tradewindpublishing.com
  • Home
  • About the author
  • Tradewinds
  • Me, the boat and a Guy Named Bob
  • THE SOUTH SEAS
  • Home
  • About the author
  • Tradewinds
  • Me, the boat and a Guy Named Bob
  • THE SOUTH SEAS

Picture
WELCOME ABOARD the flagship of C.E. Bowman – boatbuilder and designer, sailor, and author.  For synopsis, reviews, or purchasing options click on any of the three books below, or go to the author's page to find out a little bit about the writer himself.
Picture
Picture
Picture
NEW RELEASE! AVAILABLE DECEMBER 2022!​​
Picture
CclCcli

For those who would like to share a comment, or to view what some readers think,  click  on the comments section below:

8/27/2019

16 Comments

 
16 Comments
graham hill
8/27/2019 08:21:09 pm

11/10 Great book

Reply
fraser maywood
8/28/2019 05:20:20 am

I finished Me, the Boat and a Guy Named Bob in two days - normally it would take me 4-6 weeks to finish a novel of this size: I couldn't put it down.

What a fantastic story - a great story well told. An amazing insight into a slice of history .... highly recommended, well worth reading

Reply
ClaudeAngèle BONI link
8/12/2022 05:37:22 am

Hy Chris Bowman, I met you in Bequia (Grenadines) in September 1984, at Port Elizabeth. I was looking for Bob Dylan's boat so I traveled all the way from France to Bequia(Bequee)I was staying at Julius and Isola Guest house.You let me "jump on board"! Thank you so much. Bob was not there and we had a conversation, you were so kind to listen to me! Bob was in London and I couldn't go but fortunately I met him again in France in 1992. Later I wrote a book myself where I mentioned our encounter! I'm going to buy your book through Price Minister! It already looks great by the cover!

Reply
chris Bowman link
10/24/2022 01:49:25 am

Hi Claude,
Yes, I remember meeting you. A lot has happened since then! I am glad you eventually caught up with Bob. Your book sounds interesting. Send me the title.
Keep well,
Chris

Ross Pobanz
9/9/2019 02:21:41 pm

Me, the Boat, and a Guy Named Bob - an utterly captivating tale of a series of adventures experienced by a young man cruising the world’s oceans pursuing his dream of adventure, romance, and life outside the box. Written in a flowing style charmingly conversational, yet informed and reflective, author Chris Bowman places the reader seemingly inside his life, making you a partner to his cliffhanging, risky escapades.

Facing shipwreck yet again, Chris writes “ I do remember it stood out as a dark and stormy night, the kind of a night when strange riders could have been seen approaching as the wind began to howl.” Countless jewels like this are sprinkled from cover to cover. 

I can attest his yarns, improbable and occasionally hair-raising though they are, are literally true, because I was there, as a shipmate aboard the old, leaky yet durable ketch “Hawcon” as Chris began his life at sea, a life which eventually led to his exotic ship building and partnership with mega-star folksinger Bob Dylan aboard a 68 foot wooden yawl they built in the native Grenadine style, among the palms of yesteryear Bequia Island in the far south Caribbean.

My only complaint I made to Chris about his story is that at 437 pages, it is too brief. Grab it, settle in to your most comfortable chair, and hang on for the ride - hopefully, soon coming to a movie theater near you.

Oh, to be a young man again.

Reply
Carmel Verrastro
1/30/2022 05:55:43 pm

Hi Ross, I met Chris when he was sailing into Bequia, sinking and bailing all night. We were anchored and saw the boat nearly sunk coming in. We, the crew of ZEPHERUS and a lot of locals help get the boat ashore ! A few years later, anchored in Simpson’s bay St Martin , Water Pearl sailed in and I was happy to work some charters aboard ! Do you know how I can get in touch with Chris ? It would be great to reminisce.

Reply
Alexis Andrews link
9/13/2019 06:54:30 am

When I picked up Me, the Boat, and a Guy Named Bob, I really could'nt put it down. I knew some of Chris' story from an interview he did for our feature doc Vanishing Sail but I knew there was alot more to it...especially interesting (for me anyway) the incredible series of events that led to his very risky arrival in the West Indies. And of course I loved the gently chronicled details of boatbuilding on the beach - but I am biased. Nuff Respect to my Bro - a great read indeed!

Reply
Lad Lavicka
10/7/2019 10:31:00 pm

I’ve was looking forward to Chris’ memoir since reading his first book
“Tradewinds” which I enjoyed thourghly. His stories are so amazing and flow off the pages like a tropical breeze. I met Chris 45 years ago in Grenada 4 months after he survived his harrowing trans-Atlantic crossing aboard “Tyree” a 23’ daysailer. His telling of that voyage and his travels leading up to that stuck with me all these years and to finally get to find out where the winds blew him after our short time together was not short of astounding. It is hard to fathom one can find saltier stories written about more amazing events than those Chris Bowman shares in “Me, the Boat and a Guy named Bob”. Enthralling read from cover to cover and I felt like I was there personally experiencing the adventures with Chris.

Reply
Felicity Mitchell
2/10/2020 04:27:33 am

Chris's book about his life before Fremantle is an absolute work of art.
It is seriously as good as any book I've read - ever.
I really did NOT want to put it down so took it up again in every spare moment. He's a master story teller and excellent writer.
My dear friend Vanessa has been faithfully portrayed, as the dignified, down to earth, beautiful, courageous, generous and patient soul that you she is. So I can trust that everything else is true to life and all the more amazing for it.
The adventure is awe inspiring and had me searching for maps and images to supplement my landlubber’s imagination as the story unfolded.
Now I want to see the movie!!

Reply
wendy meacham
11/13/2020 02:29:40 pm

i just finished the book!!! i spent time on boats in all those places around that time!! also i was on a boat that was shipwrecked in haiti in 1977 - lots and lots to relate too. thanks so much for this wonferful book...🍎🍀🌠

Reply
Pete Read
12/3/2020 05:29:58 am

Bought "Me the Boat and a Guy Named Bob" as longtime Dylan fan - absolutely enjoyed the book, not a sailor or even "sporty" but a brilliant read - would have liked an index (to keep track of characters), glossary of boat construction terms/plans of boats built would be good. Big Thanks Mr Bowman

Reply
Crank
2/9/2021 12:22:42 am

Yo Chris, I'm re-readng the one you gave me back in 2016.....Tradewinds. It's been long enough (and my memory short enough) that it's like a first read. Years ago I also gave you a copy of the one I wrote "the Chronicles of the Schooner Lusty I" Did you enjoy it? I'm still in Chiang Mai......going on 32 years now and with the same woman Lin for 12 of those years. Not surprisingly, I've had some medical dramas but so far no fatal ones, altho last year was a tester. You said you're building another boat.....far friggin' out! I would love to hear about it. And get a copy of your other book if it's mailable to Thailand. I'll cover the costs....should I order it from your web site? Look forward to sharing some more news with you....you've got my email now. Standing by matey

Reply
Mike Williams
2/17/2021 07:19:39 pm

Hope you got my previous reply of the 9th. Let me know.....cheers ol' friend

Reply
Graham Cox
11/9/2021 08:51:59 pm

Me, the Boat and a Guy Named Bob is a wonderful portrait of traditional boatbuilding on the Caribbean Island of Bequia, and of the local community that makes that island so special in many sailors hearts, There are also interesting anecdotes about some of the other fascinating characters that pass through, including the one called Bob, and a background story about how the author came to wash up ashore there (he literally did). Although I have never visited Bequia, I've met a few of those extraordinary sailors here and there, and heard many tales about the Frangipani Hotel, a sailor's bar if there ever was one. My friend, Utz, a German singlehanded circumnavigator, came to roost there after two circumnavigations aboard Fauken of Bremen, as did Klaus, on Plumbelly. Chris Bowman brings all these character to life in this mesmerising tale of romance and beautiful boats. This is an important book about Caribbean culture, with an equal standing to Douglas C Pyle's classic text, Clean, Sweet Wind, and even more entertaining!

Reply
Freya Darby link
1/16/2022 01:38:08 am

Your book about Just Now, and Water Pearl gave me several days of exciting reading, One wonders if Water Pearl was saved by the panama people. I was lent your book by Sheila who I understand is an old friend of Vanessa's.
Am now going to order Tradewinds. Any other books on the way ?

Reply
david matzenik
5/20/2022 09:15:29 pm

As a professional yachtsman in the Caribbean during the 1970s, I saw the schooner “Water Pearl” when she was in frame on the beach at Bequia. On another visit, I saw her finished and at anchor in the bay. I always wondered what became of her, so I welcome this interesting, and for me, nostalgic autobiography. I knew some of the characters personally, and knew of many in passing, as I must have with the author, but for anyone interested in traditional boats, its a page-turner.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by SiteGround