When a Force 10 storm explodes in the middle of the Atlantic, many sailors are caught in its fury. None will forget it; some will not survive — it changes you forever.

Silent MAYDAY, Hubbard’s gripping autobiographical account of his seven-year struggle, begins in this deadly storm which made UK headlines, placing Hubbard, the 21-year-old captain of a 62 ft sailboat, at the centre of the heroic survival story. A year later, unaware of the impact of his near-death experience, Hubbard sets off from Canada in his fearless yet ill-fated attempt to windsurf solo to England. The same newspapers ran some very different stories. Alone and cut off, he thought…. ‘I’ve f_cked up the rest of my life.

Concealing the existence of his solo ‘failure’ and the self-imposed shame, Hubbard pursued a high-risk quest to create the first Trans-Atlantic Windsurf Race.

Silent MAYDAY is the true story of a young man with the creativity and spirit of an entrepreneur and the heart and courage of an adventurer. In his ground-breaking ventures, regarded by most as impossible, he teeters endlessly on the edge of defeat as his ingenuity and faith battle the negativity, financial setbacks, and unforeseen betrayal. With a rare set of skills beyond his age, Louie Hubbard survives the odds at sea and the storms of business. After decades of silence, Louie writes about finding peace and acceptance with his wind-driven spirit.

Louie Hubbard was born in Chichester England. Devoted to his wife, and two sons, they share their time between UK, France, and the Ocean. In 2018, the family took a year-long sabbatical aboard their yacht, Rallentando. It was on this voyage that Louie experienced a cathartic release of memories. These powerful memories, hidden for over 25 years, are the inspiration for his masterful first book.

 

‘Remarkable! Having struggled to build a business at a young age, I can relate to Louie’s fight to get the TAWR 98 off the ground. His survival of the yacht sinking is riveting; I have competed in many Ocean Races and recognize his emotions battling the forces of nature in survival conditions. This is an excellent read for anyone who has sailed or windsurfed.’

— Neil Pryde, Founder of Neil Pryde International