New award-winning boating story in the Arthur Ransome genre entitled SAMPHIRE TIDES by Robin Gamble

June 28, 2012 - PRLog -- Book Summary

An old barge is anchored in a North Norfolk estuary as a floating base from which its young crew can explore the surrounding creeks in sailing dinghies. As the holiday goes on, they find themselves amidst some crooked activity and the behaviour of the thugs concerned becomes increasingly threatening. Eventually, with no adults to assist, the young crew take the matter in hand, but by then, the risks are high. Along the way, they are trapped on the marsh as a rising spring tide cuts off their retreat, and the local lifeboat crew is faced with a seriously tricky mission in a gale. Suitable for ages 8 to 12.

About the Author

Author Robin Gamble delights in exploring coastal estuaries in small sailing boats. His voyages have taken him to the coast of Brittany on many occasions and he has wandered farther afield - to the coasts of Norway and Malaysia. Not all of his voyages have gone to plan. On one occasion his 18ft East Coast Blackwater Sloop was caught mid flow in the Alderney Race in a gale. In this book he draws on his experiences at sea and as a keen mountaineer. The estuary and creek that run up to Burnhan Overy Staithe have enchanted him over a number of years. Few moments give him greater pleasure than to set the sails of his Twinkle Twelve to slip down the creek on an early morning tide.

Excerpt from the book

‘It’s the best one we’ve ever made,’ said Ted Wilton, one of the Water Rat cousins enthusiastically. ‘It’s steeper and faster than our other builds, and the end pool is really quite deep with really, really yucky soft mud. Brilliant!’

‘Whose first?’ shouted Denny eagerly.
‘Watch me!’ replied Ted climbing onto the sand hill. ‘Demo coming up!’

‘Here goes!’ In a flash he was up and onto the slide. Down he went – and up, and over the kickback at the bottom, to land with a whoop of joy, in the oozy pool. He sank right in – just his head remained above the mud.

‘Fantastic! Look at that for mud!’ He raised his sticky arms and grinned. His teeth and the whites of his eyes were the only part of his anatomy that was not black with mud.

‘Come on? Who’s next? I hope the Whimbrel’s crew will have a go!’

Chloe and Rose could not resist the temptation, and they splashed back across the creek to change into swimmers too. Soon they were all taking turns on the slide – less Paul who had declined the invitation to have a go, explaining that there were limits to even his lunacy and he stayed on the deck for a chat.

Individual runs down the slide were followed by a four-person so called Mud Train. This Water Rat speciality involved four participants sitting locked together one behind the other as they slid down the slide. There were shouts of delight as the mud-plastered human carriages of the train sploshed into the mud pool.”


SAMPHIRE TIDES can be ordered from New Generation at:

http://www.newgeneration-publishing.com/index.php?option=...

and from Amazon.co.uk at:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SAMPHIRE-TIDES/dp/1909039381/ref=...

and from Barnes & Noble at:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/samphire-tides-robin-gamb...

Media Contact:

Publisher:  New Generation Publishing
Contact:  Daniel Cooke
E-mail:  daniel@newgenerationpublishing.info
Tel.:   01933 665 340