The true story of a former tennis player adrift after retirement, who sets out to sail solo around the world, facing oceans, storms, and dangers in search of meaning in his life. An inspiring story that intertwines sport and adventure in a unique tale.
Carlos Cuadrado, former professional tennis player, decides to change everything after two hard blows: his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the emptiness left by his retirement from tennis. With barely any sailing experience, he buys a boat in New Zealand, the Mirniy Okean, with one clear idea: to circumnavigate the globe on his own. What begins as a dream soon turns into a fight for survival: a brutal storm in the Cook Strait brings him face to face with death—and with a choice. He does not give up. He studies, trains, prepares, and finally embarks on his ultimate adventure.
From Melbourne, Carlos crosses the five oceans, facing extreme challenges and landscapes. He encounters volcanic eruptions and remote cultures; he drifts helplessly in the middle of the ocean for lack of wind; he runs into real pirates in Malacca and experiences portside corruption firsthand in several destinations. He enjoys unforgettable encounters with wildlife, such as interacting with orangutans or swimming with whale sharks. He sails through cyclones and lives the global paralysis of the COVID-19 pandemic at sea. He crosses the Panama Canal surrounded by cargo ships, and gets lost in the Pacific before reaching French Polynesia, his last stop before completing the circumnavigation. What begins as an external challenge transforms into a true inner journey, as he becomes a self-reliant sailor able to face any obstacle—at sea and in life.
The story culminates with his return to Melbourne, closing a vital cycle that bears little resemblance to the man who first set sail. Carlos comes back having discovered a new identity, where the memory of the professional tennis player merges with his passion for the sea and exploration, in a balance that is both wild and serene.
RELEVANT INFORMATION: Carlos Cuadrado (Barcelona, 1983) was a professional tennis player and high-level coach until injuries forced him into early retirement. In 2017, he undertook a radical challenge: to circumnavigate the globe solo aboard a sailboat, with barely any previous experience.
An Unpredictable Rival is not only the account of a great adventure, but also the testimony of a personal transformation. Few books combine so seamlessly the world of elite sport with the intensity of ocean sailing.
The story has clear audiovisual potential as a series or feature film: it naturally lends itself to an episodic structure—each stage of the voyage with its own landscape and conflict—anchored by a charismatic protagonist who evolves from novice to self-reliant sailor. The narrative offers authentic action and tension (storms, pirates, drifting, cyclone, pandemic) without the need for artifice, while at the same time exploring universal themes such as the search for identity, the father-son bond, and the fear of starting over. Visually, it unfolds across spectacular settings that provide enormous cinematic value, and its connection with both the world of sport and sailing gives it a unique appeal that consistently draws interest on screen.
What the press says. Reviews:
“This is a thrilling story of adventure and reinvention, where Carlos learned to apply the values forged on the tennis courts to overcome the challenges awaiting him on the world’s seas.” —Rafa Nadal
“A truly inspiring read.” —Pat Rafter
AUDIOVISUAL POTENTIAL: TV series, miniseries, feature film, TV movie.
AVAILABLE LANGUAGES: Spanish.
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