Important Questions: We're Not Afraid to Die...if We Can All Be Together

Q4. The sailing was set from which place to which other?
Ans: The voyage began in England and ended at Ile Amsterdam.

Q5. The lines "we're not afraid to die" are spoken by whom and when?
Ans: Those words were spoken by the narrator's six-year-old son, Jonathan. He said them when the narrator went to comfort his children during a perilous moment at sea.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q7. What preparations were made by the narrator for the journey?
Ans: The narrator spent about sixteen years preparing for the circumnavigation. He practised and honed his navigation skills in his spare time and built a sturdy boat named Wavewalker, measuring 23 metres and weighing 30 tons, to undertake the voyage.

Q8. What were the facts and figures that the narrator knew about the southern Indian Ocean?
Ans: The narrator knew that the Southern Indian Ocean was dangerous, prone to long, violent storms, very strong winds and enormous waves. These dangers became real after they left Cape Town, when they faced severe gales for more than a week.

Q9. What problem was faced by the narrator regarding the pump?
Ans: The boat had several pump-related problems. Water entered through an open hole in the deck, the hand pump became blocked with debris, and the electric pump short-circuited. Two spare hand pumps were lost overboard during the storm. Luckily, the narrator remembered another electric pump stored under the chartroom floor; this pump was retrieved and used successfully to remove water, helping them survive.

Q10. What preparations were made by the narrator to encounter the stormy sea on January 2?
Ans: To face the severe conditions on 2 January, the crew took several precautions: they lashed a heavy mooring rope across the stern, dropped the storm jib to slow the boat, double-lashed all loose equipment, ran a life-raft drill, put on oilskins and life jackets, and made themselves secure with lifelines so no one could be washed overboard easily.

Q11. On January 6, what news was given to the narrator by his children?
Ans: At about 6 p.m. on 6 January, Jonathan woke his father with a hug, calling him the best daddy and the best captain. Sue then told him the exciting news that they had reached Ile Amsterdam.

Q12. When did the voyagers' journey start? How did they fare along the route?
Ans: The voyage began in July 1976 from England. The family knew the route involved risks, especially in the Southern Indian Ocean. After leaving Cape Town, they encountered severe storms and heavy gales lasting several weeks. On 2 January they met huge waves that damaged the deck and hull, but through perseverance and skilful action they managed to survive and finally reached Ile Amsterdam.

Q13. When did the couple lose all hope of survival?
Ans: The couple's hope faded during the stormy days. On the afternoon of 4 January the weather grew worse and the sea rougher. By the evening of 5 January they saw more water pouring in through broken planks and felt their chances of survival were almost gone.

Q14. Why did the narrator think of Amsterdam as the most beautiful city in the world? Why does he say thank you to his family and the crewmen?
Ans: Although Ile Amsterdam is a barren volcanic rock with little vegetation, the narrator called it the most beautiful island because it represented safety and salvation after days of danger at sea. He thanked his family and the crew for their steady courage and calmness during the crisis; their bravery and support were decisive in keeping hope alive and ensuring survival.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q15. How was Sue able to make her father laugh even in unfortunate situations? What place did they want to reach?
Ans: In the darkest moments, Sue lightened the mood by making a card with caricatures of her parents and calling them funny people. Her humour and the heartfelt words inside the card - expressing love and thanks - brought laughter and comfort to the family. The voyagers were aiming for Ile Amsterdam, a small island about 65 kilometres across, set in a vast expanse of ocean and hosting a French scientific station.

Q16. How did the narrator get inspired to take a risky voyage?
Ans: The narrator, a businessman with a lifelong passion for sailing, was inspired by the achievements of Captain James Cook. He wanted to replicate Cook's adventurous circumnavigation. Despite knowing the risks of the Southern Indian Ocean, his determination and love for exploration led him to undertake the dangerous voyage.