Books for reading

[Greg Luckett]

I was chatting with Graham Byrnes a couple of weeks ago when the subject of interesting books about boats came up. I told Graham about a book called, "Sloop" by Daniel Robb, which is about restoring a Herreshoff 12-1/2, and how much I enjoyed reading it.  He told me about one titled, " Princess" by Joe Richards, who bought a Friendship sloop in 1938, restoring it and sailing it over many years.  I immediately ordered that one and am now in the process of reading a very enjoyable book.  Another one that was fun to read was, "The Boy, Me, and the Cat", by Henry Plummer, which is a story about sailing a cat boat from Cape Cod to southern Florida and back in 1912.

I plan to loan "Sloop" to Graham as soon as I get around to going to the UPS store.

I wonder if we could develope some sort of book swap/loaning thing here?  Is there enough interest among us all?

[Dale Niemann]

Greg,

Thanks for your book suggestions. 

I was able to order from my library "Princess" and  "The Boy, Me, and the Cat", by Henry Plummer.  They did not have Sloop but I will try other libraries in the area.

I am not sure a book exchange would work.  For me it would be too much of a hassle going to USPS or UPS, etc. I am basically lazy I guess.

However, I really like the idea of everybody exchanging knowledge of their favorite books.

I will try to compile a list of my favorites and post it here.

Dale

[Bikermouse]

It's only obliquely about sailing, but right now I'm really enjoying "Jefferson's War: America's Fist War on Terror 1801-1805" by Joseph Wheelan.  It contains a lot of early Naval History.  For example, it tells the story of the first two U.S. Navy warships to be surrenderred, and the tale of the man who was in command of both!  There's also a lot of technical history describing tactics of naval warfare in the early 19th century.  All in all very engaging, but written in a style that can't be described as dry or dull!

[Greg Luckett]

Another one is "The Dove", I cannot recall the author, but it is about a teenager making a solo circumnavigation in the early '70s.  I think the ship I was on passed him in the South Atlantic based on nav information and one of the RMs talking about making VHF contact with him.  I had a couple of emails from the author, replying to mine, years ago.  He quit the sea and moved to Montana or Wyoming...another case of my CRS....and had never gone back.

[Charlie Jones]

Robin Lee Graham. Apparently he and Patti live in Kalispell, Montana with their two kids.

[Greg Luckett]

Robin Lee Graham. Apparently he and Patti live in Kalispell, Montana with their two kids.

Thanks Charlie. 

Those kids should be grown now and Robin is probably a grandfather.  I think he said he was raising horses when I last communicated with him, which was probably 8 to 10 years ago.

I would have liked to know Joe Richards, from "Princess", and I bet Laura would have too.  His art work talks to me, like her's does.

[Charlie Jones]

Amen on Joe Richards. Princess is on my shelf right where I can see it, and will go aboard.

That is THE book that hooked me on cruising on a sailboat.

[Greg Luckett]

It's only obliquely about sailing, but right now I'm really enjoying "Jefferson's War: America's Fist War on Terror 1801-1805" by Joseph Wheelan.  It contains a lot of early Naval History.  For example, it tells the story of the first two U.S. Navy warships to be surrenderred, and the tale of the man who was in command of both!  There's also a lot of technical history describing tactics of naval warfare in the early 19th century.  All in all very engaging, but written in a style that can't be described as dry or dull!

I may give this one a read too. I spent 10 years in the Navy and have a pretty good grounding in Navy history as taught in the Navy and also at the Universities, but nothing revisionist since the 80s.  Should be some good reading. Thanks Bikermouse.

[ThistleCap]

I was both surprised and happy to see Princess and Joe Richards on the site.  It is an enjoyable book.  I'm happy to say I had the opportunity to get to know Joe at his art loft and home near Leipsic, Delaware.  Princess was still sitting in his front yard at the time.  After reading the book, I went looking for him, and just went up and knocked on the door unannounced.  His welcome was warm and sincere, and I returned a few more times just to sit and talk boats.

Jim

[Greg Luckett]

I am truly envious.  I would have very much enjoyed visiting with him too.

I wonder where is Princess now?

I was both surprised and happy to see Princess and Joe Richards on the site.  It is an enjoyable book.  I'm happy to say I had the opportunity to get to know Joe at his art loft and home near Leipsic, Delaware.  Princess was still sitting in his front yard at the time.  After reading the book, I went looking for him, and just went up and knocked on the door unannounced.  His welcome was warm and sincere, and I returned a few more times just to sit and talk boats.

Jim

[ThistleCap]

No idea really.  He was getting to the point Princess would have been too big a job for him.  We later moved from the area and lost contact.

[Greg Luckett]

I found this and wonder if this is the same boat.  Any idea what the sail number of Joe's boat is? There is some information at http://www.joerichardsprincess.com/afterward.htm, which is where I bought my copy of the book.

http://www.fss.org/2007yearbook.pdf

195 PRINCESS 26

[John Turpin]

Amen on Joe Richards. Princess is on my shelf right where I can see it, and will go aboard.

That is THE book that hooked me on cruising on a sailboat.

I've got a large sailing library (the wife world say too large), I but I've never heard of this book. I just ordered a  copy from Alibris and it's on the way. Thanks everyone for the tip.

[Charlie Jones]

Could well be Greg- Richards died in St Petersburg Florida in 1992 and still had the boat up until just before then. I rather doubt it HAD a sail number though, since NONE of the drawings I've ever seen show one.

Here's a link to an article by his daugther on Joe and Princess- I tried it from Greg's post and got "not found" but this one worked for me- Looks like Greg had an extra comma in his.

http://www.joerichardsprincess.com/afterward.htm

.

[Greg Luckett]

You are right Charlie.  Thanks for fixing that link.

[Dale Niemann]

Thanks Charlie & Greg for recommending the book "Princess" and the website with more information about his life and the boat.

I got the book yesterday from my library so am looking forward to reading it over the next few weeks.

Dale

[sscoville]

I've been reading Robb White's Flotsam and Jetsam.  Anyone interested in boats, the South, or who just liked Robb White and good stories will enjoy it, I think. 

[Greg Luckett]

Robin Lee Graham. Apparently he and Patti live in Kalispell, Montana with their two kids.

An interesting link: http://www.bluemoment.com/dove.html

I was thinking my ship had passed the Dove while I was aboard, but that could not have been as Robin made his journey from 1965 to 1970, while I was on the Dewey from 71 to 74. It must have been another boat and sailor.

[Tom Lathrop]

Agree on  Joe Richards "Princess".  My son saw Princess in Bradenton some years ago and reported that it was in sad shape.  A somewhat similar tale is "Toward a Distant Island" Lenard Wibberly

Many very good books about sailing out there.  One old favorite that I am now reading again is "The Boat Who Wouldn't Float" by Farley Mowat, a favorite author.  I also plan to read Slocum again.  I think "Riddle of the Sands" is not as good as considered by many others.

One never mentioned by others is "Master Mariner - Running Proud" by Nicholas Monserrat.  A gripping tale, unlike any other.

For voyaging, there is the Hiscock series.

[lbrewer]

I also plan to read Slocum again.

I thoroughly enjoyed that book.  And if anyone doesn't own a copy and wants to read it anyway, here is a link to an online copy, complete with illustrations:

http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/js/saaw.htm