Desperate Voyage

by John Caldwell

Published 25 January 1991
Stranded in Panama after the war, John Caldwell set out for Sydney to rejoin his wife Mary, whom he had not seen since their three-day honeymoon over a year before. Unable to secure any other form of transport he had to resort to single-handed sailing. After having spent ten days learning the rudiments of sailing and navigation from a book he embarked on a 9000 mile journey aboard the 20-foot "Pagan". Ahead lay a mission that was to reveal in him elements not only of astounding courage and determination but also of incredible foolhardiness. Having been shipwrecked once, his boat's engine and cockpot destroyed by an a shark, he pressed on.