March 2013 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 23. Book Review Continued from Page 19.


Mike took to the water and learned to sail at an early age. At age 11 he designed and built his fi rst boat, a hydroplane powered with a small outboard motor. He was a talented hockey player, but after several concus- sions he was forced to give up the game he truly loved. However, as Julia points out he pushed the limits of a child looking to see just how far he could push the envelope. His exploits tested anyone he was close to and in time he alienated many of his friends and even brothers and sisters. Even at an early age he had a problem with alcohol. Mike went to private school, but got into trouble when he and a couple of friends were caught with a set of keys to the school and was booted out. He went to the local school and got into trouble, especially after punching the principle. He also had brushes with death, one time he fell through the ice on the lake and was fortunate someone had seen him go in the water.


Mike worked with Outbound Bound and loved it, but he could not stay and came home and got into more trouble. He destroyed his brother’s ice house and the two became enemies. The one that caught me by surprise was the burning down of an amusement park with a friend and this friend took the rap and spent a few years in prison and Mike said nothing. The Vietnam War was going on, but Mike could not be drafted due to his very poor eye sight. Instead he decided to walk through South America. Looking like a per- son down on his luck he traveled some of the way by train, but when his money was taken, he walked the rest of the way. South America at this time had some issues between several of its countries and several areas were very dangerous to be in. This proved just how much tenacity and determination Mike had. Sailing was always a love of Mike’s and he headed to Europe and began look- ing at wooden sailboats. He purchased a 32-footer and began sailing her around Greece. Always in the need of money he tried chartering, but then he got involved in running drugs from Turkey to Greece. This ended abruptly when one of charters got arrested and said that Mike was involved. The authorities came down and searched his boat, but soon left fi nding nothing. Mike was


not waiting around for them to return so that night he set sail and moved down the coast. There by using several people he was able to sneak out of the country with a fake passport. The ones who had been caught spent more than 15 years in prison.


Mike returned to Minnesota and worked on houses. He even got married, but this did not last as his love for sailing was not hers. He purchased a 38-footer and sailed her out of the Great Lakes to the Caribbean and then to Newport, RI. It was here that he found his love for sailing round the world. To him it was the greatest challenge in sailing and he entered the second running of the BOC with AIRCO, a boat he built. Oh, you will be surprised when he gets arrested in the Azores, an old escapade coming back to haunt him. He then entered the fi rst run- ning of the Vendee Globe in DURACELL and was disqualifi ed when he received assistance at Campbell Island in the South Pacifi c. He continued on and fi nished to a huge crowd of well-wishes in France. This fueled his competitive nature and he wanted nothing more than to beat the French at their game. He returned, raced DURACELL in the next BOC and turned his attention to the second running of the Vendee Globe. He was looking for a highly competitive racer and he raised the funds and built COYOTE. He was lacking fi nancial backing, but that did not stop him and he departed New York for France. On the way the ballast bulb at the base of the keel broke off and the COYOTE rolled over. Mike was never found. For those that are looking for a very interesting book for the upcoming snow storms this is it. Julia has done an excellent job telling Mike’s story, especially the dark side. To some they will be surprised by how Mike treated those close to him, but this is a good look at how some people are. Mike’s true love was sailing and especially racing around the world and he was truly good at it.


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