Brian W. Lavery

A History Camp Discussion with author Brian W. Lavery about his book, The Luckiest Thirteen: A True Story of a Battle for Survival in the North Atlantic, where he discussed a real-life tale of 13 crew members on a British trawler who face a terrifying ordeal on Christmas Day 1966 in the treacherous waters of the North Atlantic.

From the Publisher:

A relentless nautical drama that would define, or end, men’s lives.

The English port city of Hull was home to ‘three day millionaires’ – trawlermen on brief shore leave. They were spilling cash from record catches. With months out working fierce seas, who knew if the next trip would be their last?

The St Finbarr was set to change all that.

She was built as the perfect trawler, no cost spared. She was the future of the industry. She was on her thirteenth voyage.

The Grand Banks, Christmas Day 1966.

No holiday for the crew. They weren’t fishing. They were battling for their lives. Who can survive a fireball at sea? The families of the crew had a cruel wait to find out. Ships hit the fierce seas off Newfoundland to join a two-day rescue mission. From first sparks to gut-wrenching heroics, The Luckiest Thirteen tracks a true story from the far reaches of what fishermen can do.

[Recorded on March 7, 2024]