The Navy Vol_37_Part1 (Feb-Mar-Apr, May-June-July 1975)

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Not another book about alone long-distance yachtsman! Thissounds unfair and it is by no meansmeant to denigrate the skill orcourage of the author, but it must beadmitted that there is no shortage otbooks on the subiect. Readers willremember that I reviewed ValHowells' book Sailing IntoSolitude", about the first singlehandedtrans-Atlantic race, in thesepages not so long ago.In August. 1968. BernardMoitessier was one ot the competitorsin the Round-the-World racefor singlehanded yachts, organisedby the "Sunday Times". Moitessierwas "incensed" at the newspaper'sdecision to organise this race afterthey had heard that he and one BillKing were both preparing boats forsuch a trip anyway. To compete, allyou had to do was leave from anyEnglish port between 1st June and31st October and return to it afterrounding the Cape of Good Hope.Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn.Moitessier decided to enter, hopingto win a prize, noting that " the rulesdid not specify that we had to saythank you'." Rather churlish! Whywas he so incensed? Did he expecthis way to be crowded by hosts ofsolitary yachtsmen (all writingbooks, no doubt)? He never reallyexplains, although we learn moreabout him as the book progresses.reviewThe book is written in diary lormand the lirst three parts of the book,dealing with his iourney round thethree capes, is fairly dreary, writtenin an intense style which I foundfrankly irritating. The best sectionsare his reminiscences of his litesailing a junk in the Gulf of SiamAfter rounding Cape Horn, insteadof heading north to England tofinish the race, he set oft across theSouth Atlantic, rounded Cape Hornagain and headed for Tahiti. Thereasons why he decided to do thisare not made clear at the time — her — —iSUBSCRIPTIONI To "TW Niry",• Bex CI78, Clanace Street Peel Office,• Sydaey.NSW.l*** • ••••*just decided to go to Tahiti. Again,this part ot the voyage is glossedover and it seems no time before hehas reached Tahiti and joined otheryachtsmen there to become a sortor a nautical hippie — protestingagainst man's rape of his environment.He did at least advise those athome of his decision, but it wouldhave been interesting to see hiswife's reaction on receiving themessage:"The Horn was rounded February5. and today is March 18. I amcontinuing non-stop, towards thePacific Islands because I am happyat sea. and perhaps also to save mysoul."What is particularly interestingabout the book is the appendix. Theyachtsman will find his notes onsails used, masts, rigging, self-steeringgear, gales, freak waves, celestialnavigation, equipment, clothing,food, maintenance and a variety ofother subjects most informative.Almost the best part of the wholebook, in fact.FORMI 1 ' »•• *iag ••akiulgliea to "IV Nary"Aartralia for Itt years (refer Bates Mew).| Name..| Street..| Suburb.IState...IDale| (Please Print Clearly)| Please make cheques, postal orders or money orders payable to "TW Nan| Leasee".• Subscriptions commence in January or each year and a subscription remindera notice is forwarded to current subscribers — Annual Subscription (Australian| Dollars) within Australia S2 — Beyond Australia 13 70 (lea mail) — J6.70| (air mail).• • Persons within Australia commcncing subscriptions to "The Navy"• magazine during the quarter commencing APRIL (ie. sub for I* years)| should remit IJ.50: JULY (sub for I Vi years) 13: and OCTOBER (sub for I It| years) $2.50.Page Thirty-eight THE NAVY May/JunVJuty,May/June/Juiy, 1979 THE NAVY Page ThMy-alm