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Flares Up
- A Story Bigger than the Atlantic
- Narrated by: Niamh McAnally, Foreword narrated by Jeremy Irons
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
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Flares Up
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Summary
Flares Up is a true story of adventure, tenacity, and the capacity of the human spirit to triumph over adversity. Firefighter Paul Hopkins, 55, survives a brain hemorrhage. The experience motivates him to undertake the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge—to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. He teams up with entrepreneur Phil Pugh, who is aged 65 but renowned for undertaking extreme physical challenges in honor of his disabled son. They encounter major financial and physical setbacks, which cause years of delays and put a strain on both their marriages. Finally, on December 12, 2019, in a fourth-hand 20-ft wooden boat, they set off from the Canary Islands. Violent storms, 30-ft waves, and equipment failure leave both men seasick, dehydrated, and sleep-deprived. Alone on the ocean, they are forced to examine their lives. Was the decision to undertake this challenge brave, selfish, or foolish? After 70 days, nine hours, and 11 minutes at sea, they cross the finish line, two changed men. Will either of their wives be there to greet them?
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What listeners say about Flares Up
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mary Berg
- 01-11-22
Excellent
Found it really captivating. The voyage fab but the struggles before and after more so
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ger Mallen
- 26-09-22
You’d have to be nuts!
If you like stories of human endeavour, striving against seemingly impossible odds, then you’ll love this adventure. I found myself thinking in the early chapters, you’ve got to be nuts to be even thinking of doing this. Two men in a tiny boat in the midst of a great big ocean, powered only by their willpower and the strength of their backs. The narration is brisk and the account of the crossing is gripping.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joanne C.
- 23-09-23
Great determination.
Great insight into 2 middle aged men’s determination to do a absolute crazy mission. Obstacles put in there way from start to finish.. really enjoyed it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Thompson
- 31-10-22
Amazing book..
The human spirit is alive and well in two middle aged men, Newcastle Firefighter Paul Hopkins (55) who survived a brain haemorrhage, and Newcastle business owner Philip Pugh (65) who takes on extream physical chalanges in honour of his disabled son.
This is not just a journal of the epic chalange 3000 miles row across the Atlantic ocean in a wooden boat, encountering violent storms, 30ft waves, equipment failure, seasickness and physical setbacks.
It's an honest, riveting, emotional, fascinating and heart-pounding book that you wont want to put it down.
Well done Phil, Paul and Niamh McAnally for writing such a great book and more importantly been in the right place at the right time..
This is Definitely worth 10/10
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