Undeterred by rescues, novelist ready to set sail again

Michael Hurley, a South Carolina author who lost his storm-battered sailboat on a failed Atlantic crossing and was twice rescued, is embarking on a new adventure. Hurley departed Thursday, May 5, 2016, from France with the goal of sailing around the world. AP 

A novelist who was rescued twice from storm-battered sailboats is embarking on a new adventure.

South Carolina author Michael Hurley departed Thursday from France with the goal of sailing around the world. His first stop is the Canary Islands, 1,000 miles away, where he’ll ride out the hurricane season. Then he’ll head to the Caribbean.

The former corporate lawyer captured international attention last summer when his sailboat began taking on water as he sailed from Charleston, South Carolina, to Ireland.

He was rescued by a Maine Maritime Academy training ship. He used the experience for his new book, “The Passage,” which goes on sale next month.

In 2012, Hurley was rescued by the Coast Guard and had to scuttle his storm-damaged sailboat between Haiti and Cuba.

He says his latest sailboat is much stronger.