Recommended Reading

[Kernix]

Originally Posted by Tartan34C

I am not really sure why I am in Richard Henderson’s book but it probably has something to do with making a lot of dumb mistakes while still being to make enough good decisions that I haven’t died yet. Having my obituary printed also helped.

What - having your obituary printed - sounds like an interesting story there - how did that happen. So you are technically the only dead man who still sails?

[wind_magic]

What was the book about the guy who went to Turkey, had a big boat he couldn't afford built, lost his rudder or something on the way to deliver it to the islands, had to get towed i think or rescued. After that he didn't give up, went deeper in debt, had to pay salvage on his vessel because he left it when it was towed, then when in the islands something happened and his boat sank. I can't remember the title but that book of folly I thought was worth reading, if you like to read about self inflicted abuse and humiliation.

[Tartan34C]

Originally Posted by Kernix

What - having your obituary printed - sounds like an interesting story there - how did that happen. So you are technically the only dead man who still sails?

No Kernix, I think almost everybody has decided it was a mistake and I am still alive in spite of my sailing. At one time I was “Presumed Lost” during a trip in which I got hammered by a hurricane. One of the reasons that I was presumed lost was that to the north of me was the 590 foot 15,028 ton Sylvia L Ossa with a crew of 37. She sank with a loss of all hands sometime between the 13 to the 15 of October. At the same time my boat was rolled and I lost the use of the SSB so couldn’t keep my radio schedule. The search for the Ossa turned up wreckage from a yacht and the Ossa so it was assumed that it was the remains of my boat and some newspapers printed articles about my demise. In fact some boating magazines ran very nice articles which they had to retract the next month because I turned up after being rescued by the Germen ship Hagen. Motor Boating & Sailing ran a great article when I was dead saying this was an example of no matter how well you prepared the sea could easily overwhelm you if it wanted. One obituary was very poorly written and had me doing things I had never done and graduating from schools I had never attended. I would include that with my resume when I went on a job interview. Even if I didn’t get the job I guarantee they remembered the interview.

John Koster wrote a book about it called, funny enough “Presumed Lost.” Not a good book from a sailor’s point of view and it’s not recommended reading if you are interested in sailing. The book covered all the sailing I had done up to that point including my first crossing of the North Atlantic when I was 21 with my 22 foot Sea Sprite. She was an un-powered sailboat with no self-steering or electrical system. Got to go, it’s time to start driving and head for the sailboat show.
All the best,
Robert Gainer

[Kernix]

Robert,

Forgive me - I didn't mean to make light of it - I fdidn't figure it was a result of you being lost in a storm - should have thought that one through - I apologize.

Philly boat Show is this weekend - can only make Saturday though - Sunday is NFL conference games and I can't miss that.

[sailaway21]

Just started Lin and Larry Pardey's Storm Tactics. Only a couple of chapters in to it. Quite well written. Of more than passing interest given recent events off Cape Horn. Given what I've read so far, and the shortness of the book, I suspect I'll be thirsting for more of their writings. Definitely recommended reading.

[bestfriend]

For the younger sailors - Captain's Courageous, Rudyard Kipling

[mstern]

Originally Posted by bestfriend

For the younger sailors - Captain's Courageous, Rudyard Kipling

Just as enjoyable for adults.

[Dao]

Have read a few of these books mentioned and will be looking for some of the others. One that I'd like to add to the list is, "Passage to Juneau, A Sea and It's Meaning" by Jonathan Raban.

[Kernix]

Originally Posted by Dao

Have read a few of these books mentioned and will be looking for some of the others. One that I'd like to add to the list is, "Passage to Juneau, A Sea and It's Meaning" by Jonathan Raban.

Already on there - thanks!

[bestfriend]

For those of you interested in the Ocean and how it works try: Willard Bascom, The crest of the Wave. Dry, but interesting.