Rescue of the Bounty

Disaster and Survival in Superstorm Sandy

By: Michael J. Tougias, Douglas A. Campbell

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Rescue of the Bounty is the harrowing story of the sinking and rescue of Bounty - the tall ship used in the classic 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty - which was caught in the path of Hurricane Sandy with 16 aboard.

On Thursday, October 25, 2012, Captain Robin Walbridge made the fateful decision to sail Bounty from New London, Connecticut, to St. Petersburg, Florida. Walbridge was well aware that a hurricane was forecast to travel north from the Caribbean toward the Eastern Seaboard. Yet the captain was determined to sail. As he explained to his crew of 15: A ship is always safer at sea than in port. He intended to sail around the hurricane and told the crew that anyone who did not want to come on the voyage could leave the ship - there would be no hard feelings. As fate would have it, no one took the captain up on his offer.

Four days into the voyage, Superstorm Sandy made an almost direct hit on Bounty. The vessel's failing pumps could not keep up with the incoming water. The ship began to lose power as it was beaten and rocked by hurricane winds that spanned 800 miles. A few hours later, in the dark of night, the ship suddenly overturned 90 miles off the North Carolina coast, in the "Graveyard of the Atlantic", sending the crew tumbling into an ocean filled with towering 30-foot waves. The Coast Guard then launched one of the most complex and massive rescues in its history, flying two Jayhawk helicopter crews into the hurricane and lowering rescue swimmers into the raging seas again and again, despite the danger to their own lives.

In the uproar heard across American media in the days following, a single question persisted: Why did the captain decide to sail?

©2014 Michael J. Tougias and Douglas A. Campbell (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Great book, I could not stop listening once I was was at about chapter 12 or so

Loved the overall story, had toured the Bounty ( in Connecticut I think) a year or so before it sank and at the St. Pier many years ago…I know many people in the Coast Guard which also made it a great book to better understand their duty, commitment to saving lives and everything that happens behind the scenes so that many of us gave the opportunity to experience a tour of this ship as well as learn about history of tall ships.

Tall Ship Down

Excellent account of sinking of Bounty. Both detailed and engrossing. The narrative gives clues as to who survived and who did not by including first person after the fact information. Yet this does not take away from the suspense. Readers of tales from the age of sail will enjoy this listen.

Tragedy at Sea

I read a version of this in a magazine years ago. This fills in the blanks without a lot of unnecessary backstory (yes, there was a lot more!). Well written and narrated. Such a terrible loss.... And The Bounty had one more
drama left in her, sadly, during Hurricane Sandy and she didn't stand a chance. Regardless. it was very good to listen to, learn about. In fact, I couldn't stop until it was finished! Thank you!

Great story

This is a great story and the narration is great as well. I recommend this book.

. Awesome

Awesome, never knew anything about the ship moves and all the history of them let alone the search and rescue mission