Read any good (sailing) books lately?
- Thread starter Bolo
- Start date
peaman
Sustaining Member
I've gotten a kick out of "MoonWind At Large: Sailing Hither and Yon" by Constant Waterman (a.k.a. Matthew Goldman). It is a collection of (very) short ramblings relating his adventures on the waters of RI and eastern CT. Nothing heavy or enlightening here, but fun to read.
Shankara
Member II
A great free audiobook listen, Sailing Alone Around the World: https://librivox.org/sailing-alone-around-the-world-by-joshua-slocum/
Kalia
1987 Ericson 34-2
The Outlaw Ocean – Journeys Across The Last Untamed Frontier
Ian Urbina
Alfred A. Knopf 2021
(From the book cover) “There are few remaining frontiers on our planet. Perhaps the wildest, and least understood, are the world’s oceans: too big to police, and under no clear international authority, these immense regions of treacherous water play host to rampant criminality and exploitation. Traffickers and smugglers, pirates and mercenaries, wreck thieves and repo men, vigilante conservationists and elusive poachers, sea bound abortion providers, clandestine oil dumpers, shackled slaves and cast adrift stowaways – drawing on five years of perilous and intrepid reporting, often hundreds of miles from shore, Ian Urbina introduces us to the inhabitants of this hidden world.”
Island of the Blue Foxes – Disaster and Triumph on the World’s Greatest Scientific Expedition
Stephen R. Bown
Da Capo Press 2017
(From the book cover) “The immense eighteenth century scientific journey, variously known as the Second Kamchatka Expedition or the Great Northern Expedition, from St. Petersberg across Siberia to the coast of North America, involved over 3,000 people and cost Peter the Great one sixth of his empire’s annual revenue. Led by the legendary Danish captain Vitus Bering, the ten year voyage which included scientists, artists, mariners, soldiers and laborers, discovered Alaska, opened the Pacific fur trade and, thanks to the brilliant naturalist, George Steller, discovered dozens of New World plants and animals.”
The Invention of Nature – Alexander Von Humbolt’s New World
Andrea Wulf
Penguin Random House 2015
(From the book cover) “Alexander Von Humbolt (1769 – 1859) was one of the most famous scientists of his age, a visionary German naturalist and polymath whose discoveries forever changed the way we understand the natural world. Among his most revolutionary ideas was a radical conception of nature as a complex and interconnected global force that does not exist for the use of humankind alone. In North America alone, Humbolt’s name still graces towns, counties, parks, bays, lakes, mountains and a river. And yet the man has been all but forgotten.”
Ian Urbina
Alfred A. Knopf 2021
(From the book cover) “There are few remaining frontiers on our planet. Perhaps the wildest, and least understood, are the world’s oceans: too big to police, and under no clear international authority, these immense regions of treacherous water play host to rampant criminality and exploitation. Traffickers and smugglers, pirates and mercenaries, wreck thieves and repo men, vigilante conservationists and elusive poachers, sea bound abortion providers, clandestine oil dumpers, shackled slaves and cast adrift stowaways – drawing on five years of perilous and intrepid reporting, often hundreds of miles from shore, Ian Urbina introduces us to the inhabitants of this hidden world.”
Island of the Blue Foxes – Disaster and Triumph on the World’s Greatest Scientific Expedition
Stephen R. Bown
Da Capo Press 2017
(From the book cover) “The immense eighteenth century scientific journey, variously known as the Second Kamchatka Expedition or the Great Northern Expedition, from St. Petersberg across Siberia to the coast of North America, involved over 3,000 people and cost Peter the Great one sixth of his empire’s annual revenue. Led by the legendary Danish captain Vitus Bering, the ten year voyage which included scientists, artists, mariners, soldiers and laborers, discovered Alaska, opened the Pacific fur trade and, thanks to the brilliant naturalist, George Steller, discovered dozens of New World plants and animals.”
The Invention of Nature – Alexander Von Humbolt’s New World
Andrea Wulf
Penguin Random House 2015
(From the book cover) “Alexander Von Humbolt (1769 – 1859) was one of the most famous scientists of his age, a visionary German naturalist and polymath whose discoveries forever changed the way we understand the natural world. Among his most revolutionary ideas was a radical conception of nature as a complex and interconnected global force that does not exist for the use of humankind alone. In North America alone, Humbolt’s name still graces towns, counties, parks, bays, lakes, mountains and a river. And yet the man has been all but forgotten.”
I just finished 'A sailor, a chicken, an incredible voyage' (Guirec Soudee). Writing style is a little odd (partly a 'lost in translation' thing, I think) but huge respect for the sailing he (and Momo) did! .. at only ~19-20 years old. There's something impressive (odd??) about Frenchmen and epic solo sailing ;-)
I just started Ann Davidson's 'My Ship is So Small' - solo transAt in the early 1950s (first woman, I think)- only one chapter in - interesting (old fashioned and self-effacing) writing style, but enjoyable so far.
I just started Ann Davidson's 'My Ship is So Small' - solo transAt in the early 1950s (first woman, I think)- only one chapter in - interesting (old fashioned and self-effacing) writing style, but enjoyable so far.
Author name correction: Ann Davison
I have several sailing book review discussions on my channel. They don't get many views, which I consider a shame since the sailing literature is vast and honorable. Here's one,
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A Contemporary true story:
'Life and the Sudden Death of Salt Peter' by Peter Jenvay
Amazon: Life and Sudden Death of Salt Peter
'Life and the Sudden Death of Salt Peter' by Peter Jenvay
Amazon: Life and Sudden Death of Salt Peter
For those in New England area look for "The Coast of Summer" by Anthony Bailey.
Sailing New England Waters from Shelter Island to Cape cod
Sailing New England Waters from Shelter Island to Cape cod
The Coast of Summer: Sailing New England Waters from Shelter Island to Cape Cod: Bailey, Anthony: 9781574090741: Amazon.com: Books
The Coast of Summer: Sailing New England Waters from Shelter Island to Cape Cod [Bailey, Anthony] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Coast of Summer: Sailing New England Waters from Shelter Island to Cape Cod
www.amazon.com
I'll get that one too. Thanks!
Interesting that Wiki claims Milnes was first woman to sail the Atlantic solo (UK to US), and says the same thing about Ann Davison (in 1952-53; Canaries to Dominica). I wonder what the distinction is.
"Wind Shadow West" by Ralph Naranjo. Chronicles taking his family around the world in an E41.
It's explained in the intro and forward in the reprint of Milnes book. Ann Davison made several stops.
Davison sailed from Portsmouth to France, Spain, Gibraltar, and Morocco, then to the Canaries, before crossing the Atlantic (non-stop). She intended to go to the Canaries directly from England, but had all sorts of problems.
One might argue (uncharitably) that Milnes’ departure point was part-way across the Atlantic too ;-)
I bought a used first edition of Milnes’ book on eBay just now - looking forward to that one next.
One might argue (uncharitably) that Milnes’ departure point was part-way across the Atlantic too ;-)
I bought a used first edition of Milnes’ book on eBay just now - looking forward to that one next.
"Taken by the Wind" by Mike Jacker, ("Joliba")
Here's a marvelous book by a fellow forum member so advanced in age as to remember with entire recall his voyages to the south seas in the mid 1970s aboard a Cal 2-30. Mike Jacker is a natural storyteller with the (now) extraordinary attributes of attention to detail, research and confirmation...
