SOLO FLIGHT

A HEART-STOPPING ENCOUNTER WHEN A MIGRANT VESSEL COLLIDES WITH A CRUISING YACHT LEAVES SUSAN SMILLIE SHAKEN BUT THANKFUL

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Susan Smillie's book The Half Bird tells the story of a former Guardian journalist who commits to a life at sea in the immediate wake of Brexit. Her boat is the Nicholson 26 Isean, which she acquires for little money and much work - a scenario many readers will recognise. Her decision to start with a voyage around Britain taking departure from the Solent does not last beyond Land's End.

Many a plan has failed to survive in the presence of the enemy. Some would put in to Falmouth and sell the boat. Not Susan Smillie. She heads instead for the Mediterranean.

Things take a highly unusual turn on passage towards Ibiza when she comes into direct contact with a boat overloaded with African migrants on a dark night. Many of us will have considered what we might do in such a dire situation and here we have the direct account of a thoughtful woman. Her frankly described emotional reaction makes a fascinating read...

"Isean and I were 40 miles east of Alicante, equidistant from mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, flying along under the moon at 0400. The constellations were at their brightest and best, Ursa Major keeping us on course, and I was excited to be on my first solo night passage offshore. I was tired - I'd been awake since seven the previous morning - but who needed sleep! We were over halfway to Ibiza where the water is crystal clear. Conditions were great, a strong wind behind, big waves pushing us fast, right on course. For once, everything aligned.

Then, out of the blue, life, in its habitual way, interrupted with other plans. A radio call on Ch16. The one you dread at sea. 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. Man overboard.' It was Tjoppe and Helena, Swedish friends sailing roughly five miles to my west. I could see their boat Wilma's mast light in the distance.