About this book
Rapa Iti, located 770 miles south of Tahiti in the South Seas is one of the world's most remote islands. Hardly any visitors go there even today, but in 1918, the crew of the barque Inverness landed on Rapa in two lifeboats after their ship
sank 670 miles southwest of the island when its cargo caught fire. After a seven-day, seven-night journey in the lifeboats, without shelter from the weather or much food, they reached Rapa island and its safe harbour.
Among the 24 men were several Welshmen, including the author's grandfather, eighteen-year-old Able Seaman Thomas Harding Jones.
Captain Hughes, the master of the Inverness, meticulously documented every stage of this incredible journey, from his departure from Cardiff in March 1917 to the day his responsibility for the crew ended in New Zealand in July 1918.
When he got back home, Thomas Harding Jones borrowed the captain's daybook and made a copy of it by hand. Along with his stories, extensive research by the author and details included in the daybook, this book recounts his life-changing experiences.
Alwyn says
"As the keeper of my grandfather's copy of the captain's daybook, I feel it my duty to share his incredible experiences and ensure that they are passed on to future generations."
About the story
This is a true story about real people. To bring all the different parts of the story together, Alwyn has used just a little imagination.
The first chapter tells the story of Alwyn's relationship with his grandfather, as he grew up in the town of Caernarfon in the 1960s.
From the second chapter onwards, the story is about Thomas Harding Jones's early experiences at sea, his voyage on the Inverness, the 46 days he spent living with the natives on the island of Rapa, and the legal investigation that followed. The story ends when he returns home after the most phenomenal adventure of his life. The last two chapters talk about life on the island today, with its population of around 500 natives. And Thomas Harding Jones has the final word.
About the author
Alwyn was an architect specialising in the conservation of historic buildings. He has lived and worked at Taff's Well near Cardiff for forty years and is proud of his Cofi roots (i.e. a native of Caernarfon).
RAPA: A Young Welshman's Adventures on the South Seas is Alwyn's second book, being an English translation of his first, which was written in Welsh.
Information (English Edition 2026)
Single Copies Shipped - £9.50+P&P - Buy Now button
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Apple Books - £8.49 - ISBN 978-1-9194067-1-8
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Consisting of 200 pages, the volume includes a variety of photographs, comprising both colour and black-and-white images. These include archive photographs of the barque Inverness, as well as historic and contemporary images of the island.
All paperback copies are personally signed by the author, unless otherwise requested. Use the 'Get In Touch' button to request an unsigned copy or if you wish to add a special message.
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Alwyn
RAPA: Anturiaethau Cymro Ifanc ym Moroedd y De
Mae Rapa Iti, sydd wedi'i leoli 770 milltir i'r de o Tahiti ym Môr y De, yn un o ynysoedd mwyaf anghysbell y byd. Prin fod unrhyw ymwelydd yn mynd yno hyd yn oed heddiw, ond ym 1918, glaniodd criw y barc Inverness ar Rapa mewn dau fad achub ar ôl i'w llong suddo 670 milltir i'r de-orllewin o'r ynys pan aeth ei chargo ar dân. Ar ôl taith o saith diwrnod a saith noson yn y badau achub, heb gysgod rhag y tywydd na llawer o fwyd, cyrhaeddon nhw ynys Rapa a'i harbwr diogel.
Ymhlith y 24 o ddynion roedd sawl Cymro, gan gynnwys taid yr awdur, Thomas Harding Jones, morwr deunaw oed.
Dogfennodd Capten Hughes, meistr yr Inverness, bob cam o'r daith anhygoel hon yn ofalus, o'i ymadawiad o Gaerdydd ym mis Mawrth 1917 i'r diwrnod y daeth ei gyfrifoldeb am y criw i ben yn Seland Newydd ym mis Gorffennaf 1918.
Pan gyrhaeddodd Thomas Harding Jones adref, benthycodd ddyddlyfr y capten a gwneud copi ohono yn ei lawysgrifen. Ynghyd â'i straeon ef, ymchwil helaeth gan yr awdur a'r manylion sydd wedi'u cynnwys yn y dyddlyfr, mae'r llyfr hwn yn adrodd profiadau a newidiodd ei fywyd.
Dywed Alwyn
"Fel ceidwad copi fy nhaid o ddyddlyfr y capten, rwy'n teimlo ei bod yn ddyletswydd arnaf i rannu'r profiadau anhygoel gafodd, a sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu trosglwyddo i genedlaethau'r dyfodol."
Am y stori
Mae hon yn stori wir am bobl go iawn. Er mwyn dod â'r holl wahanol rannau o'r stori at ei gilydd, mae Alwyn wedi defnyddio mymryn bach o ddychymyg. Mae'r bennod gyntaf yn adrodd hanes perthynas Alwyn â'i daid, wrth iddo gael ei fagu yn nhref Caernarfon yn y 1960au.
O'r ail bennod ymlaen, mae'r stori yn ymwneud â phrofiadau cynnar Thomas Harding Jones ar y môr, ei daith ar yr Inverness, y 46 diwrnod dreuliodd yn byw gyda'r brodorion ar Rapa, a'r ymchwiliad cyfreithiol a ddilynodd. Mae'r stori yn dod i ben pan mae'n dychwelyd i Gaernarfon ar ôl antur mwyaf rhyfeddol ei fywyd. Mae'r ddwy bennod olaf yn sôn am fywyd ar yr ynys heddiw, sydd â phoblogaeth o tua phum cant o drigolion. Ac i gloi'r gyfrol, mae Thomas Harding Jones yn cael y gair olaf.
Am yr awdur
Pensaer wedi arbenigo mewn cadwraeth adeiladau oedd Alwyn wrth ei alwedigaeth. Mae wedi byw a gweithio yn Ffynnon Taf ger Caerdydd ers deugain mlynedd ac mae'n falch o'i wreiddiau fel Cofi.
RAPA: Anturiaethau Cymro Ifanc ym Moroedd y De yw ei lyfr cyntaf.
Gwybodaeth (Argraffiad Cymraeg 2023)
Copïau unigol drwy'r post - £8.50+P&P - botwm Prynu
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Yn 175 o dudalennau, mae'r gyfrol hon yn cynnwys amrywiaeth o ffotograffau lliw a du-a-gwyn. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys ffotograffau archif o'r barc Inverness, yn ogystal â delweddau hanesyddol a chyfoes o'r ynys.
Mae pob copi clawr meddal wedi'i lofnodi'n bersonol gan yr awdur, oni bai gofynnir yn wahanol. Defnyddiwch y botwm 'Cysylltu' i wneud cais am gopi heb ei lofnodi, neu os hoffech ychwanegu neges arbennig.
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Cysylltu â'r awdur
Cwestiwn neu Sylw?
Gallwch anfon neges ataf neu ofyn cwestiwn cyffredinol drwy ddefnyddio'r ffurflen hon. Byddaf yn gwneud fy ngorau i ddod nôl atoch yn fuan!
Alwyn