A book which will spark a lot of local interest is being launched at Shetland Library at the start of Tall Ships Week.
In the early 1970s, Nick Grainger acquired the Aegre, a Shetland model boat, built in Wick in 1966 by Tom Edwardson of Yell. He and his wife Julie planned just to sail down the coast of Britain but then actually sailed on across the Atlantic and eventually into the Pacific. Fifty years later, Nick has now written The Voyage of the Aegre. His story has a dramatic ending when they were rolled over and swamped by a near cyclone and struggled to reach safety in Samoa.
Nick wanted to launch the book in Shetland because of the provenance of his boat and is visiting from his home in Australia during Tall Ships Week. At the event, Nick will be in conversation with Andrew Halcrow, who is the author of Into the Southern Ocean and well known for his own dramatic expeditions with the Elsi Arrub. The Library will also be displaying a small exhibition of photos about the Aegre voyage, starting the week before Tall Ships.
Nick says: “Ever since the voyage I’ve wanted to share the experience with boat lovers in Shetland. I feel honoured to finally have the chance.” He will be happy to take part in other events or meet people who are interested in his voyage while he is in Shetland. There is a website about the Aegre at https://nicholasgrainger.com.au.
Karen Fraser from Shetland Library says: “We are pleased to host this book launch and exhibition – it is a fascinating story and we are really pleased that another well known seafaring author, Andrew Halcrow, is able to welcome Nick to Shetland.”
The book launch will be at the public library in Lerwick on Tuesday, 25 July at 5.30pm. The Shetland Times Bookshop will be attendance to do book sales and signings.