Coming About by Susan Tyler Hitchcock
This book is non-fiction and is about a family's 9 or 12 month trip (the
author never really says how long) from the east coast through the
Caribbean Islands and back to Florida. However, it is more a tale of a
dysfunctional family that decides to try and patch things up by spending
9 months aboard a 34 foot sailboat (already it has the makings of a
Greek tragedy). The mother, Susan, works full time, yet is continually
burdened with raising her son and daughter, 7 and 5. Her husband, David,
has his own mechanical contracting business, and works long hours, then
goes out drinking with the boys. He sails, she doesn't. He persuades her
to take a year off and sail down to the islands in an effort to bring
the family closer. The problem with this book is that it's almost
painful to read. David is the tyrannical skipper, frequently blowing up
at his wife and kids. The daughter, Allison, is chronically seasick, and
yet the parents never address it. Longer sails like across the Mona or
Anegada Passages turn their daughter green, but they never mention
helping her in any way other than letting her curl up in a fetal
position to try and sleep it off. No Dramamine, nothing. There is a part
of the story in which the family is in the southeastern Bahamas waiting
for a break in the weather to sail to the Turks and Caicos. As the
weather clears and they head out, their GPS goes dead. The husband takes
his anger out on everyone, saying they have to go back, they can't go
any further. In fact he goes as far as saying they must return to the
states. I'm sorry, but if you absolutely NEED GPS to navigate from
Mayaguana Island in the Bahamas, to the Turks and Caicos Islands, not
quite 100 miles away, then I hope we don't meet on the water. All in
all, this is the worst book about cruising I've ever read. Susan has a
Ph.D. in English, but you'd never know it - Her writing is horrible and
I'd give it 2 asterixes * * out of a possible 5 * * * * *.
Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers
At the other end of the navigational ability spectrum, here's a book
about an Englishman, Davies, sailing around the North Sea coast of
Germany in 1890. When he suspects some secret military build-up, he
writes an old acquaintance in London, Carruthers, inviting him for some
"yachting" and duck shooting. Carruthers joins him but while sailing
Davies confesses why he invited him out, and together the 2 of them
gather all the intelligence they can about this German preparations for
war all the while sailing in a "7 tonne" sloop. The trip is nothing like
the high class yachting trips Carruthers is used to, but he gradually
adapts to Davies style of seat-of-the-pants sailing, precise navigation
using only charts, compass, and a lead, and a complete trust in your
vessel and your abilities. The Friesian Islands of Germany are
surrounded by miles and miles of sand banks uncovering at low tide, and
often shifting. The weather in October is cool, damp, and the whole
atmosphere described in the book is quite dreary. But Davies' boat, the
Dulcibella, is quite comfy, complete with a paraffin stove and heater.
The 2 of them spy on the Germans, chart the tricky water of the islands,
and eventually solve the riddle of the sands. It is a great story, often
called THE classic spy story. Potter owners will appreciate it mostly
because it's a tale of great sailing, but perhaps also because it's the
only book I've read that uses the word "potter" to describe sailing. If
you can get through the first 3 or 4 chapters, where the writer's style
is quite ponderous, then you should enjoy the rest of the story, his
style opening up, and the pace picking up too. This definitely rates * *
* * *.
That's all for now, but if you have any good books you'd recommend, let
us know. I just bought Joshua Slocum's book about sailing around the
world. I'm going to wait until I finish Riddle of the Sands. Any
comments...?
Andy Krumpe
Potter 19, #819