Thicker Than Ice

A Sailing Family Finds Their Place at the Edge (Five Oceans)

A true story of poor judgment and questionable parenting, but also of friendship and adventure.

A cubicle-dwelling nine-to-fiver hatches a secret plan to buy an old Dutch sailboat, fix her up, and return to the Pacific via the Northwest Passage.

His wife hopes for a family.

Somehow, both dreams are set in motion–simultaneously.

Undeterred, they pack a single suitcase, their six pound newborn, and board a flight to the Netherlands.

The boat is a slowly-sinking national treasure, her engine a museum piece.

If all goes according to plan, they’ll be ready to cross the Atlantic by autumn.

But nothing ever does, not with a new baby on an intractable old boat like Sentijn.

Hard choices will have to be made if they want to see home waters again.

But, it’s not until their darkest hour–deep in the Arctic–when they finally realize the truth.

They’ve been home all along.

©2024 John A Pennington (P)2025 John A Pennington

Great book

Loved it. I’ve read a lot of sailing books, and a lot of books about the Northwest Passage. This may be the best. It’s interesting, educational, exciting and funny. Very funny.

Great Adventure!

If you are into sailing literature this is a must read/listen. Riveting storytelling and marvellous performance. Strongly recommended.
Thank you John, Kara and Dean!

Authenticity - Monumental Accomplishment

The closer one listens, the greater the accomplishment crystallizes and the proportion unfolds. Congratulations on your continuing life resume. Looking forward to the next chapter.

Great storyline, terrible narration

The recommendation for this book came from the young couple from the YouTube channel Slowly Somewhere.

This is a wonderful story that is terribly told. The cadence of the author's narration was annoying and distracting. It's the adventure itself that kept me listening, and I'd like to hear more of this family's journeys. Just, please, hire a narrator.