Manry at Sea: In the Wake of a Dream

What a wonderful and fascinating film ! Astounding feat to sail a tiny sailboat about the size of a couch across the North Atlantic with its notoriously bad weather. Storing enough food and water for a three month voyage is daunting enough plus spares for things that might break (like the rudder that did) and the handicap of being washed overboard a half dozen times. In those days before GPS or modern navigation technology , he had to teach himself celestial navigation to keep track of where he was. No room for a two way radio much less batteries or photovoltaic panels to charge them with. He had to be really self sufficient and couldn't call for help.

If you've read his book, Tinkerbelle you know the meticulous planning that went into the voyage, but what this film does so well is focus on the voyage itself (Aptly titled "Manry at Sea" and then the crowd of 50 thousand people that welcomed him to England at the end of the feat. Words on a page can't convey a sense of the crowd and the drama concerning radio and TV coverage with everyone trying to scoop the competition. In this film you really experience that up close.

I had an image of him from the book, but the interviews with his wife and children all these years after the voyage paint a slightly different picture of whom he was and why he did it. This is a don't miss film if you haven't read the book, but even if you have, this fills in a lot of gaps that aren't covered in the book. For anyone who enjoys adventure, pursuing a dream, overcoming seemingly daunting challenges, and a charming tale that is a classic in the small boat genre of small boat sea stories.

An amazing adventure inside an astonishing adventure inside an inspiring adventure inside... And a love story, too! Brilliant.

The film makers skillfully captured the feel of the time, comparing Manry's unlikely vault to fame to the Beatlemania that was in full swing in 1965. An estimated 50,000 people were waiting on the docks in Falmouth, England for his arrival. Manry certainly fulfilled his promise to his wife that their marriage would never be "boring!"

With a beautiful score and masterful editing this documentary plays like a feature film. Through the use of archival footage, first-person photography and film, and personal interviews the film keeps us cheering Manry on throughout the voyage. The many humorous encounters with other ships and the friendly competition between the newspapers both vying for the story were brilliant ways to engage the audience.

The "Tinkerbelle", Manry's 13.5 ft sailboat, is on display in the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland. Actually seeing and standing in this tiny craft as I did makes one appreciate even more the remote chance of success of Manry's solo voyage across the Atlantic.

Highly recommended, not only for those who love the sea and sailing, but for anyone wanting to see a story of daring, determination, bravery, and commitment. A wonderful story of a simpler time. Worth seeing, and I've seen it twice!

This is a fantastically done movie that really tells the story and in an interesting and well-paced way. Highly recommended!

Manry at Sea was an unexpected treat when I first saw it at the AmDocs film festival. It is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit against tall odds. The film maker seamlessly intertwines archival footage of the time with that shot by Robert Manry himself on his improbable voyage. In short, the film is a joy.