Cargo of Hope

Reviews / Votes

A truly inspiring account of a 'mom-and-pop' charity in a 120-year-old wooden vessel. You really feel you are by Shane Granger's side in his plucky little craft bringing succor to some of the world's most remote communities. -- Julian Stockwin Almost certainly the most heartwarming and inspiring book of this year. . . . Granger's writing is colourful, Macoun's illustrations are charming and funds raised will aid essential resources. * Yachting Monthly * A spirited, awe-inspiring story about people helping people. * Kirkus Reviews * A tale of love, compassion and dedication, Cargo of Hope is an exceptional read. * Windcheck Magazine * This is a heartwarming and humbling read.

Vega is a 130-year-old 55-ton wooden commercial sailing vessel owned by seasoned sailor Shane Granger and his partner, Meggi.

They and Vega's volunteer crew spend their lives delivering medical and educational supplies to remote communities in eastern Indonesia and East Timor.

The book is made up of tales of their voyages and their captivating, beautifully descriptive experiences living alongside the communities they help, intermingled with the Nordic history of Vega, and how the devastating 2004 tsunami in South East Asia led to the ship becoming a beacon of hope for so many through their now annual Mission of Mercy voyage, to deliver aid.

Many PBO readers will be interested in how Shane and Meggi maintain the ship on a 'microscopic budget' as well as Shane's views on seamanship, but ultimately, this is a tale of human endeavour and high seas adventure for the benefit of others. * Practical Boat Owner * High seas adventures, remote islands, and the "art of making a difference" all come together in this fascinating nautical account. Shane and Meggi have seen natural wonders few people on earth have. The reader will feel they are at sea on both fair days and in brutal storms, guided by two highly experienced sailors who have a thirst for adventure and a determination to assist others in need. -- Michael J. Tougias, NY Times bestselling author of A Storm Too Soon and Extreme Survival I found this book vivid, candid, poignant, hilarious, and very important-simultaneously a story of love, adventure, and humanity. You'll be fascinated by the exciting ocean voyages, exotic places on the far side of the world, and the sense of true hope which Captain Granger brings to life. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves the sea, believes in helping our fellow earthlings, and wants a great book that's worth reading again and again. -- Robert N. Macomber, author of the multi-award-winning Honor Series About as far from the typical boring save-the-world tale as you can get and still have a humanitarian mission at its core. If Joseph Conrad had a son, then Shane Granger must be that lucky lad. My advice is not to start reading this book in the evening, not if you expect to get any sleep that night. I am keeping this one to read again. -- Scott Murray, editor, SEA Yachting Magazine Join Shane Granger (and Meggi) in a voyage on Vega from Norway to some of the most isolated island communities in the world. Through storms, hidden reefs, and jungle, against all odds they bring a cargo of hope, year over year, making a difference to the people in the Indonesian Spice Islands, some of which are just a dot on a chart. -- Des Pawson, MBE, historian and researcher of the rope and canvas working trades Beneath the author's self-deprecating shipboard wit, there are unexpected dimensions: great courage, to keep risking his boat and crew; incredible resourcefulness, stretching his fuel and food resources to the limit; and exceptional humanity, to try to build futures for the next generation through delivering the basics of health care and education. Without the author and his volunteer crew, and the unstinting support of his sponsors, many people in remote island villages could never hope to find a place in the modern world. -- Earl de Blonville, FRGS; leader of the first Australian arctic expedition Cargo of Hope is both an exciting sea story and a tale of kindly and compassionate dedication. It's also a deeply human book, celebrating generations of those who design ships, those who sail them, and the people who are dedicated to making a difference for those who need a helping hand. A great read in so many ways! -- Rod Scher, author of Sailing by Starlight: The Remarkable Voyage of Globe Star and The Annotated Two Years Before the Mast Filled with sailing adventures and highlighted with a humorous, down-to-earth narrative style, Cargo of Hope delivers an exciting story of adventure and humanitarian outreach. Shane Granger's breezy first-person perspective reads like stories spun by old, grizzled sailors of the past. * Quarterdeck *