A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey - Tightwads on the Loose

I liked the book mostly but was pretty turned off by the authors political views and obvious disdain for anything to do with the US Military... even while working for them. In any case, those sections were rather small and easy to dismiss. Overall, a great book.

This book is written reasonable well written and the tales of adventure are somewhat captivating. However the childish and petty inclusions of the authors misguided political views are a tun off and damage the otherwise decent flow of the book.

"Tightwads on the Loose – A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey" opens with a map of the Pacific Ocean that showed the voyage of the sailing vessel "Velella" starting and ending in Seattle. Soon the reader is immersed in the plans of Wendy and her husband, Garth, to set sail on their open-ended adventure. And we wonder how long an introvert, whose motto is "always be prepared," can live in such tight quarters with an extrovert whose motto is "let’s just wing it."

These are not rich dot-com people on a yacht. Nor are they trust fund hippies, or newly retired people with a nest-egg, hence the title. But they are practiced sailors who believe in themselves and each other. Later in the book, Wendy made a statement about why it felt important to take the leap (and the risks); leave behind the meetings, deadlines, and emails; and set sail across the Pacific: “Perhaps the path of least resistance, while it offered a temporary respite from the struggles of life, ultimately held no great opportunity for growth, which was what made life most interesting.”

And risks there were! The reader departed Seattle with them -- against the tide. And then there were the shipping lanes to traverse in the fog; the breakdown of equipment needed to keep them alive in said fog; those squalls and mountainous waves, alternating with a total lack of wind. Then they endured scorching tropical heat; polluted harbors; and the possibility of pirates, fishing nets, rocks, and coral reefs. Did I mention the typhoons? The author shared events in a detached, dispassionate way that belies the sheer terror you would expect one to feel. Having sailed in gales, I found myself inserting my own fear and drama into their many near-death experiences.

Yet the dangers were offset by countless magic moments and encounters. As they sailed from island to island in the South Pacific, they sometimes sailed naked through silence under silvery moons in perfect winds and temperatures. At each stop they were met with friendly, generous locals. Their days were filled with new friends, hikes, snorkels and dives. They enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow sailors, and found themselves immersed in the international racing scene. Also, while they did not set out on a “history cruise,” they encountered artifacts of World War II on almost every island. Details of those discoveries added interest and context to the account.

In desperate need of equipment repairs and the funds to pay for them, Wendy and Garth took jobs on a U.S. Army base in the Marshall Islands. As they moved off "Velella," worked at their jobs, and explored the island we learn the inside story about life on Kwajalein and those who lived there. Two years later, with their boat seaworthy once again, Wendy and Garth set sail for Japan via Saipan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Okinawa. Very few blue water cruisers visit this part of the world, and tourists rarely get to see the remote harbors where "Velella" stopped. This sets "Tightwads on the Loose" apart from most sailing narratives and adds value to the reading experience.

Finally, the couple starts the arduous journey from Japan back to Seattle. They are faced with sailing 5,000 miles at the pace of a fast walk, with limited capacity for water or fuel, even food, and, of course, the possibility of a typhoon. They would have enough of everything -- if all went well. This last, long voyage provided ample time on watches for Wendy to ponder what 'reality' would be like for them back in Seattle. After surviving the dangers of their ocean quest, how would do they do back on land and in day-to-day working life?

This is good ol’ straightforward storytelling that doesn't require literary flourish to be captivating. Just imagine spending 24/7 for months on end with your spouse in a 31’ foot sailboat. Just imagine that your world is always moving or changing in one way or another. Now imagine immersing yourself into post 9/11 America only to discover how much everything has changed when you finally return to your home-port.

"Tightwads on the Loose; a Seven Year Pacific Odyssey" vividly details the highs and lows of life at sea and at port. It will definitely appeal for those who are curious about sea voyaging.  Armchair travelers will find a diversity of cultural experiences, historical details, and adventures for their entertainment and education.  Come on board and sail away with the intrepid Wendy Hinman and her humorous and ingenious insights about life at sea.

Delightful tail of a cruising couple. As a long time Kwaj resident I could relate to Wendy's experience there, it's major seduction is that your efforts can make a difference. I was also and merchant marine officer so I traveled the world tied to a ship and I was also a liveaboard on a 26 ft sailboat. Almost all marinas are full of dreams tied up not going anywhere. Not for this couple they live their dream, Wendy takes you along on her adventures. The writing is good but the rich experience she has to share is what really makes the book.

Tightwads on the Loose is an adventure on several levels told with grace and humor. Seven years is a hunk of time to bounce around the Pacific Ocean trusting in yourselves and your relationship to get through whatever comes up and they did. Wendy and Garth had the courage to drop everything in successful mainstream life and take off on a 31 foot sailboat on a Pacific ocean voyage without a trust fund for back up and the gumption to tell ALL about it, not just the pretty parts. It's a great read describing the reality of long term cruising life and the re-entry to the mainstream life transformed in their life perspectives.

It's a tremendous book, - perfect blend of excitement, novelty and human insight. Literally, I couldn't put this story aside; - stayed up too late many nights wondering how Wendy and Garth were going to get out of whatever situation/nautical disaster they'd stumbled into. Heavens, - just how many times on earth did Garth resurrect that blasted motor? Couldn't decide if it should have been canonized or smashed to oblivion. Surely they'll bring two motors next time and carry at least a few spare parts...Tinfoil, bobby-pins and ingenuity can only get you so far! J.R.

If sailing is like sex, touring exotic places is like a drug, and long voyages is like rock n roll ... then Ms. Hinman has got it all in this true life adventure tale. I picked up this book and breezed through it over a long weekend. I'll break this review into four pieces: readability, lowlights, and highlights.

Readability. I was able to move through the 380 pages journey pretty quickly. The prose was readable and light, and didn't have the grammatical stumbles that are all too common in fiction these days. That allowed me to quickly forgot that I was reading, and get absorbed into the trials and triumphs of the story.

Lowlights. As much as I agree with the general political tone of the book, I thought the occasional political observations were a distraction from an otherwise geniune and exciting story. Thankfully, these are infrequent, and not enough to dock stars off the review score.

Highlights. The story was engaging enough to make it feel as if it was me trying to manuever their sailboat into some of the tight harbors, and avoid the large sailboat killing ships in the north atlantic. I thought the portrayal of her husband was grand - thankfully he was aboard or the tale could have turned out very differently. <<Spolier Alert ... I especially liked the irony that this traveling couple that was escaping civilazation on a sailing trip ended up working for the U.S. Army for two years on a south pacific island! ... End Spoiler Alert>>

Overall, I was very impressed and am recommending the book to my friends, reading exerpts to my kids, and getting my Dad a copy for his birthday. Keep up the good work Ms. Hinman, and I look forward to the next one.

San Francisco was getting ready for the 34th America's Cup and I heard Wendy speak at the Oakland Boat Show in April, 2013 just after America Cup expert, Jack Griffin described how the American Cup would be raced - that, however, is the opposite of cruising. Wendy starts her book with a magical map of their mostly exotic Pacific Ocean destinations. I am an unsuccessful sailor's wife (never asked to do a solo night watch) so I was extremely impressed with her seven year adventure. I work as a financial planner and was amazed with how efficient she kept the financial details together. For me, the most fun was Wendy's description of her rather recent terrible time on Kwajalein. My husband worked at MIT Lincoln Labs in the early 70's and our two years on Kwajalein financed his five years of graduate school in Boulder, Colorado.
Wendy's 21 chapters from planning her trip to surviving and wanting to start to do it again are honest, unique and often entertaining.
When Wendy comes back to San Francisco with her new book, I am going to stand in line to get a copy and wish her and Garth well on their next sailing adventure.
Maybe she will call her next book "it's better to go around the world with your wife instead of your father."

What would it take to trade the comforts of friends and family and solid careers for seven years of sailing the world on a poverty-level budget in a boat where your partner could only hunch? In "Tightwads on the Loose" Wendy Henderson is unflinchingly honest about the joys and the challenges of preparing for, living, and ultimately leaving behind (for now) a unique lifestyle she shared with her husband Garth.

Henderson's can-do attitude, keen sense of observation and talent in turning a word and makes "Tightwads" a delight to read. About to embark on a similar adventure, my husband and I devoured this book. It's one of the few we were willing to buy, despite soon limiting all our worldly possessions to the commercial airline luggage coming with us to our boat in St. Lucia.

"Tightwads on the Loose" is destined to become a travel classic for those of us everyday folks who dream of escaping it all, but want a firm dose of reality, too.

I sadly just finished reading Wendy Hinman's book, 'Tightwads on the Loose'. I wanted to keep reading I enjoyed it so much. 'Tightwads on the Loose' is well written and easy to read. Wendy brought to life what it was like living on the small Wylie designed 31 foot sailboat that had none of the complicated systems that most modern day yachts have. Being a previous owner of their boat I know for a fact that it was like camping with no hot water tank, pressure water or shower. I so admire them for their journey on a boat that was built to do just that and to stay within a very tight budget. I hope to read more from Wendy about their travels, and to hear about plans for a new boat and journey.

Now you can journey the Pacific, without all the sweaty sleepless nights, wind and rain pounding on you. Really enjoyed this book, a fascinating glimpse into the lives of true adventurers. The author has a great writing style that puts you in the place and keeps the pages turning. I hope there is another book in the works!

"Weather" you are considering a nomadic life aboard or simply looking to get lost in (real) adventure, Tightwads on the Loose is the book for you. The author does a magnificent job of balancing the dreamy elements of the cruising lifestyle while making the ever present complexities of life on the water a reversion to reality. Going beyond the exciting places they visit and themes of "sailing away" the author adds depth to the story by focusing on the emotion of the voyage home and plugging back in to the world left behind.

While a small fraction of us will every follow in Wendy and Garth's wake, the story applies to all of us, even if we never leave the dock.
Fair Winds....

A thoroughly enjoyable, authentic book from someone who has truly "been there, done that!". Wendy tells it like it is in this intelligent, well-written, and personal account of voyaging for seven years in a small sailboat. She and her husband, Garth, are the real McCoy's of modern day long distance voyaging by sail, . . . knowledgeable, realistic, truthful, frank, and ever so resourceful. A very good account of the joy, the good, the wonder, . . . and the difficulties that are part and parcel of such an undertaking. We highly recommend this book!

I enjoyed this very personal travelogue of one couples cruise of the Pacific. I appreciated the descriptions of both the idealistic expectations and sometimes hard to accept reality. I hope they have finished the new boat and are once again under sail on a new adventure.

Wendy Hinman's account of the 7 year sailing trip is a very fun read. Her stories of adventure, struggle and problem solving with her husband are entertaining and heartwarming. It is a very fun, easy read. Something you can definitely settle in with and lose a few hours! I highly recommend!

This is a delightful adventure for anyone who has owned or dreamed of owning a sailboat. Wendy has captured the flavor and reality of traveling on a budget. She does this with humor and charm.
It was a great read. This is her first book, but I bet it won't be her last.