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Editorial Review Product Description
WoodenBoat Magazine called it "fulfillment of a unique vision."TURTLE DOVE is a true story of a 20-year journey of love.Based on a newsman´s vivid recollections and his detailed ship´s log entries, the book tells how a mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper undertook an enormous part-time backyard project -- the 12-year construction of a big ocean-going wooden sailboat, its triumphant launching, and then a voyage around the world with a colorful collection of volunteer crew members (33 in all), some of whom had never set foot on a boat before.The trip took eight years, involved stops in 40 different countries and included several romances, two near-disasters, nude volleyball in the Caribbean, two trips through the Panama Canal, pool games with tattooed Maori tribesmen in New Zealand, solo trombone serenades in mid-ocean, all-night musicales with native pearl divers in the Tuamotus, and water tag with playful porpoises in the Red Seas. ... Read more Customer Reviews (3) 
Turtle dove - One man's hazard .(*******)
Narative for return to Jack's Blue lagoon with extremes from Guantanamo diary. Tried to track Jack several times , to say hi. Amazed to read about Mad Czech Sid . ? "mad" as Mad Max, DG307 or One who flew over Jack,s nest? Been with J' over 6 months, as he said -I swam to his yacht one afternoon, instead texting CV. I may say , we hit it as 2 free electrons. One screwles boat owner and one pilgrim to April. His question where I'm heading ,I pointed towards the west. He asked what money I had, I hadn't asked what he..Agreed to share cost of provisions and working my passage to some over-there. J's artistic licence-P91: He had a tough childhood (in Bronx)-He told me oncethat for HIM it was a very (very) special Christmas if he rtecieved a single orange as a present."Jack dedicated the book to his grand children, the quote is example of parent's rubbish! (45"WMD deployment). I never utter such crap or folklore tale! Yes,I never before ate peanut butter, butlike J.Carter, I was indeed once married for 19 days. I do not eat cokies, I cooked lentils with vinegard- Jack said tasty. There is nothing more foolish than to lie about oneself.Do YOU know?- Sea sickness, well when in tandem with skip hoisting main, and somethingrises your pipe up - what? I've thrown it overboard (carrot). You? Want Panadol ,report to sick bay ? Life what many people write about is what you can do from it. The father's advice: "what you can't do properly , do not even start." DidJackmentioned that he pulled rope for me or paid my post stamp ? About Gilles and other crew memb., what was their pay arrangement with master of Turtle dove ,I was not privy to.Their choices of should do,should not were beyond me. J" written me into some wishy role in his personal Labyrinth, it's fantasy. Gilles nice young man, not sure of..., now he can read book what he missed. J's report on our time in Tahiti, you can give it miss- is empty. Traveling as Goethesaid is second best to learning, for not so gifted. Jack introduced me to sailing in calm water.On daily base you do what are you told and learn as you go. Between 2 there is no space to delegate or vacilitate. J' needed more companions than crew, the disappointment of his appointments.I sensed No man land and avoided be substitute by watering daisies in his personal desert, maintained a gap of silent reason. In book you read washing of his natural family , for stranger as me to enter itwas in-apropriate. Life of negative success alowed me exist with J' probably longer than any 3rd mate. I occupied my mind in 6 months with jack, by investigating Fr. Dyson proposition to multiple universe - viewed as islands of their own(no valid conclusion),counting critical treshold of plutonium layer when assymetrically compressed,solved. Some other real- 1 -money I worked to make my voyage with J' accountable, not much left for beer in yacht club, drooning about weather fax.2- certain exoticity of traveler, uncommondestination with haves-WEs. Deffinetelynot taking Yupii risks , jumping to waterfalls to entertain, crew with broken leg ,is thing what every skiper needs.Climbed Rainmaker 600m, my most difficult climb so far. American Samoa what a human graveyard prison - Western Samoa , what a vibrant place of living. Stevenson + memorial of 26 natives , shot by New Zealand constabulary 1929in said miscommunication. Fire night at Angie Gray compound, met Kiwi countrymen , clad in black singlets, armed with cans of beer, shouting on 1/2 native dancers "show up your TITS!" Jack liked it. Niue Topo Tapa people reflecting their own space and time. Vavau , here I burnt power pole fusewhile having a go with Gentle Annie. Power cut , not drama as J' made up. Annual maintenance,Jack relished to display competence , at lasthe could do something, what was under his control , and he did it with love.I by instinct turned protruding bleed screw- restoring collapsed engine cooling hoses and circulation to J's marveling,sounded as TV evangelist. I somehow abhore vacuum, with common sense & know-how in demand ,I paid I did where he didn't, expecting the him do the same.Money sometimes cannot buy answer, and those who count it as "theirs" have limited free choice. I learnt to enjoy cleaning a hull while snorkeling and built up dive endurance. J'smouldered for some Home and away.I sensed his longing for eternity. The Fiji, my visas , Jack little annoyed by my immigration liability, feeling me as one who" rides "his boat. That's natural to landlords, no hard feel. Intensity of working to make for next; locals 2$ per day, I 20$. Compared indian slave labourto US's latinos, slowly taking over native's land- in inheritedcolonial blueprint. Luckilly Fiji has not US legal industry to exploitbittreness of division and sell poverty for each other discount. Fiji still has PC = incorect army. Jack more than alone , with nothing to do , abandoned, such is paradox in search for Turtle dove by taxidermist. Evening talk , J' served as The press secretary to RI governor?? Why you leftJ'? We beat that other guy..? In Jack writing I miss nature . Nature of being , just conflict withinadequacyof other crewmen to follow his editorial.In communication he said to me to listen, but he didnot find words to say. It made me wonder if in Jack's order of things , the game started by announcement of scoresat betting office ,without actually game taking place , and him finding it now. The sea the ultimate experience of its own, it can make belief, so called grown men to grow up. J'asked me where next? I.. to the Moon , to its other side. The Girl, J'anounced his new crew. I - "Woman on boat is bad luck!" Place ow a wioman is everywhere! I have it writen at bottom of my tea cup. Just not to vacilitate between 2 lonely would be sailors. Afraid to cheer up J's scheme. Personally , the girlwas another innocent crew specimen , to assist J' in his pursuit with fee. Certainly Jack "meant.." , but didn't make allowance for her in drinking water. "Time and Tides" passage>"On the beach best girl, on the deck best cabin boy." Issuing discussion assured That i am not being read of as Nancy, fellow traveller or pimp. Usefullness of ballast is that you can keep it your own. To NZ, Satnav?dateline= millenium bug panic, lack of nautical competence, air of triangular democracy among crew, incomplete optimism , desperate unknown. Jack's sea sickness, patches with Cialis, fatigue and blur vision. Conciencious insubordination by leaving skiper sleep overtime,perhaps more than log says. J's worry of drift to Philip island, visibility no trust in instruments-Satnav buttons, map full of empty sea, no knowledge of stars to sterr he by, crew in triangulation of trial and error what not do. Observing PC ,vacating their own innitiative. Jack eyes haunted , patch beyond his ear. Said:"we should drink our water mixed with sea. I NO! J' not happy with me..Next idea :"let's use sea water for cooking!?" !NO! Jack don't do it! Jack is pulling rabbits out of hat. Triangulate his worry with girl. Sailing down under more demanding.Nothing courageous in staying on watch in wet weather. No sea dog , still enjoying be under way with reduced sails.Skiper is skiper even on pleasure craft.It takes lot to say NO, to man who confuses aliby with consent.Sea will make you hiding in the cabin not.Sea anchor, I stayed at helm.Read of Jack's numerous misshaps and near miss, while on solo and napping, not my favourite chapter. Would be fool to do otherway. Crew summit. Party congress, interesting to hear J' talking himself to wise seniority, spining me into non-democratic element with low respect for Western cultural tradition. Dejavu (in 5years as grease monkey@CSPD ship.co. captn + 1st. to prove their competence , organised crew to write/sign letter to World annd to Co. Director,"condemning Ronald Reagan's nuclear madness".. Asked to sign! I said " I do not know him ..") Jury left to marry me and girl into single watch. Dismissed..- Jack left to his bunk to log in personal file -Frisco Kid pathetic figure swept from floor of cutting room Caine's mutiny. Good night.Don't blame the girl, she just not noticed to be icing on Jack's cake.Apparently females crewed by J' took time to nest it through. Following day afternoon, asked G to hold tiller, went to wake J'up, weather turned to gale, we were with half torn jib and little reefed main, it was above me. Jack poked head up, went to dress & start engine. He failed , it didn't go. Called me down. E'dead as Do-Do.Tried to figure some quick trick, it took time recover batt, somehow it made HOTOVO. Got up , put her into gear. J' ;"let's take canvas down. Girl went down, we closed holes, fixed life lines,J' went to jib, I steered Dove out of wind. Then I have seen 'IT'- The wave, not Berta's , just South sea gale. I yelled, Jack turned & embraced mast, I clutched the tiller, then I am not sure if water was light green, perhaps? I ha d2secs. closed eyes, we disappeared under. When poped up, pulling down the jib was practically not necessary, made her swing up the waves.(you would do it to) Jack cometh to me in pit, and at that time we were close to each other as only 2 exhausted pathetic humans can be.(small gap left from my perspective) Under power holding against waves , lost somewhere between Poor knights and Breamer head , stayed on watch with J'. Went down to nap, J'&G'shift. My watch, waves become longer a star(which one). J' to sleep pulled lot last 8 hours, sea hasn't in vocabulary pathetic figure meaning , just tired man.4am coast light starboard 6-8 miles. Girl pokedher head from hatch. Gale spent itself. Keeping under engine distance from unknown shore , till dawn.Morning -Relieved as chicken. A few milesfrom entrance to Whangarei bay- Marsden point.J'is up , I go sleep. Nce day, little chilly , mild breeze , shy sun. Revision, immigr.chap- NZ visa ininvalid passp.hadn't noticed, the passport of country which ,its Jacks had chosen cease to have . Asked for funds, shown 500Fiji$ - 3 months stay.Jack little surprised and relived already counted Sid's oranges for Christmas. Whangarei , Jack went to scout ashore , waterr, toilets and shower. My turn to stretch legs, take shover. When returned to nest,in cabin Jack hudled himself under a duvet with girl. She had pretty face, glassy eyes, little embarased smile. Jack face grinned on me his GOTCHA. I said sorry.. Years later in papers: A farmhouse morning,a sheep flies out of open window,scruby farmer stares beyond her,his hand rubbung his underbelly.. comment-..only if she could cook.. Was cold outside, Fathers Unlawfull Carnal Knowledge .Welcome NZ .Next morning ,pulled my pack,ask J' for a picture of the girl, meaning Turtle dove(fine boat), hav estill somewhere. J rowed me to the shore, walked me a few steps. I turned , we stopped..?(what to say) I" So long Jack,thanks, take care." Embarassed silence- pathetic?.Jack wanted to shake hand, and I did not know with whom- Mad Czech, Ahab, Frisco Kid, Christmas orange or Sid who just flew out of his Turtle dove nest ? G.Washington also not liked hands. This id story what jack's log does not cvarry on with.!!! The rest is ultimately Jack'swishfull story,Hip Hop. Us coast guard should use his book on seamanship course as compulsory manual for -HOW TO DO IT NOT..! If Columbus would sail as us , America would still wait its discovery.Asking why G.Bush could not win war on terror and Obama to turn economy with literary trash ? Today J' is ?81, hat down to his persistence not in search of Turtle dove but in pursuit of his hap-hazard Devil's herd. In his narative,what saddens me is his letter Mission accomplished to Ellen. after life of presenting stories of someone else to editorial deadline - the story of his own. I do smile reading Jack's bragging about dfragging bent iron of his ownfrom berth to berth in the Med, searching for Cyrce. The lonely sailor whose difficulty to belonelywas hazardous. Ask me !The most important thing in life is to say grey truth, not to ticketed audience , to OWN children. The end , happy to read of Jack's safe landfall. To meet him and all others, Amateur, was worthy experience. One man's hazard shared by others. Happy ending , beyond belief. If you see Jack Thompson , tell him lucky,all-right.If he de-berthed to high up marina, immigrations already did.Nothing is by chance - what good to make out of it and what not , is not forme to say. Thalasa, Thalasa .. What a mad pursuit.Sid from Toko
jeff''s review
SITTING ON OUR DECK OVERLOOKING A SALT WATER MARINA MY WIFE AND I WOULD OFTEN SAY, FROM HERE YOU CAN TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
IN TURTLE DOVE THATS JUST WHAT JACK THOMPSON DOES. FROM THE CRAFTY WAY HE BUILT HIS SAILBOAT (12 YRS) TO THE ADVENTURES OF HIS 8 YR VOYAGE. WITH A CAST OF EVER CHANGING ALL VOLUNTEER CREW, THE MANY PORTS AND DEALINGS WITH CUSTOMS AND IMIGRATION. WITH THE GOOD DAY WHEN ALL GOSES WELL TO THE STRUGGLES OF WINDLESS DAYS, BROKEN MOTOR PARTS, AND SOME MISTAKES BEING MADE ALONG THE WAY, BUT ALWAYS GETTING OUT OF TROUBLE WITH PLENTLY OF HUMOUR SPRINKLED THROUGH-OUT.
WITH GREAT DISCRIPSIONS OF BEAUTIFUL WATERS-CORAL-VOLCANOES-MOUNTAINS AND THECITIES AND VILLAGES HE LIVED AMONG WITH IT'S PEOPLE.
TURTLE DOVE IS A FANTASTIC READ. A TRULY ONE MANS ODYSSEY
Around the world in 264 pages
Jack Thompson is a journalist/professor who dreams big and then acts to fulfill those dreams. He not only sailed his wooden ketch Turtle Dove around the world, but he also built the craft. One can only wonder what his neighbors thought when they saw him in his backyard melting 10,000 pounds of lead in bathtubs to pour the keel. The story of his 12-year construction odyssey is as much fun to read as the voyaging portion.
For anyone who loves sea-adventure stories, "Turtle Dove" is a special read. Thompson's sense of humor and exposure of his own frailties give the book a dimension other sea tales lack. To follow his dream, the author learned to invest trust, both in himself and others as he sailed from port to port, often taking on crew he had never met before, and in one case singlehanding thousands of miles.
Ultimately, reading "Turtle Dove" makes me want to buy a sailboat, retire from my job, sell my house and set sail. Hmmm.
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