The past two years have been notable for political controversies, and now we have the economic debacle finally starting to seriously affect the Vineyard as well. You may find that you need respite from the world at large, and our small one, but you can no longer afford the yacht or a trip to Italy, or even a trip to Boston. Each year it is my pleasure to review maritime books and other nautical items that have caught my eye, and may be suitable for your own libraries and workshops, or for gifts. Be comforted to realize that the cost of a book or a tool is vastly more doable. Plus, it will provide you and the potential recipients endless pleasure. That is, if you agree with my recommendations.
This year, I've again picked a mix of new and old books, plus a few kids' books and even some movies. With young grandsons, I am anxious to provide them with cultural experiences from around the world. Books and documentaries or magazines are one way, and sailing and boats are another as they all carry us all over. As Capt. Robert S. Douglas, master of the schooner Shenandoah, says, "The waters of Vineyard Sound are connected to all the waters of the world." And through these connections we are all connected!
Building Kettenburgs, Premier Boats Designed and Built in Southern California, was published by Mystic Seaport Museum, late in 2008, in cooperation with the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Written by Mark Allen and featuring many photographs, plans and sketches, as well as extensive endnotes, this is a beautifully produced book. The narrative fascinated several local boatbuilders with its explanations of the philosophy behind the designs and construction techniques. The Kettenburg family built boats for about 70 years, and many of them are still around, much loved and sailed along the California coast.
Traditional Boats Of Ireland, History, Folklore And Construction, edited by Criostoir MacCarthaigh for the Traditional Boats of Ireland Project, and published by The Collins Press. This is a truly magisterial book and an incredible tome of knowledge. Those who know only of Galway Hookers or Curraghs (spelled Curachs in the book) will be amazed at the wide number and variety of traditional boats. Go to their website: www.tradboats.ie for a quick glimpse of what this project and book are about, and have accomplished. I can't praise the scope and content (text, plans, photos, reference materials, interviews, sketches and working drawings) of this book enough. It is a very expensive book, but it is fabulous. I wish that someone could have documented the traditional boats of America in a similar fashion before so many of them turned into compost.
Live Yankees, The Sewalls And Their Ships, was written about the Sewall family of ship owners in Maine by William Bunting, and published by Tilbury house for the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. Bill Bunting, who wrote Sea Struck for our own Vineyard Museum, has written many extensively researched and carefully written books about New England maritime history. This is no exception. The Sewall family was not always admirable (or even tolerable) but they were successful. The term "Live Yankee" referred to a 19th-century strain of New Englander "known for their enterprising hustle in the pursuit of the almighty dollar." The Sewalls were particularly successful "Live Yankees."
Flotsam And Jetsam: The Collected Adventures, Opinions And Wisdom From A Life Spent Messing About In Boats, by the late Robb White, is a compendium of articles and pieces that he wrote for family and friends, small boat journals and WoodenBoat Magazine over the course of his 64 years. Located in the swamps of Georgia, Robb wrote as he spoke, with a definite Georgia cracker style of humor, wisdom, common sense, and a certain warped view of the world. Robb was a small-boat builder and many other things, and he died much, much too young from surgical complications. The book (paperback) has been compiled by his wife, Jane, with an introduction by his sister, Bailey White (often heard on NPR and a great story teller in her own right). Published by Breakaway Books as a paperback in 2009, you can also sample some of Robb White at www.robbwhite.com. This is a book that will be read in small increments but what pleasure it will bring.
Jack London wrote several adventure stories about sailing, including The Seawolf, which was made into a movie. And he sailed in the Pacific on some ill-fated or at least ill-prepared voyages. Another novel he wrote, The Fish Patrol, has a different focus from his books about Alaska and the Pacific. It is a charming little book composed of linking stories or chapters about San Francisco Harbor in the very early 1900s (great little sketches). It has been elusive (and expensive) on the used book market, but last spring it was reprinted in paperback form by General Books LLC, and it is just as engaging as when I first read it many years ago.
Many of the more recently published books are about racing. The America's Cup and all the labyrinthine intrigues have advanced to the level of total boredom (someone wrote that watching the America's Cup is like watching the grass grow) and I can't bring myself to write anything further about it. I have to admit that in spite of my lack of interest in racing, the Round the World challenge race last winter for singlehanders did attract my attention, and I checked almost daily on Dee Caffari, a former school teacher from Dorset, England. Round the World racing has now reached a very sophisticated, and very businesslike, level. No longer is it Robin Knox Johnston racing around the world on the gaff rigger Suhaili. It is Sir Robin racing around (at close to 70) on a very sophisticated and challenging open something with a canting keel and/or water ballast and sails made of very technical materials. And then there are "wee Ellen" (MacArthur) Dee Caffari and Sam Davies, all from England, who have sailed where few will follow. Against The Flow, The First Woman To Sail Solo The Wrong Way Around The World, by Dee Caffari, is about her adventures including skippering a fully crewed all female crew around, and then doing it solo - a 178-day grueling voyage. Published by Adlard Coles Nautical.
Several other important "local" books and ephemera which have been republished recently are: Gale Huntington's Songs From Martha's Vineyard, a CD which was reproduced by the Smithsonian, and his wonderful collection Songs The Whalemen Sang republished in 2005 by Mystic Seaport Museum. There are some of us still around who were taught Latin and various history subjects by Mr. Huntington, and he was always an interesting and lively teacher. His books are must haves for any islander. Mystic Seaport is supposed to publish another one of his books, entitled The Gam.
Lee Valley Tool of Canada has republished Elements Of Wood Ship Construction, which is a very useful if somewhat dated reference work for any wooden boatbuilder. It dates to the early 1900s. Lee Valley, which seems a very unlikely source of maritime books, has actually reprinted several classic maritime works, so it is worth while Googling them to see their current list of titles. Or check out www.leevalley.com.
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Sheridan House, which prints the ever popular Mariner's Book Of Day will send you a detailed catalogue of their list if you call 888-743-7425. One book that may be of interest to Islanders is The Annotated Sailing Alone Around The World by Captain Joshua Slocum. Another is Essential Sailing Destinations, and a third is The Galley, How Things Work, by Donald Launer, about "the infrastructure of a boat galley" rather than recipes or how to outfit and provision. Another of their publications that caught my eye is The Perfect First Mate, second edition by Joy Smith. Anyone who calls her husband "Captain My Way" isn't going to make my list of top 10 sailing books, but it could be valuable for a woman about to go off sailing with "her man." Do request and glance through the catalogue, because Sheridan House has a very comprehensive and useful range of books on all topics.
Herbert The Brave Sea Dog by Robyn Belton, published 2008/2009 in paperback in New Zealand by Craig Potton Pub, is a heart-warming and beautifully illustrated true story of a dog who fell off a boat (and was rescued) in New Zealand waters. Neil and Litara Barrott, who stopped on the Vineyard in 2000 while on the way around the world on their ketch Sina, just sent the book for my grandsons, who have enjoyed the story immensely. By the way, for anyone who remembers the Barrotts, their daughter Sina graduated from medical school last spring, and they are anticipating building a smaller boat, based on a design from Nat Benjamin.
I've recommended, several times over the years, Brian Floca's book for kids, Lightship and after a summer of admiring the Nantucket lightship (when you could see past the wall of white plastic at nearby docks), it should be a must read for Island kids four to eight. Another book that caught my eye this year is George E. Rongner's Life Aboard A Coast Guard Lightship, a paperback published in 2007 by Infinity Publishing. Captain Rongner served, among other posts and vessels, as the Coast Guard Commander in Woods Hole, aboard White Sage and the Buzzards Bay Lightship, etc. I've just started this interesting reminiscence.
From John A Sabella (who makes documentaries and training films for maritime interests) in Port Townsend, Washington, I've purchased two DVDs. The first is about a lovely old Ted Geary motor yacht named Westward and her "circumnavigation in 2008 of the Pacific." The other, about vessels of the Pacific North West is Throwbacks To A Golden Age Of Pacific Northwest Boats. I've watched the video of Westward, which is fascinating. It details her adventures in Alaska - where the original owners operated her as the original Alaska adventure cruise vessel, then on an extended round-the-world cruise with her next owners, and finally with her most recent owners on a circumnavigation of the Pacific. She's a beauty and the scenes of Alaska and the Pacific islands in particular, are fascinating. Port Townsend is very much Martha's Vineyard west, and Westward (who I have seen several times, including out of the water) is a wonderful old boat. Mr. Sabella has a series of documentary films about fishing in Alaska (salmon, Pacific halibut, etc.) and other towns in the Pacific Northwest. 888-719-4099 or info@johnsabella.com
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Back in the 1920s a young widow named M. Wylie Blanchet packed her five kids into a 25-foot boat and cruised the coastal waters of British Columbia, not just for a week or two but summer after summer. I have just come upon her memoirs, The Curve Of Time published in paperback by Adventura Books. It is, apparently, a sort of cult classic in British Columbia and has just been republished. This is another book that I am very much looking forward to reading during the dark days of winter.
Chris Stewart, who has written so delightfully about his family's life in a remote small holding in mountainous Spain, has written a book Three Ways To Capsize A Boat, about his sailing adventures. Included is a long story about how he came to cross the Atlantic, in 1983, on board the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Hirta from Norway via Iceland to Maritime Canada, and then on to Mystic Seaport Museum - where I actually met the owners and crew. Chris is an engaging and perceptive observer and having gotten reacquainted at a birthday party last January in England I was really looking forward to this account. I must confess that this book disappointed me as much of it is rather glib and facile, further I (and fellow readers) only found two capsizes. Published by Sort Of Books, it is worth finding and reading for a light story, but for deeper truths you'll have to look elsewhere. Alas. Or find Chris's other books which are really good.
As we have to throttle back on purchases, looking for small brochures and old maritime catalogues, post cards, old charts, and other ephemera is an interesting pursuit. This summer MacLaren Books in Helensburgh, Scotland, published an interesting catalogue of bits and pieces. The photo album of sailing yachts from the 1930s that I really wanted was sold before I even picked up the phone, but I did manage to buy several very inexpensive and fascinating brochures, including Tugs "with the compliments of Lawson-Batey Tugs Limited;" The Moran Story by Edmond J. Moran (more tugs); The Gaff Rigged Yachtsman by Darrell McClure, which is very amusing - the front cover shows a gull admiring the oil that a yachtsman is applying to his mast; the look on the gull leads one to believe that it is about to add an overlay to the top coat; The Whisky Run, a 1972 magazine supplement by the Clyde Cruising Club, which was a guide to the West Coast of Scotland and Hebridean Waters (some of the loveliest cruising areas in the world); and A Yachts And Yachting Handibook For Ships Husbands, All You Need To Know About Fitting Out, from 1960. Some of these were published not so long ago, but when you consider the Open 60 class or modern racers, they are antediluvian.
Louis Howland of Howland Company in Jamaica Plain (617-522-5281) always has a fascinating trove of treasures both inexpensive and otherwise. His winter catalogue is due just about now. The catalogue will be featuring a new book by Alan Granby about maritime art, a book by Peter Nichols titled Final Voyage about the Arctic whaling disasters of 1871 and 1876, and he has a new book about the Royal Huisman yard in Europe.
If you want your pleasures spread out consider giving (or purchasing for yourself) a subscription to Good Old Boat, which is just what it says about good old boats. One issue features a Hinckley Bermuda 40 and another a Cal 2-27. Each issue contains designs, DIY projects, reviews of gear, maintenance tasks, lots of classifieds and ads for good solid practical gear, and cruising stories. They also have books on CDs at AudioSeaStories.com. Call 701-952-9433 for further information.
Boat Design Quarterly is a 25-page publication by Michael O'Brien www.boatdesignquarterly.com. The current issue features an interesting William Atkin design and several designs from Phil Bolger, the quixotic designer who died this past year. Commentary, and plans for the armchair boatbuilder from a boatbuilder and commentator who knows what he is talking about.
As a sea cook (retired), I'm always interested in anything for the galley, although I believe in minimalism and simplicity. Keeping the dishes on the table or counter is important, especially when you are trying to make something edible while the vessel is hopping around like popcorn in a popper, your back is to the wall, and you would rather be doing just about anything other than cooking. www.fender-design.com peddles some double sided (blue/green) cotton/PVC non slip fabric which is labeled "sticky solutions." Some of my favorite seagoing products - admittedly a bit of a cheat - are the various scone, cookie, and bread mixes - from King Arthur Flour in Vermont. If you feel guilty you can always make up a large batch of a sort of universal mix and store it in large plastic jugs (well scrubbed industrial Hellman's mayonnaise jars work admirably), then measure it out with various add-in ingredients for fresh scones at sea. I've found another useful product: soup mixes from Frontier Soups (www.frontiersoups.com). The mixes provide a base into which you can mix some add-ons and create a quick and easy, nutritious, hot soup. Frankly, most people are so grateful for a good meal (once they get over the sick phase) that they won't carp at the occasional mix. And if they do, give them soggy saltines and moldy cheese, or forcefully suggest that they cook for a couple of days.
I love historical maritime photos and used to collect the New England Fishermen and other calendars from Spinner Publications in New Bedford. Then I fell off their radar screen and mailing list, and they off mine. They called recently for information about a photo that they intend to print ("Miss January" for the Fishermen's Calendar) of Menemsha circa 1910 or so. It is beautiful, and the rest of the calendar has wonderful photos. I urge everyone to order calendars from them. You can even advertise your business (think ahead to 2010) in a small strip across the bottom of the calendars. They also publish books. They told me that they have almost 1,000,000 historic images in their vault. www.spinnerpub.com.
My last suggestion would be to make a charitable contribution in honor of someone. My current local maritime favorite is the MV Shellfish Group (Rick Karney) at 508-693-0391, Box 1552. OB. Contributions help with shellfish propagation efforts in some of our Island ponds. Oysters are good to eat, and very marketable, but even better they can clean up an incredible volume of water, even help to reduce the nitrogen levels in the ponds. What could be more beneficial to Islanders? Purchase their DVD about "Oyster Restoration in the Great Ponds" and show it to your kids or grandkids.
Our own Matthew Stackpole serves as the major donations person at Mystic Seaport Museum, raising funds to rebuild the bottom of the whaling ship Charles W Morgan. Send MSM (Mystic, CT 06355, 860-572-0711 or 860-572-5315 for visitor information) a donation for the Morgan, and think of Roann whose hull has been completely rebuilt as well. The Museum will have a tugboat exhibit beginning May 8, 2010.
And for those who plan ahead, the WoodenBoat Show (the 19th annual) will be held in the Museum from June 25-27, 2010.
If anyone has suggestions for more selections, or knows of any great movies (tugs?) for kids, please let me know.
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