Book REVIEW
A riveting story of survival
"For
me, the call of the ocean became so loud that I could not shut it out.
It was my church, my sanity; it was somewhere I actually fitted in. The
deep and mysterious ocean does not tolerate egos; it strips you bare.
It's a violent father and a loving mother, but it's always hungry for
the souls of men"
- Dom Mee
Inspired by a mesmeric true story, 'Kiting the Hurricane' entails a
spine-chilling narrative of how one man battles the most powerful force
on earth while wrestling against his inner demons, to relate a deeply
emotional story ofsurvival. Soldier, Sailor, Adventurer, Privateer,
Entrepreneur and Writer, Dom Mee accounts that ill-fated voyage across
the North Atlantic, a decade later.
2005 was the most powerful hurricane season ever recorded having
claimed thousands of lives in North America and the Caribbean.
Hurricanes such as Katrina and Rita with the power of a nuclear bomb
destroyed everything in their path leaving massive devastation in their
wake.
Dom
Mee was attempting to cross the North Atlantic Ocean in the world's
first boat powered by kites until he was hit by the tail end of five
hurricanes during the deadly season. In mountainous seas trapped on the
notorious Grand Banks off Canada, he battled against the elements to
instigate what would become a brutally honest story of endurance.
"I'm glad I'm not you Dom, having to cross that beast now" a phrase
Dom was particularly not fond of, as it was ringing in his ears from the
night before leaving for that ill-fated voyage. But the Soldier in him
was willing to put everything on the line for a venture that he didn't
even know would technically work.
"But to win in life, you have to take risks", Dom says.
The story unfolds with Dom's comrade at sea, the equally tenacious
kite-powered yacht 'Little Murka'. Trying to organise where everything
fitted in the tiny 6ft x2ft cabin, didn't come easy to a man who towers
at 6'1.
With dimensions that weren't designed for a trip of such magnitude,
nothing fitted into 'Little Murk'a perfectly, including Dom. Maybe it
should be called Tiny Murka, relates Dom, who confesses that many looked
at him strangely having seen how undersized the 'Little Murka' was.
The initial research into kites showed that they could have a
multitude of uses, but many were theoretical rather than proven
practical applications. Well-travelled paths do not interest the
adventurer inside, hence Dom trawled further.
The downside of pioneering is the relentless pursuit of what might
appear to be nothing, while the biggest headache seemed to be launching
kites from a boat. No one had yet kited across an ocean; any attempt
would be a world's first as the early phases of research and development
proved to be nightmarish confirming that technically, this was going to
be extremely challenging.
To add to the growing list of problems, Dom's almost non-existent
kiting experience meant, he had to learn the ropes fast. But in war, the
heroes always outnumber the soldiers. And so he pressed on, pushed
forward and pummeled the odds to get on that tiny vessel to conquer the
monstrous Atlantic.
Without giving the story completely away, Dom overcomes some of
history's worst hurricanes and storms, with only the 'Little Murka' and
his faithful sea bird 'Peter the Petrel' by his side.
Despite the terror of the storms Dom recounts the better side of this
death defying voyage that brings him face to face with some of nature's
most astounding marine life.
From a white sperm whale in the Pacific to having his tête-à-têtes
with large pods of dolphins, Dom recounts peaceful moments being lulled
on the 'Little Murka', while the ocean camouflaged its death wish
beneath. Peace turns to horror as the man also comes face to face with
an enormous 14ft shark, while hogging his 'Little Murk'a that was merely
but 10ft in length, against the beastly Shark.
After his miraculous rescue, Dom wentonto formulate a 4 member team
that crossed the Atlantic in one of the fastest rows in history. A
decade later, Dom Mee has made Sri Lanka his home and resides with his
family, along the pristine coastline of Galle.
Dom now seeks to explore and expand the boundaries of the global
leisure industry with his newest venture, Kew Villas that are
nestledalong the shores of Boossa, Galle.His second book, recounting his
eight year fight against piracy on the high seasis also in the pipeline,
along with three further books that pen his adventures in life.
-'Kiting The Hurricane' will be available in paperback at VijithaYapa
Bookshops, Barefoot Bookshop, MD Gunasena Bookshops, LakeHouse Bookshop
and Makeen Bookshop. |