An Ocean to Cross: Daring the Atlantic, Claiming a New Life

“A spirited story of adventure. . . . Highly inspiring.”

It was an extraordinary dream fueled by hope and courage.

Liz Fordred and her husband, Pete, both paralyzed and with no sailing experience, made the unlikely decision to build a boat, haul it 1,200 miles to the coast, and set sail alone to see the world. Their plan seemed impossible, the obstacles insurmountable especially as they were living far from the ocean in Rhodesia in 1980.

They had only time, the gift of laughter, an unstoppable resolve, and each other.

After years of labor, their struggle to reclaim lives of purpose and adventure–lives lived without limits–launched them into the vast Atlantic.

They had the whole world before them–and somewhere in it a new home and a new life were waiting to be claimed . . .

As Fordred’s down-to-earth narrative makes clear, she and Pete don’t measure success simply by the result, but by the process of doing the work and maintaining the determination and courage to carry on. With wit and biting realism, Fordred describes the six challenging years it took her and her husband to prepare for their journey against formidable obstacles (particularly their lack of funds, lots of bureaucratic red tape and unrelenting public criticism). Her account of successes and setbacks vividly conveys how it felt to be in the hull of their ship breaking a sweat.

Life is about how you respond to not only the challenges you’re dealt but the challenges you seek. . .. If you have no goals, no mountains to climb, your soul dies.”–Liz Fordred

Authors: Liz Fordred with Susie Blackmun

Hardback: 272 Pages

SKU: P0234