Search - Lionheart - The Jesse Martin Story on DVD

Lionheart

Lucas Hainsworth | 10/05/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Lionheart
Jesse Martin

Lionheart is an autobiography written by Jesse Martin, who sailed around the world by himself. Jesse Martin sailed around the world, unassisted and non-stop when he was only 17 years old, trying to break a world record. I wanted to read this book because it looked very interesting. I wanted to know what it would be like to sail around the world alone. This is a story about the journey of the human spirit.
Jesse learned to sail when he was very young in Australia where he lived. He sailed on a flimsy catamaran with his dad and brother when he was 14. He also did a kayaking trip with his brother around some of the islands of Australia. When he was a little older, he sailed around the world with his friend Dave on a yacht. All these trips slowly prepared and inspired him for his solo trip around the world. "I was going to attempt to become the youngest person to sail, solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world (pg. 49)."
Jesse only had half a year to prepare for his journey (because of his age, he wanted to be the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world). He sent in letters for sponsorship to many companies. Jesse's main sponsor was an electric company called Mistral. He also had to pack food for 9 months. He found a nutritionist named Jacinta Oxford. He also had to prepare his yacht, the Lionheart. He had to get sails, solar panels for power, wind vanes, and safety items. After all the preparing, he was finally able to leave. All the preparing got Jesse more ready and organized for the trip. " No gun shot to mark the start, and no spectators. Just my Dad somewhere around me on his small catamaran, a distant observer in the lighthouse, and the setting sun to witness what was the biggest moment of my short life (pg 97)."

The journey around the world had begun. There were lots of storms on the first part of the journey. But, he finally got past Cape Horn, which boosted his confidence way up. After that, he barely had any wind. When he reached the Azores his family was there and he got another boost of confidence and raced towards home. He rounded the Cape of Good Hope and sailed through the finish line. When he got back home, he was greeted by thousands of people and the media. On his trip, he learned what he was capable of doing anything he set his mind to do. But if he learned anything from the trip, he learned more about himself. "But I have the most important ability in the world- the ability to dream (pg 240)."
Jesse Martin set out on this trip to learn. He learned what it felt like to be alone for 10 months. He learned how to sail solo and courageously, but he also learned about himself. He learned he had the ability to dream. His dreams and thoughts inspired him throughout the trip. His dreams led him to learn how to sail, to sail with his dad and brother, and to sail around the world by himself. Because he could dream the world knows what he is capable of, but more importantly, he knows he is capable of everything.




"