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BFS ? Now this is really BFS.

2824 Views 21 Replies 14 Participants Last post by tdw, Jan 13, 2009

tdw

Discussion Starter · Jan 2, 2009

Irving Johnson and his wife Electra were two of the great pioneers of cruising under sail. This man was a true marvel and a real hero of my youth. I devoured his books and although it is many years since I saw them last his films were truely gobsmacking.

Watch this. Mystic Seaport have now put it online and SA have posted the link.

If this does not impress you, nothing ever will.

(hopefully I'm not repeating something already posted. apologies if I am.)

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Jim H

· #2 · Jan 2, 2009

Great video-- I had not seen it before.

Did Johnson make other films about his sailing? (Perhaps of later voyages with his wife?)

It's pretty impressive that he kept the camera operational after dousing it so many times.

sailingdog

· #3 · Jan 2, 2009

Thanks for the link Fuzzy

AllThumbs

· #4 · Jan 2, 2009

Wow. Hard to believe sailors did it again and again. So cool.

smackdaddy

· #5 · Jan 2, 2009

That is freakin' awesome. Wow. Thanks for the post!

B.....F.....S!

N0NJY

· #6 · Jan 2, 2009

AWESOME.

I don't wanna do that....

AllThumbs

· #7 · Jan 2, 2009

I love the dog that bites the sailors to motivate them.

tdw

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 2, 2009

Jim H said:
Great video-- I had not seen it before.

Did Johnson make other films about his sailing? (Perhaps of later voyages with his wife?)

It's pretty impressive that he kept the camera operational after dousing it so many times.

Johnson did make other films but whether they are available anywhere I do not know.

Check out Mystic Seaport for DVDs on at least other topics and people.

Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea™ : Home

Allthumbs....I especially love the part where the dog tries to get attention from Johnson himself....to throw a stick or something.....

PalmettoSailor

· #9 · Jan 2, 2009

That was great. Thanks.

Cope44

· #10 · Jan 3, 2009

Awesome, Reminds me of my Grand PA. I like how he talks about making everything them self.

All of those guys were tough......Nuff said!

I really like how he wished for a "Good" storm and heavy weather. Man, He must be a good guy.

focsledog

· #11 · Jan 3, 2009

Sailing in the pond known as Dana Point, Ca. It's nice to see real sailing once in awhile and it looks cold, but alot of fun!

Sapperwhite

· #12 · Jan 3, 2009

thanks for the heads up wombat

soulfinger

· #13 · Jan 3, 2009

That's back from when men were men.

djodenda

· #14 · Jan 3, 2009

He was always my father's hero and inspiration.. You can just hear his love of the sea in every word he speaks...

Sure would have loved to sail aboard Yankee...

David

CalebD

· #15 · Jan 3, 2009

I thought the name of the boat in that impressive vid was the 'Peking' of the flying 'P' line. In some of the weather they endured I can bet that there was a lot of flying pee.
Do you mean a Yankee Clipper? David ...
Or was that sailboat a so called Windjammer? One of the last breed of sailing vessels in the commercial trade before steam power took over.
Great book on Windjammer sailing: 'The Last Time Around Cape Horn" by William F. Stark
Thanks TDW

djodenda

· #16 · Jan 3, 2009 (Edited)

Caleb:

In the 1940s and 1950s, Irving Johnson and his wife made several circumnavigations aboard three sailing vessels, all named "Yankee"

They brought along with them young, inexperienced sailors. They wrote and filmed extensively during their travels. Some of which, were presented as National Geographic specials.

Whenever we were kids, these specials were quite an event... We'd all gather around the TV and watch. Some of those scenes are permanently in my memory.

It was always my father's dream to sail around the world (he did)... I would have killed for a spot aboard Yankee..

The Johnsons were quite an inspiration to this sailing family..

David

See less See more

CalebD

· #17 · Jan 3, 2009

David,
I have to say I can understand why Irving Johnson made as big an impression on your family as he did. The way he narrated this film I found quite captivating. I don't remember seeing the Nat. Geo. special shows. I wonder if they are archived somewhere? I'll check.
In the link the Wombat provided I did see the name 'Peking' on the deck. The film could very easily contain footage of one of the 'Yankee's as well. I just would not know how to tell unless the name was spelled out.
Thanks for the additional info on Irving Johnson. The wikipedia page on him is quite interesting as well: Irving Johnson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Caleb

djodenda

· #18 · Jan 3, 2009 (Edited)

Caleb:

Well.. why not go have a look at the Peking yourself... She's at the South Street Seaport. Close to you?

Take pictures for us all!

David

P.S. I used to sail on Lightning #321

Valiente

· #19 · Jan 3, 2009

Surely we haven't forgotten the old salt Alan Villiers? His friend Ronald Walker died on the passage during which this footage was shot.

YouTube - The Cape Horn Road - Part 1

YouTube - The Cape Horn Road - Part 2

tdw

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 11, 2009

Valiente said:
Surely we haven't forgotten the old salt Alan Villiers? His friend Ronald Walker died on the passage during which this footage was shot.

YouTube - The Cape Horn Road - Part 1

YouTube - The Cape Horn Road - Part 2

I certainly never would Valiente. Villiers is right up there at the top of the pyramid. Love his books. An inspiration. I've not seen those vids. Thank you for the info.

ps - Irving crewed on Peking. His first circumnavigation. It was many years later that he and Electa had the three Yankees.

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

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