Following the announcement of Doina’s first book in June 2012, Noonsite Editor Sue Richards posts her review.

Published 12 years ago, updated 5 years ago

Child of The Sea

By Doina Cornell

Published by Adlard Coles Nautical (July 2012)

ISBN 9781408178591

Review by Sue Richards, Site Manager – posted 25 September, 2012

I enjoyed this book immensely. Not only is it a real page-turner but Doina has a very relaxed, light-hearted yet informative writing style. It’s cleverly written using short passages within each chapter, each one dealing with a different subject matter, which means for those with not much time on their hands, one can easily “dip” into the book as and when. Doina beautifully evokes the emotions she felt as she grew up on board, as well as the ever-changing atmosphere between four people living in such close quarters for 7 years. It reminded me of forgotten childhood thoughts and those agonizing teenage years, always raising a smile or a chuckle. Whilst this is a really good read for anyone, sailor or non (and refreshing to know that even a guru such as Jimmy Cornell had to start somewhere), it’s also a wonderful memoir for the whole Cornell family of their first circumnavigation.

Official Press Release – Posted 12 June, 2012

Child of the Sea is the true story of a young girl growing up aboard the family’s 36-foot yacht whilst sailing more than 68,000 miles around the world and visiting 54 countries on the way.

From the age of 7 to 14 Doina Cornell, daughter of bluewater sailing guru Jimmy Cornell, enjoyed a childhood that most children couldn’t imagine – swimming, diving and playing the days away in deserted anchorages and visiting some of the most beautiful islands in the world. The book describes in vivid detail a sailing family’s onboard life, from balmy trade wind ocean passages to heart-stopping near-misses with coral reefs and over-friendly whales.

This is also a tale of a girl’s coming of age in the South Pacific, and the difficulties of growing up close to other cultures and values, away from regular contact with school and friends of the same age.

Child of the Sea evokes a unique and appealing childhood spent at sea with undreamed-of freedom, at one with nature and far removed from a materialistic world – until the family return home.

Doina Cornell is the daughter of long-distance cruising guru Jimmy Cornell. Between the ages of 7 and 14, she sailed with her parents and brother around the world. She has been a teacher in France and the Czech Republic and is now teaching in the U.K.