The Way of A Ship

I've been reading "The Way of A Ship" by Derek Lundy lately. It is both beautiful and daunting.. His great grandfather, Benjamin Lundy, was a crewman in the Fo'c'sle' of the Beara Head, one of the last great sqaure riggers to work in the last days of the age of sail. Derek is truly the son of a son of a sailor and masterfully weaves both the story of his great grandfather's journey around the Horn (southern most tip of South America) aboard the Beara Head and the decline of the age of sail as it gave way to the steam ships of the industrial revolution.

This book is particularily compelling to me during this boat project because it only heightens the romance of ships and the sea and the men that sail them. However, it also sheds light on the often gruesome picture of life aboard a ship in the 18th and 19th centuries. Lundy frequently references the work of Conrad, Melville and Dana - all of whom spent considerable time "before the mast" in the age of sail. Conrad being the most accomplished of the three actually finished his sailing career as a captain, only quitting the life at sea to start a writing career.

Lundy, himself a sailor, lives in the San Juans and actually sailed the same route his great grandfather took on the Beara Head before he wrote this book. He's also written a book called "Godforsaken Sea" which I've yet to read but it's clearly on my list.

If you are drawn to the sea and ships that sail, you should definitely read this book. it will open up your eyes to the history of sail.