Review of Bluewater Walkabout

Post by **Angelica Arens** » 31 Jan 2023, 17:19

[Following is a volunteer review of "Bluewater Walkabout" by Tina Dreffin.]

4 out of 5 stars

Share This Review

A sense of adventure and a desire to challenge the ferocious and unpredictable nature of the sea are essential traits for anyone who wishes to sail. Taking one of these trips with a boat filled with teenage boys adds another level of chaos. Blue Water Walkabout: Into Africa by Tina Dreffin, is a thrilling and educational retelling of one of her family’s adventures aboard their sailboat, Scud. The family takes the boat around the African Coast, crosses the Atlantic Ocean, and sails to the Caribbean. Throughout the story, there are instances of bad weather, near collisions, and teenage angst. There are triumphs, failures, and immeasurable growth for all on board.

Blue Water Walkabout: Into Africa is extremely well-written and has a wonderful flow. I enjoyed how the author explores the difficulties of raising children on a boat, as well as how Tina was able to navigate the common struggles of raising teenage boys. She spoke frequently about how her parenting style had to change while aboard. Another part of the book that I enjoyed was the description of the different port locations. The author describes not only the appearance of the location but also the people who worked on and nearby the docks. These descriptions highlighted the beauty of travel. I appreciated how easy this book was to read.

On the negative end, I found it difficult to understand a lot of the sailing language. The author has in-depth descriptions of how the boat is moving or if there was a problem with the boat, but this information went right over my head. I also found that the author had an inconsistent voice throughout the book. She would often describe herself as adventure-seeking and fearless, but on the next page, she would be terrified to leave the ship or go exploring. She also tended to second guess decisions that she made, and if it weren’t for the support of her husband, Peter, then she wouldn’t have followed through. This situation usually arose when her sons wanted to go on their adventures onshore.

I give Blue Water Walkabout: Into Africa 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed reading about Africa and a way of traveling that I had never considered before. It also opened my eyes to diverse types of travel that I could introduce my children to. I would have given it a higher score if there was a little more explanation on nautical terminology. I also would have liked to have read more about the author’s personal growth. She can observe and report on the growth of her family members, but skirts around her own.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy traveling. Individuals who enjoy the beach or sailing will also enjoy this book.

******
Bluewater Walkabout
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon