Sample
  • Bound for Distant Seas

  • A Voyage Alone to Asia Aboard the 28-Foot Sailboat Atom
  • By: James Baldwin
  • Narrated by: Nick O'Kelly
  • Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (245 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Bound for Distant Seas

By: James Baldwin
Narrated by: Nick O'Kelly
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Bound for Distant Seas begins sailing author James Baldwin's epic tale of his second circumnavigation. His story is seasoned by his adventures during his first circumnavigation in 1984-86 as told in Across Islands and Oceans. Alone with little money aboard Atom, his now-engineless 28-foot sailboat, James embarks on his odyssey without the comforts and equipment most sailors consider essential. Challenging himself to live as closely with the sea as possible, the author sets sail in 1987 from Florida, bound for new adventures on the distant shores of Asia. He does not return home again for 15 years.

In this paean to the sea and foreign lands, the author recounts the best and worst of life on the ocean, visits to far-flung islands, and adventures amid throngs of humanity in some of the world's most densely populated cities. This unvarnished physical and philosophical saga includes encounters with dead-eyed bureaucrats, native angels of mercy, newly discovered WWII wreckage, fellow expat adventurers, rogues and misfits.

The journey takes many unplanned turns as the author faces near misses with lurking dangers, hikes across islands, finds temporary employment ashore, and immerses himself in foreign cultures. Along the way he is tested by sea and society, and he ultimately discovers the priceless treasures of heart and mind that he seeks. James invites you to come aboard Atom for the journey of a lifetime.

©2015 James Baldwin (P)2015 David N. Olberding

What listeners say about Bound for Distant Seas

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    159
  • 4 Stars
    61
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    148
  • 4 Stars
    50
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    144
  • 4 Stars
    53
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Sailing and social commentary

Having listened to this book and it's entirety, I find that the adventure that the author has penned is definitely worthy of a listen. I think that the author is a very deep and intelligent man who wants to open the world that he has sailed to others on the same level. I am certain that his experiences in each of these places touched him greatly. Having spent quite a bit of time in the Philippines, I understood so much of what he spoke about. I am fascinated by the people there and the resilience. Descriptions in Thailand and the Philippines of the subjugation by predatory sex tourists was quite enlightening.

I think that the only negative that I found in the actual reading of the book were some of the pronunciations were not very close to the actual local pronunciations.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

must listen!

what a great life to live. sharing cultures with locals along the way and filling me in on how west ppl have effected simple civilization. lets go sailing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

More than just a cruising book

If you enjoy philosophy and reflection mixed with tales of adventure then this book is for you. The author is unabashed in expressing his opinions on such matters as exploitation of indigenous peoples, environmental protection and addiction to over complicated materialist lives. He is never high handed in his approach, however, but simply expresses a personal opinion as is his right. The sailing stories are thoroughly entertaining, as are the tales of his experiences on land in the islands and countries he visited. This is really a book about discovering the essence of life, and a life well-lived. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I listen to this series regularly.

A fantastic series, and wonderful narration. More than once this compelling story has made me ready to pitch it all and live life afloat.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

More than just a sailing story

James Baldwin is a great sailor, but he is also a great writer. Cruising is 5% sailing and 95% being there, and James' book is just that. His book makes me more confident as I prepare to live my own circumnavigation, and inspired to live my own life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

This was a awesome book. Great stories and adventures. But if compared to his other 2 books I would say this is my 3ed favorite. It just doesn’t compare to is first book, which is the best or his second. All great books though.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great journey!

The story was filled with adventure and laughter. The descriptions of his time, and see your field with fantastic, verbal images, and you felt like you were right there with him.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing

This man is one of my personal heroes, a true inspiration to young and old alike and a testament to hard work and the steadfast belief in the abilities of one's own self.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great sailor, great story

i enjoyed the narration and Im glad I bought the audiobook instead of the print book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Individual Perspective Well Delivered

Starts out as a writer in need of training. Matures in ability as he does in subsequent progressions of his life I saw as a desire to progress as he desires to learn new cultures new abilities and himself. I was very impressed with this back story of the author maturing into a selfless human contributing to his relationships his relationships with the indigenous peoples he worked and traveled with as though they were family and his maturing as a skilled poetic author. Well thought out and well delivered. To stay with this story rewards you with tantalizing tales and introspective philosophy we all can appreciate. Well Done!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!