“This is a lovely book, and many of the passages are so well written the reader is transported to another place. It is also a realistic tale and paints well the challenges, and the rewards, of such a grand activity.”  

                                      Editor, Bookbaby

 “Many people dream about undertaking an ambitious voyage but few do.  Captain Tisch realized his dream and shares his evocative and well-written account.  I was fortunate to be a small part of this voyage but enjoyed experiencing its entirety through his book – I know you will too.”                                                           

                   Capt. Curtis Hoff, PhD - Cruisers’ Net.net

“The pages ahead give not only valuable technical information on how they accomplished their goals but give good insight too to the incredible people they met and exotic places they called upon during their ocean voyage of a lifetime. “ 

                     Jim Leishman, Co-Founder Nordhavn Yachts                                 

“Across the Wild Pacific is a must read for those who are adventurous and willing to go beyond the beaten path.” 

                      Gus Gialamas M.D., Chair Operation Rainbow

“Randy Tisch has written a comprehensive do-it-yourself guide to blue water cruising in offshore yachts.  The book describes the cruises, preparation, and challenges that he and Rebecca faced in short-handed ocean passages.  Randy’s accounts of their cruising experiences in the Atlantic and Caribbean, including preparation and crossing of the Pacific to New Zealand, are fun to read, enlightening, and most helpful.

This is a good read for any sailor, whether thinking about going offshore or reclining in a comfortable chair.”

                    Bill Martin, Sailing Hall of Fame Honoree and

                              Past President of the U.S. Sailing

Crossing the Wild Pacific is the stunning tale of Robert and Rebecca Tisch’s voyage across the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean based on the Captain’s Log of the yacht Argo.  It is equally appealing both to experienced sailors, as well as dreamers, or anyone interested in settling back in a comfortable chair and enjoying this “virtual tour” of the world via private yacht. 

The book describes in wonderfully vivid and interesting detail the passages they made, the storms and difficulties encountered, as well as some of the technical aspects of operating an ocean cruiser. Argo departed from Stuart, Florida, and visited The Bahamas, Jamaica, Columbia, the Panama Canal, The Galapagos, The Marquesas Islands, The Tuamotus, French Polynesia, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, and Fiji.  Readers learn about ocean and weather conditions during the voyage, as well as the unique people and cultures of the islands they visited.   The book is full of colorful pictures and illustrations.

Crossing the Wild Pacific is the fascinating true story of Randy and Rebecca Tisch’s voyage from Florida to New Zealand aboard their yacht Argo.  It is intended to appeal to both boaters and non-boaters alike.  The story unfolds as a beautifully written narrative replete with colorful photos and illustrations, making the reader feel that they are on a virtual tour of the world via a private yacht.  Captain Tisch relives the excitement and thrill of undertaking such a grand adventure; first by describing the preparations for getting underway, and then by making his planning strategies come to life as they met the challenge of the ocean and experience the thrill of coming into new and exotic ports of call.

This book in a sense is a travel log as seen through the eyes of a ship’s captain, relating both the cultural and historic aspects of each country visited, but also allowing the reader to appreciate the boat handling aspects of cruising in exotic, far off lands.  Tisch describes the anxiety attendant to entering an atoll thru its gauntlet of reefs, tides, and currents.  He also recounts, in electrifying detail, battling a ferocious storm just off the coast of New Zealand, describing both the terrifying and surprising moments of that 13-hour ordeal.  In other chapters, he describes the ocean sea state and the motor yacht’s performance during the 18-day open ocean passage from The Galapagos to the Marquesan Islands.  

Captain Tisch provides the reader with interesting and vivid descriptions of the flora and fauna, geology and history, and most importantly, the people who live out their lives in these beautiful places.  The stories are as diverse as reef diving in Fiji, tortoises mating in the Galapagos, and swimming with whales in Vava’u.  The voyage begins in Stuart, Florida, and proceeds across the Gulf Stream to The Bahamas, south through the Windward Passage to Port Antonio, Jamaica, across the Caribbean Sea to Santa Marta (as well as Cartenga and Bogotá), Columbia,  through the Panama Canal to The Galapagos,  across 3,100 miles of open ocean to The Marquesas Islands (Nuka Hiva, Ua Pu, Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, and Tahuata), south to Aha, Tikehau, and Rangiroa in the Tuamotus, on to the Society Islands of Tahiti, Morea, Huahine, and Bora Bora, then west to Samoa; and south to Tonga and New Zealand.  Finally, Argo heads back to the USA via Fiji and the Hawaiian Islands after Randy is diagnosed with a serious cancer.

The book is beautifully written, exciting, and fun to read.

Robert R. (Randy) Tisch, formerly the owner of an investment management firm, and his wife Rebecca P. Tisch M.D., formerly a pediatric ophthalmologist, retired in 2009 from their professions to pursue their dream of circumnavigating the earth.   Since then, they have cruised over 50,000 miles from Alaska to Newfoundland and Newfoundland to New Zealand.  In earlier years they cruised the Great Lakes.  When not travelling the high seas, they reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Randy is a Licensed Captain, and member of the Ocean Cruising Club.