All Hands on Deck

A Modern-Day High Seas Adventure to the Far Side of the World

By: Will Sofrin

Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

A maritime adventure memoir that follows a crew of misfits hired to sail an 18th-century warship 5,000 miles to Hollywood

In the late 1990s, Patrick O’Brian’s multimillion-copy-selling historical novel series—the Aubrey-Maturin series, which was set during the Napoleonic Wars—seemed destined for film. With Russell Crowe as Jack Aubrey and Paul Bettany as Stephen Maturin, the production only needed a ship that could stand in for Lucky Jack’s HMS Surprise, with historical accuracy paramount. The filmmakers found the Rose, a replica of an 18th-century ship that would work perfectly. Only there was one problem: the Rose was in Newport, Rhode Island, not in Southern California, where they would be filming. Enter a ragtag crew of thirty oddballs who stepped up for the task, including Will Sofrin, at the time a 21-year-old wooden-boat builder and yacht racer, who joined as the ship’s carpenter.

All Hands on Deck is Sofrin’s memoir of the epic adventure delivering the Rose to Hollywood. It’s a story of reinvention, of hard work on the high seas, of love, and of survival. The Rose was an example of the most cutting-edge technology of her era, but in the 21st century, barely anyone had experience sailing it. The crew effectively went back in time, brought to life the old ways of a forgotten world, and barely lived to tell the tale. Just a few days in, a terrifying hurricane-strength storm nearly sank the Rose, and later, a rogue wave caused a nearly fatal dismasting. And the ups and downs weren’t limited to the waves—with the crew split into factions, making peace between warring camps became necessary, too, as did avoiding pirates and braving the temptations of shore leave. All Hands on Deck is a gripping story of an unforgettable journey and a must-have for fans who adore O’Brian’s novels and the dramatic film adaptation of Master and Commander.

This audiobook includes bonus downloadable content and an episode of "The Lubber's Hole—A Patrick O'Brian Podcast" featuring the author and Captain Bailey.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Will Sofrin (P)2023 Recorded Books

Enjoyed the story, no chance of living this dream

The stories of high winds, limited showers, and faulty bathrooms should be enough to discourage all. And then there the masts breaking...

Pleasantly surprised

I was recommended this book by a Patrick O’Brian enthusiast. Even for those, like myself, who are merely casual readers of the Master and Commander series, this was an enjoyable read. The author has a unique and compelling style. Typically such a style isn’t developed until the writer has a few books under their belt. So I was surprised to learn that this was Will Sofrin’s first book.

Bowsprit and topgallant!

The story is ok. Does not include anything about the film, it ends with the Rose arriving at San Diego. The narrator mispronounced bowsprit as bow spirit and top gallant as tuh gallon.

Bow-spirit? BOW-SPIRIT!?!

The world of sailing and sailing ships is filled with esoteric words and phrases. So much so, in the Aubrey-Maturin books, that it was thought necessary to publish a companion dictionary (“A Sea of Words”).

Nor should the ordinary landsman or even beginner sailors be chastised for tripping over the esoteric language of the tall ship.

But the producers of a book that is about a tall ship experience should take a moment to check the pronunciation—aye, the spelling even—of a crucial component like the “bowsprit.”

Bowsprit. BOWSPRIT. Rhymes with cow-sh!t. Always and forever.

I checked the print edition; “bowsprit” is spelled correctly throughout its many repetitions. (Adventures on and around the ship’s bowsprit figure in the narrative.) In the book it was not spelled “bowspirit,” which even now my device is trying to autocorrect.

Imagine an audiobook in which the word “garage” is pronounced “garbage” throughout. It’s like that. And so frequently that I can’t imagine the producers finding the time and money to edit the “clam” out of the audiobook.

My sympathies to the author.

This book works

Well written and well read, captures your interest from the beginning and keeps it to the end. Not just about sailing or tall ships. The interaction with history, explanation of terms and practical demonstrations of teamwork and personal growth make this not just entertaining, but educational. This book is worth reading and re-reading.

Very intriguing, enjoyable listen

Fascinating actually. A unique true story told with heart. I’m not an experienced sailor so I learned a lot in general. I’m grateful I chose this.

Great book! Simply a fun listen

I loved hearing about all the ins and outs of what it’s like to be a part of a ship like that. Pretty amazing.

A multifaceted read

I loved how Will Sofrin told not only the story of the voyage, but also brought in historical, nautical, and references to the original Patrick O’Brien series.
The reader mispronounced the word, bowsprit as “bow spirit”!
A small point, but it was agony to hear it over and over again. The even an entire chapter on repairing the bow spirit.

It’s a Bowsprit, not Bowspirit

It’s a bowsprit not a bowspirit. It’s a basic nomenclature. This is a basic point of nautical terminology.

Great Story

I had the same issue as others with mispronunciation of sailing terms, such as bowsprit. It was like fingernails on a chalkboard.

The story was top notch! I’ve never been on a tall ship, but I spent a lot of happy hours racing on Lake Michigan and enjoying coastal NC under sail. I did see Master and Commander and will now be trying to find it to watch again. I made it to the Galapagos and will never forget that place! I hope Will has made it there since the adventure on Rose.