Imperfect Passage A Sailing Story of Vision, Terror, and Redemption (Hardcover)

From the Publisher: Michael Cosgrove had a beautiful family, a successful career,and a lovely Southern California home overlooking the PacificOcean. At the age sixty, he decided to leave that all behind tosail around the world.  In spite of his romanticized vision of rugged individualism andsalty tales to share with his grandchildren, Cosgrove quickly realizesthat sailing around the world isn't going to be as easy as he'dimagined. From a psychotic crewmate, sleep deprivation, and mentalbreakdowns, to stormy weather and hallucinations, Cosgroverides the waves, holding on as best he can to his dream of ?doingsomething grand.? Alone, and thousands of miles away fromeveryone and everything he loves, he is forced to ask himself onequestion: what in God's name am I doing here?  In his attempt to avoid the inevitable (growing old, weak, frail),Cosgrove runs amok. He breaks his budget to outfit the boat andthen refuses to read the manuals. He enters unfamiliar harbors inthe dead of night, hires a violent first mate, and sails headlonginto ferocious storms. In the midst of his adventures, he longs forthe simpler days when his four daughters were still children, whenhis first marriage was still intact, and when his future still seemedbright and expansive. Though driven by scenes of sheer terror, absurdfolly, and deep inner searching, Cosgrove keeps his sense ofhumor throughout his harrowing journey.  Imperfect Passage is the story of one man's perseveranceagainst Father Time and Mother Nature, proving that with enoughwill, one can, in his or her own way, conquer the unconquerable.