Spared to tell: a riveting story of survival

 “For me, the call of the ocean became so loud that I could not shut it out. It was my church, my sanity; it was somewhere I actually fitted in. The deep and mysterious ocean does not tolerate egos; it strips you bare. It’s a violent father and a loving mother, but it’s always hungry for the souls of men” – Dom Mee

Colombo, December 7th 2015: Inspired by a mesmeric true story, “Kiting the Hurricane” entails a spine-chilling narrative of how one man battles the most powerful force on earth while wrestling against his inner demons, to relate a deeply emotional story ofsurvival. Soldier, Sailor, Adventurer, Privateer, Entrepreneur and Writer, Dom Mee accounts that ill-fated voyage across the North Atlantic, a decade later.

2005 was the most powerful hurricane season ever recorded having claimed thousands of lives in North America and the Caribbean. Hurricanes such as Katrina and Rita with the power of a nuclear bomb destroyed everything in their path leaving massive devastation in their wake. Dom Mee was attempting to cross the North Atlantic Ocean in the world’s first boat powered by kites until he was hit by the tail end of five hurricanes during the deadly season. In mountainous seas trapped on the notorious Grand Banks off Canada, he battled against the elements to instigate what would become a brutally honest story of endurance.

“I’m glad I’m not you Dom, having to cross that beast now” a phrase Dom was particularly not fond of, as it was ringing in his ears from the night before leaving for that ill-fated voyage. But the Soldier in him was willing to put everything on the line for a venture that he didn’t even know would technically work. 

 

“But to win in life, you have to take risks”, Dom says.

The story unfolds with Dom’s comrade at sea, the equally tenacious kite-poweredyacht Little Murka. Trying to organise where everything fitted in the tiny 6ft x2ft cabin, didn’t come easy to a man who towers at 6’1. With dimensions that weren’t designed for a trip of such magnitude, nothing fitted into Little Murkaperfectly, including Dom. Maybe it should be called Tiny Murka, relates Dom, who confesses that many looked at him strangely having seen how undersized the Little Murka was.

The initial research into kites showed that they could have a multitude of uses, but many were theoretical rather than proven practical applications. Well-travelled paths do not interest the adventurer inside, hence Dom trawled further. The downside of pioneering is the relentless pursuit of what might appear to be nothing, while the biggest headache seemed to be launching kites from a boat. No one had yet kited across an ocean; any attempt would be a world’s first as the early phases of research and development proved to be nightmarish confirming that technically, this was going to be extremely challenging. 

To add to the growing list of problems, Dom’s almost non-existent kiting experience meant, he had to learn the ropes fast. But in war, the heroes always outnumber the soldiers. And so he pressed on, pushed forward and pummeled the odds to get on that tiny vessel to conquer the monstrous Atlantic. 

Without giving the story completely away, Dom overcomes some of history’s worst hurricanes and storms, with only the Little Murkaand his faithful sea bird ‘Peter the Petrel’ by his side. Despite the terror of the storms Dom recounts the better side of this death defying voyage that brings him face to face with some of nature’s most astounding marine life. From a white sperm whale in the Pacific to having his tête-à-têtes with large pods of dolphins, Dom recounts peaceful moments being lulled on the Little Murka, while the ocean camouflaged its death wish beneath. Peace turns to horror as the man also comes face to face with an enormous 14ft shark, while hogging his Little Murka that was merely but 10ft in length, against the beastly Shark.

“The Grand Banks is horrible. Huge waves are now accelerating in every 10 seconds at a very steep angle and hitting Little Murka with the power of a large truck. Because they’re so vertical, we go straight up the face, where I see only a dark foreboding sky before me, then slam straight back down, where all I see is the wrath of an angry ocean. It continues unabated. I pray for the winds to ease. I’m not ashamed to say it, I’m terrified” 

– Kiting the Hurricane

After his miraculous rescue, Dom wentonto formulate a 4 member team that crossed the Atlantic in one of the fastest rows in history. A decade later, Dom Mee has made Sri Lanka his home and resides with his family, along the pristine coastline of Galle. Dom now seeks to explore and expand the boundaries of the global leisure industry with his newest venture, Kew Villas that are nestledalong the shores of Boossa, Galle.His second book, recounting his eight year fight against piracy on the high seasis also in the pipeline, along with three further books that pen his adventures in life.

Kiting The Hurricane will be available in paperback at Vijitha Yapa Bookshops, Barefoot Bookshop, MD Gunasena Bookshops, LakeHouse Bookshop and Makeen Bookshop.