Black Wave: A Family's Adventure at Sea and the Disaster That Saved Them

Couldn't put this one down. It is written from two points of view, that bring the reader to the same conclusion. As a sailor, I find the narrative extremely interesting, and well written from an experienced wind sailor's perspective. Not to give away the later part of the story, I found it chilling, and poignant. The government employees involved deserve kudos from the sailing community as a whole for the timely and courageous responses. This fine story gives an excellent insight into those of us who voyage in our own boats, or live aboard boats as our life style. I thoroughly recommend Black Wave to sailors and non-sailors alike.

John and Jean Silverwood decide to put their busy daily lives aside and take their four children on a round the world adventure at sea. The Silverwoods feel as though the fast pace of life in San Diego has pulled the family in too many directions. They purchase the Emerald Jane and set of on an once-in-a-lifetime adventure with Ben (14), Amelia (12), Jack (7), and Camille (3). Using the sea and new ports as a school and hoping to satiate John's seemingly endless need for adrenalin, the Silverwoods also have to manage worries about pirates, unfriendly ports, balky generators and whatever the sea throws at them. The close quarters of the catamaran make clashes inevitable as Ben, missing his friends and diversions in California becomes sullen, Jean worries and John slips into old habits and the dream voyage threatens to become a battle of wills. However, the beauty of the sea, the sea life, new ports, discovering new friends and discovering new strengths within themselves, the Silverwoods keep on their journey until the unthinkable happens. The Emerald Jane hits a reef and the family`s survival depends on the lessons learned at sea.



This is an engrossing book that kept me hooked right till the end of the first portion. The portion about the Julia Ann and her crew and fate, not as interesting. I also had bit of a hard time with Jean's excusing John's behaviors (selfishness?) and putting herself down in comparison. That said, this is as much a tale of a family's growth as a tale of a journey

Even though it is apparent from the picture of the handsome, healthy Silverwoods on the back cover, that the family lives and through their harrowing shipwreak, the book is so riviting a read, that I couldn't put it down until everyone was home safe in California. Jean's interesting method of flashbacks and forwards, helped me to understand the state of mind of each of the family members which made for an uncomfortably but thrillingly close identification during the worst of the crisis. Her willingness to make her own and the family's foibles visible to the reader made it easy to know and accept them as the vulnerable people they are in spite of their decision to undertake this adventure in the first place, which for most of us, is way out of our sphere of comfort. John's impressionistic style and his research on their counterpart ship, many years earlier, punctuated their experience with a universality and timelessness that might otherwise not be noticed. It is always great to have a book that keeps you awake!

I have followed the adventure of the Silverwood Family through personally knowing them and reading in the San Diego Union & Readers Digest. When I heard their book had been published, I bought it immediately. Jean did a superb job in describing the details of the family and the whole voyage. I read it cover to cover without stopping.

The first part of the book weaves the background of the family with the beginning of the nightmare, when the Silverwoods hit the reef off Scilly Island. Moving back between each storyline was smooth as Jean described the hours she helplessly stood by watching her husband die a slow and agonizing death, first pinned under the mast, then waiting for help, not knowing if it would ever come. I kept thinking why don't they just use their cell phone, something we all have, then remembered they were all alone in a remote part of this beautiful world we live in. It made me think how fortunate we all are for the technological advances we take for granted every day. The Silverwoods describe taking the best possible precautions, yet one tiny error ended catastrophically. It just proves that taking those precautions for something that probably won't happen can end up saving your life. Brava, Jean!
The remarkable way Ben stepped quickly into his father's shoes as family caretaker is a trait I can only hope my own children would exhibit if needed.
The Silverwood's story has the makings of a great movie - from the family drama to being chased by pirates in the Carribbean. John's near death and survival is just the happy ending movie-goers hope for in an adventure like this.
John's story seemed a bit strange at first, since he talked mostly about the Julia Ann, a vessal that hit the reef around 1855. While I felt he bared his heart and his love for Jean, he quickly covered it up by talking about the Julia Ann. I did get it, though. His love for his wife and family kept him alive against all odds.