Rescue of the Bounty (Young Readers Edition): Disaster and Survival in Superstorm Sandy

by Michael J. Tougias, Douglas A. Campbell

Overview

This pulse-pounding account of disaster and survival at sea follows the HMS Bounty, whose fateful course through Superstorm Sandy would lead to one of the most heroic Coast Guard rescue missions ever...

On October 23, 2012, with Superstorm Sandy fast approaching, Captain Robin Walbridge made the fateful decision to sail the HMS Bounty from New London, Connecticut to St. Petersburg, Florida, believing the wooden ship, a replica of the original, famous Bounty, would fare better at sea than at port. He told the crew that anyone who did not want to come on the voyage could leave the ship and there would be no hard feelings. No one took the captain up on his offer, and this decision would have fatal consequences.

Four days into the voyage, Superstorm Sandy made an almost direct hit on the Bounty—sending the crew tumbling into the ocean filled with crashing thirty-foot waves. Some were swept far from the ship, others found themselves tangled in the rigging, while others were trapped below the surface by the masts and spreaders. What ensued was one of the most complex, dangerous, and massive Coast Guard rescue missions in history.

New York Times bestselling author Michael J. Tougias adapts his histories of real life stories for young readers in his True Rescue Series, capturing the heroism and humanity of people on life-saving missions during maritime disasters.

More Thrilling True Rescue Books:
The Finest Hours (Young Readers Edition)
A Storm Too Soon (Young Readers Edition)
Into the Blizzard (Young Readers Edition)
Attacked at Sea (Young Readers Edition)
In Harm's Way (Young Readers Edition)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250831392
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Series:	True Rescue Series
Edition description:	Young Readers ed.
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	674,522
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.10(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	9 - 14 Years

About the Author

Michael J. Tougias is the author of many award-winning true rescue stories, including the New York Times-bestseller The Finest Hours, A Storm Too Soon, Into the Blizzard, Attacked at Sea, and In Harm’s Way. He also published a memoir, The Waters Between Us: A Boy, A Father, Outdoor Misadventures and the Healing Power of Nature. A frequent lecturer on his work, Tougias splits his time between Massachusetts and Florida.

Douglas A. Campbell is the author of non-fiction books for adults, including The Sea’s Bitter Harvest and Eight Survived. He has spent his career in journalism. For 25 years, he was a staff writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where two of his stories were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He later won numerous awards as a Senior Writer at Soundings Magazine. Doug has sailed his own boats since 1979 and has twice competed in the biannual Bermuda One-Two race.

Table of Contents

Part I

Chapter 1 The Speech 1

Chapter 2 Heading to the Open Ocean 7

Chapter 3 The Captain 14

Chapter 4 Preparations for the Storm 22

Chapter 5 A Fateful Change of Course 28

Chapter 6 Taking a Beating 34

Chapter 7 Rising Water 42

Part II

Chapter 8 Wes McIntosh and the C-130 51

Chapter 9 Problems Everywhere 57

Chapter 10 Unseen Punches 64

Chapter 11 The Dangerous Hours 71

Chapter 12 "We Are in Survival Suits" 78

Chapter 13 A Rushed and Urgent Call 85

Chapter 14 The First Raft 95

Chapter 15 The Second Raft 105

Chapter 16 "Are the Sailors Alive?" 113

Part III

Chapter 17 Helicopter Pilot Steve Cerveny 119

Chapter 18 One Small Strobe Light All Alone 126

Chapter 19 A Swirling Vortex 133

Chapter 20 "Like We've Flown Back in Time" 142

Chapter 21 "Are You Ready to Go?" 147

Chapter 22 Catapulted 156

Chapter 23 Flipped Like a Pancake 167

Chapter 24 Running Out of Time 178

Chapter 25 Held by the Sea 189

Glossary 193

Authors' Notes 197

Acknowledgments 207

About the Authors 209

Other Middle Reader Books 211

Editorial Reviews

2022-06-08
The daring and dangerous rescue of a ship caught in the maelstrom of Hurricane Sandy.

In late October 2012, Connecticut was bracing for the arrival of Sandy, which was moving north from the Bahamas. Capt. Robin Walbridge, 63, who had been through hurricanes before, decided to outmaneuver the coming storm by taking his ship, the HMSBounty, out of the path of the storm. Modeled after the legendary 18th-century merchant vessel, this modern three-masted ship was built in 1960 for use in the maritime drama Mutiny on the Bounty and also featured in two Pirates of the Caribbean movies. After reinforcing several parts of the ship, Walbridge and his 15 crew members left New London for St. Petersburg, Florida. The authors document the crew members’ various apprehensions and misgivings, but among them there was broad respect for the captain. The backstories of these men and women are peppered through the narrative in tidbits that don’t slow the propulsive story. Each titled chapter reads like an episode in a serialized adventure tale, often beginning with the ship’s location and ending with a cliffhanger. The courage of the crew, the high-stakes battles with the elements, and the ensuing tragedy are hallmarks of the tale. Analysis of what happened, which would have slackened the story’s accelerating velocity, is saved for culminating notes by both Tougias and Campbell.

Maintains a brisk pace and clearly depicts riveting maritime action. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews