Title: A SAIL AND TALE OF AN EMOTIONAL RESCUE PART 1&2
Description: Description  
Coastal Cruising at its best…A first hand viewpoint from the cockpit!

A Sail and Tale
Of an
Emotional Rescue 
Part l and 2

Thoughts of a sailor back on land with an assignment in life…
An untold Story


Part 3

“A Final Destination in Mind”… “A tell all”… coming soon


By Samuel Phillis


Sailing yachtsman, beware of Murphy and his law!


Book description

A full color picture gift book, ideal as a coffee table pride and a good read “Some say a page turner” 

Men will brave them selves through rough seas of the Atlantic and life, somewhat a metaphor of life...Written for the wannabes, novice and seasoned boater. Even non-boaters…Or even for those looking for a “new slice within life” and want to master something new…… that they never dared before………. 

Boating is a hobby that reflects much of life. Everyone has their own boat to sail. Their destination and route is their own choosing, but we all sail on unpredictable waters that are not under our command. Sam Phillis’s A Sail and Tale of an Emotional Rescue is a book of a man’s adventurous voyage over seas and through life. 

A Sail and Tale of an Emotional Rescue chronicles the thrilling and dramatic experiences of author Sam Phillis and his 30-foot Catalina Yacht and sailing sloop named the Emotional Rescue. Phillis initially preferred the safe enclosure of freshwater, but some dramatic events in his life, and the distant crashing waves of the Atlantic seawater, compelled him to set sail down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and near shore on the Atlantic Ocean. Through many tribulations on ocean and in life, Phillis emerges to tell his amazing tales of daily survival. 

A Sail and Tale of an Emotional Rescue is a factual and humorous narrative of a seasoned recreational sailor with thirty years and thirteen thousand miles of sailing and boating experience. This book makes an excellent gift and enjoyable reading for avid recreational sailors and those wanting to leave their dormant shores of life for adventure. 

Some Book Reviews of Interest: 

• Every now and then at Savannah Connect we come across a book so unique, so individualistic, so off-the hook that it makes us smile. Sam Phillis’s book is such a book! ………. A glorious hodge-podge of an account of his voyages off the Eastern Seaboard..…Phillis’s book is hectic, a deeply personal memoir of one man’s struggle, depicted by his efforts to tame the sea almost single-handed, although a cancer patient, and a self-professed bipolar sufferer, along with going through a divorce……. Sam writes with a funny, engaging writing style and a great eye for photocomposition. ……A Sail and Tale of an Emotional Rescue takes you on what is sometimes literally a whirlwind tour of the Intracoastal Waterways and points offshore…the book is much like the author himself: warm, engaging and somewhat chaotic (there is not just one “ending” but multiple closures and endings…. …..It’s a book that despite its many minor flaws, will no doubt remind you of your own personal voyages, large and small….. Most of all, in a publishing word full of self-important, “literary” tomes of questionable human value, Phillis’s memoir is quite a breath of fresh air in your own sail. Jim M. Editor and Chief 

• “I honestly didn’t know what to think or what I’d find the first time I set down to read Sam’s “Sail and Tale of an Emotional Rescue”. But the more I read, the more delighted and curious I was. I found it hard to put down once I got started and felt I was along with him in the cockpit.”- Dennis N. - Reader and CEO 

• “It seems like Sam writes with an interested “stream of consciousness” and tells it like it really is. He will surely hold your attention and make you ask yourself, What's next”? Seems like he expanded the story in print, by adding the color pictures, but failed to express the meanings behind each shot related to a specific story. For as I know, a picture is worth another 1000 words. Where are the other stories? Maybe he will explain in his next book? More please- Suzie M. - Travel Agent 

• “Sam provides an unvarnished account of two coastal and Intracoastal sailing adventures, Sharing the pit falls and landfalls within his book”. “We all are dreaming about when we will do it, where we will do it, how we will do it and with whom we will do it with.” Sam is not the first to escape to the coast by boat, but the first to write about it after leaving the Charlotte Lake Norman area.” -Chip Richardson, Lake Norman Times 

• “Just a note to say we at the RSMAS Library, here in Miami enjoy having your book, A Sail and Tale of an Emotional Rescue in our collection. We have many materials on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterways; charts, sailing directions, lights list and alike, but your work provides an informal commentary which complements our technical sources. In addition, many of our faculty, staff and students are sailors themselves and greatly appreciate your narrative”. – Helen D. Albertson, PH.D at RSMAS (Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Library- U of Miami. The Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric studies. 

• “The book is beautifully done and everyone seems to be enthused about the book at the signing event”. - Charlotte M- Hallmark Store. 

A book to be enjoyed by readers interested in boating, sailing, adventure, the outdoors, travel and challenges of the wilderness or about life itself. For readers who want to observe others as they overcome challenges and confrontations, especially engaged in by the captain and crew. The story also provides a guided ecological tour along coastal waterways and is uniquely crafted to interact with the reader’s nautical knowledge, level of experiences and personal opinions. Written with an attempt to deliberately take some of the seriousness out of yachting, as well as to include some nautical nonsense. In addition, several stories are left wide open, consequently allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. 

The central theme of this story is the tale of two separate, but similar journeys aboard a 30-foot sailing sloop named Emotional Rescue. Both journeys took place 13 months apart. Heading south from Little River, SC to Charleston, and St. Augustine, Florida and then to Miami was the float plan and goal.

Most often, Sam Phillis sailed solo and sometimes with a crew, confronting and clashing with adversities associated with boating and yachting within unfamiliar waterways and during personal " bad times" and challenging the issues of life. A Sail and Tale of an Emotional Rescue incorporates scenarios related to sailors, power boaters, and other yachters alike, even without reflecting on regional differences along the east or west coast. 

A story that is a factual, true-life, and sometimes-humorous autobiographical narrative about a seasoned experienced recreational sailor confronted with his first lengthy thirty-two day live aboard situation. This compendium of stories is not a quick reference guide, but could be cross-referenced with cruising guides that skim over the areas discussed in this story. Individual essays and vignettes are crafted by integrating layer by layer of freestanding stories along with color photo images related to specific scenes. 

It is meant to be a chronicle that encapsulates moments of "situations and snap shots of time and of events," not always days. While at the same time, recounting challenges along with circumstances and resolutions upon his boat on the Southeastern portion of the Atlantic Ocean and of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). "Cruising" was the plan, but sometimes it wound up as a "race" against time, crewmembers schedules, and antagonistic weather. This is a story regarding boaters and mariners traveling minute by minute, marker by marker, mile by mile, hour by hour and, day by day, and then… just keep pushing on, while sometimes unsure of a destination… 

Part I of the story began during the week that terrorists attacked New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Sam set sail and shoved off on September 9, 2001. At the same time, hurricanes Gabrielle and Humberto traveled in his direction toward the Atlantic and east coast shoreline and potentially threatened all mariners at sea and on the ICW. 

These events left the coastline and waterway nearly deserted and abandoned by most recreational and commercial boaters. It was downright lonely and the camaraderie with other sailors Sam looked forward to never materialized, although "Murphy" and his law jumped aboard, but his company wasn’t needed. Separated from his wife, Sam describes his state of mind at the time as "emotionally devastated" The Emotional Rescue managed 250 miles of cruising during this first voyage, short of the ultimate goal, but impressive considering all the catastrophes waiting to happen.

The other adventure, (Part II), began on October 2, 2002, thirteen months later, while a tropical depression lingered and brewed up at sea for more than three weeks and became classified as Tropical Storm Kyle. It then took a spin and headed toward the east coast, intensified, and confronted Sam’s boat head-on on October 10, 2002. On that October and November, the coastal weather in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida was a bit horrible, unusual, and unforgiving as the weather patterns lingered and at times became pretty nasty. This trip logged 776 miles under sail and by power. 

Perhaps you will see how this story, from time to time, containing elements similar to those within Mutiny on the Bounty, Captain Ron, Gilligan’s Island or Moby Dick. 

There are many lessons to be learned and as well as to be taught! The story presents a wide range of relevant issues that touch upon cruising preparation, crew and passengers, safety issues, the "how to and how not to, and pertinent boat handling maneuvers such as piloting and navigation. On top of it all, how to deal with an unfamiliar live-aboard environment. 

From time to time this book and story conveys serious undertones that are frightening, grim, and often depressing, yet it is exciting and entertaining. Most important and especially of interest is the role of "Murphy" and his law or did "Ship Just Happen." 

During preparation for the cruises and during the journeys, the captain and author faced trial and tribulations of life: separation and divorce from his wife, illness, and disease, along with much more. 

Your imagination will transport you to the scene, sitting with Sam in the cockpit, behind the helm, steering the boat, or just coming along for the ride and acting as "Rail Meat." That is when a mate helps to balance the boat by sitting his or her body on the side, adding extra ballast to improve the stability of the boat, for sailing comfortably while lessening the degree and angle of the heel of the boat leaning in the water. You will find revelations of predicaments and situations that will keep you on the edge of your seat asking, "what’s next?" In addition, these accounts are written as an attempt to take some of the seriousness out of yachting and show that being "bigger or faster" does not always equate to "being better!" 

Boat handlers of all types can share and enjoy time on a waterway but sometimes still are clueless about the environment surrounding them. Every so often, it’s good to have a boat that appears to be moving along a little sluggishly in speed. At least you can then take the time to make more quality observations on where you had just been, therefore providing the "right side" of your brain with visual stimulation from better observing the intriguing environment and surroundings of the coastal waterways and all its wonders. 

While cruising at a lower speed, with less throttle, you’ll have a better opportunities and greater appreciation of a self-guided ecological adventurous tour of the coastal area. Just as in life, if you’re going forward, don’t look back where you have been, just keep pushing forward and head for that next destination. 

As you read, if you haven’t deduced it yet, you will also realize that boats don’t sink; people sink boats. And most predicaments are caused by human error from veterans and beginners alike. From time to time, many boaters fall short in all the skills required for the "how to and how not’s" of boating. 

This is an entertaining story about boating confrontations and challenges with resolutions concerning emotional and physical endurance required upon a waterway, and now and then being "off the boat." At the same time, you will even see how the story might relate to life itself, especially when everything all around you appears or seems to becomes a little rough, stormy, unpredictable, and going all to hell! 


A definition of a "Cruise"

Sailing with the intent to embark, have fun with one or more people, and to be successful, returning with the same number of people who began it with you, as well as, return roughly in the same condition in which you began and you arrive at some inhabitable land with or without your boat.1

Description-Non-fiction, -Organized in seven chapters, epilogue, postscript and index. Perfect bound with sturdy spine- Heavy- duty, glossy-laminated soft front and back covers-8 1/2-x 11 inches. 54,000 words, that includes over 100 freestanding stories- 78 pages. Includes 130 full color photos and illustrations. Index includes 200 entries by subject matters and cross-references. Printed by Berryville Graphics an industry leader in quality digital color printing, who prints over 100 million books each year for Random House. 

1 Paraphrased from Henry Beard and Roy McKie, Sailing, A Sailors Dictionary, 1981; Workman