Synopses & Reviews
Captain Liz Clark spent her youth dreaming of traveling the world by sailboat and surfing remote waves. When she was 22, she met a mentor who helped turn her desire into reality. Embarking on an adventure that most only fantasize about, she set sail from Santa Barbara, California, as captain of her 40-foot sailboat, Swell, headed south in search of surf, self, and the wonder and learning that lies beyond the unbroken horizon.
In true stories overflowing with wild waves and constant challenges, at the whim of the weather, of relationships sweet and sour, of nature’s marvels and colorful cultures, Liz captures her voyage in gripping detail in this memoir, sharing tales of sailing in high seas, of solitude and surprises, of finding connection to the earth and commitment to living in harmony with it. She witnesses how her dream leads her to understanding the unity of all things.
More than 10 years, 20,000 miles, countless adventures, and one cat later, she’s still out there.
Review
"Captain Liz Clark’s intrepid, joyful, courageous, beautifully illustrated, searingly personal, and occasionally harrowing memoir Swell is the perfect antidote to any malaise. Life is meant to be a great adventure, not a package tour. Clark’s story will inspire anyone who yearns to be at large in the world ― and especially those who dream of a life aquatic." Susan Casey, author of Voices in the Ocean, The Wave, and The Devil’s Teeth
Review
"Liz Clark has done what others only imagine. Just traveling alone on a sail boat puts you in a good and different place. Journeying across the Pacific Ocean alone is something most sailors just dream about. I hope to live that adventure one day soon myself. Liz’s voyage on Swell is as enjoyable as it is inspiring." Jimmy Buffett
Review
"Liz has excelled as a surfer, sailor, and explorer, but these descriptions do not truly impart the spirit, courage and humility of her life. She is one of those rare people who has chosen to journey far from the comfort and security of the shore, to risk all and follow her heart’s calling." Wayne Lynch, Legendary Surfer
About the Author
When Liz Clark was nine, her family spent seven months sailing down Mexico’s Pacific coast. After returning to land life in San Diego, she dreamed of seeing the world by sailboat one day. While earning her BA in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara, surfing also became a fanatical passion. After college, she turned her voyaging dream into reality, sailing south from Southern California through Central America and the Pacific Islands as captain of her own 40-foot sailboat, Swell. For more than a decade, she has kept her nomadic voyaging lifestyle going through writing, blogging, photography, representing conscious brands, and earning recognition as a surf adventurer, environmental activist, and captain. She was featured in the film Dear and Yonder (2009), and nominated for National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2015. She spent three years anchored at a small island in the South Pacific while writing, Swell: A Sailing Surfer's Voyage of Awakening.
Liz Clark on PowellsBooks.Blog
My home for the last 12 years has been a 40-foot sailboat,
Swell. I've spent most of that time sailing and surfing in the South Pacific. Life onboard a boat requires 24/7 vigilance...
Read More»