All at Sea: A Memoir

All at Sea describes the career of a ship captain and salvage master from the time when he joined his first vessel to his present status as a marine consultant in Hong Kong. He writes of the remarkable changes he has seen and experienced in a career which has spanned more than half a century. By turns amusing and thought-provoking, this is an enjoyable tale of a most interesting life.

'[Alan] has done readers a service by putting on record so many of his experiences in such a charming & accessible manner. ... those who are interested in recent maritime practice should ... find within its pages much to intrigue & delight them. / Alan Loynd joined the Swire Group in 1976, and worked for businesses within it for most of thirty years.... it is both an honour and a pleasure to commend this volume to almost any curious & enthusiastic reader.”—Barnaby Swire. Chairman, the Swire Group

'A well thought through, beautifully written account of an interesting life.... I honestly could not put this down! Alan writes exceptionally well, with a delightful turn of phrase and a nice dry wit. His shrewd and sympathetic insights into the people of southern China are a particular pleasure. You pick up this book expecting a seafarer’s memoir - Devon schoolboy to CEO - and you get a handbook to modern Hong Kong, a bonus sketch of the Queen and Prince Philip visiting the tiny and remote island nation of Tuvalu, and an insight into modern salvage techniques.... Highly recommended.'—Andrew Craig-Bennett, Amazon UK, 29 July 2021.

'A riveting read.... This is a quite exceptional account of a life at sea, covering a vast range of roles and adventures. It is beautifully written, and Alan Loynd’s (very) dry sense of humour shines through it all. I am a compulsive reader of mariners’ memoirs, and this is one of the very best.'

—Killick, Amazon UK, 7 July 2021.