On October 1, 2015, Hurricane Joaquin barreled into the Bermuda Triangle and swallowed the container ship El Faro whole, resulting in the deadliest American shipping disaster in thirty-five years. No one could fathom how a vessel equipped with satellite communications, a sophisticated navigation system, and cutting-edge weather forecasting could suddenly vanish...
Relying on hundreds of exclusive interviews with family members and maritime experts as well as the recorded words of the crew members themselves to write her award-winning book Into the Raging Sea, journalist Rachel Slade unraveled the mystery of the sinking of SS El Faro. Recounting the final hours onboard, Slade vividly depicted the officers’ anguish and fear as they struggled to carry out Captain Michael Davidson’s increasingly bizarre commands, which, they knew, would steer them straight into the eye of the storm. Taking a hard look at America's aging merchant marine fleet, Ms. Slade's book also revealed the truth about modern shipping—a cut-throat industry plagued by razor-thin profits and ever more violent hurricanes fueled by global warming.
About The Speaker
Rachel M. Slade earned her BA in political science from Barnard College and a master’s in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Her literary career began at Boston magazine, ultimately as executive editor where in 2015 she helped steer Boston to a top national award from the City and Regional Magazine Association. Her extensive writing and editing assignments have included the Boston Globe and New York Times, and Esquire and Down East magazines, and have won national awards in civic journalism, reporting, criticism, and reader service. In 2016, Yankee magazine published her narrative about the El Faro tragedy which led to Into the Raging Sea. She currently splits her time between Brookline, Massachusetts, and Rockport, Maine. Learn more about our speaker at https://www.rachelslade.net/.
Attend In Person or via Zoom Webinar
To attend in person, purchase tickets at $20.00 each from the theater box office or online at https://chathamorpheum.org/special-events/ (available mid-September). A book signing will follow the program.
For home participation via Zoom webinar, registration is $15.00 which permits access for one linked computer. For tickets, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/into-the-raging-sea-the-story-of-a-modern-shipwreck-via-zoom-tickets-170314871365 .
About the Ed Fouhy Distinguished Speaker Series
Edward M. Fouhy (1934-2015) was a communications professional and award-winning television journalist who brought the world and its stories to the American public. While a volunteer at the Center, Ed wrote and produced two videos explaining for museum visitors the importance of wireless radio communications to the rescue of RMS Titanic's survivors, and the outcome of the Battle of the Atlantic during WWII. In his honor, the Distinguished Speaker Series is designed to promote knowledge and understanding of history and world events, with a special focus on the science and development of communications technology and its profound effect on our lives.
__________________________________________
[ Photos courtesy Rachel Slade unless otherwise noted ]
Images
Date and Time
Thursday Oct 7, 2021
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM EDT
Location
Venue Options:
In-person: Chatham Orpheum Theater, 637 Main Street, Chatham MA 02633
At home: via Zoom Webinar
Fees/Admission
The cost is $20 each for the in-person event at the Chatham Orpheum Theater, where a book signing will follow the program. The event will also be live-streamed for home participation via Zoom Webinar at $15 for one computer logon.
Tickets may also be purchased through the Center's website www.ChathamMarconi.org .
Website
Contact Information
See website for more detail.
Send Email
