Tales from the Waves

Austin Guest's memoir and travelogue from his early working life describes his voyages on cargo ships in the 1970s and early 1980s. Along with the excitement of new places and cultures he encountered tyrannical captains, unreliable equipment, heavy seas, distress calls, excess alcohol, conflicts, misunderstandings, misadventures, lost island paradises and the aftermath of a war zone. His role as a Radio Officer, along with the cargo ships themselves, would soon disappear from the seas, followed by the famous shipping company itself. Tales from the Waves presents some key moments in maritime history and the evolution of radio, the skills and knowledge required to make ship to shore communications happen, and successes and incidents from within the radio room and elsewhere around each ship and port. Some voyages were punctuated with amazing people and experiences, while others could only be endured. A lively and varied read, peppered with humour, history, science, geography and music. This second edition includes additional text and more of the author's own photographs.