerability of solo sailing; knocking himself unconscious; having his boat knocked down twice in a storm; escaping disaster after almost being blown on to a reef and, at all times, testing his nerve to the limit. Peter savoured weeks of being alone in a big, blue sea. He lived a rigorous routine 24 hours a day, day after day. He encountered strong winds and big seas but still found humour in the simple challenges of cooking and eating. He sailed from Sydney to the Torres Strait where he was reunited with the man who taught him to understand the sea. Across the Indian Ocean he discovered new lands and people - Cocos (Keeling) Islands, small pieces of paradise, and Rodrigues Island, Mauritius and Reunion Island. His last challenge was sailing down and around the notorious South African coast. This is a charming and exciting account of a man living his dream. More details: www.barkeraustralia.com

Author: Peter Barker
Publisher: Barker Australia Pty Ltd
Published: 01/20/2010
Pages: 154
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.35lbs
Size: 7.81h x 5.06w x 0.33d
ISBN: 9780646501963

About the Author
Have a go, mate is the message Peter Barker lives by. As a 56 year old Australian international solo sailor, he is realising his dream, taking on the ultimate sailing challenge of crossing all the oceans of the world, from Australia to America and today, continuing his adventure as he journeys on to traverse other oceans and seas of the world. Taking the risk of changing his life and career, he has turned his life long dream into a reality, stepping into the unknown. As a sailor, Peter has had extraordinary adventures and challenges: being alone for weeks at sea; enduring the rigorous and disciplined routine of solo sailing for 24 hours of each day; being knocked unconscious; experiencing his boat being knocked down flat into the ocean; facing horrendous mental and emotional torture as his boat was battered during a 12 hour storm on the Equator; escaping disaster as he fought to maneuver his boat off a reef; testing his nerve to the limit. He has taken his business, management and human resource skills, honed for years in the professional world, applying them to a new career. Peter is a storyteller and gifted speaker; for over twenty years he has presented business development and client management topics to lawyers, accountants, academics and medical professionals. Today he speaks to business, baby boomers and the boating community. He delivers a refreshing perspective of replacing fear, failure, grief and doubt with hope, strength and courage, demonstrating how an individual can emerge triumphantly based on a willingness to, "Have a go". For 25 years he headed up his own specialist legal marketing and client management firm in Sydney, Australia. They specialized in the legal bid process and he is the author of the professional text book, Winning Tenders (RFPs) and Business Proposals for Lawyers. As a boy, Peter's father gave him his first freedom machine, a sailing dingy and his fascination by solo sailors. His lust for adventures was lived as a Boy Scout, achieving the Queen Scout Award (Eagle Award). As a man along with his wife Christine, he gave their two boys a home to have their own adventures and freedom machines. More details: www.barkeraustralia.com

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