Yachting_Monthly_2016-01

68 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com JANUARY 2016

A BOOK AT BUNK TIME

Saling Alone Around the Worldwas fi rst published

in 1899 and has been recently re-published by Adlard Coles, on

sale for £8.99

Sailing alone around the Cape

of Good Hope at ChristmasJoshua Slocum gets a dunking as he discovers that wind and waves pay little heed to Christmas

keeper of the light on Agulhas exchanged signals with the Sprayafterward wrote to me at New as she passed, and

York congratulations on the completion of the voyage. He seemed to think the incident of two ships of so widely

different types passing his cape together worthy of a place on canvas, and he went about having the picture

made. So I gathered from his letter. At lonely stations like this hearts grow responsive and

sympathetic, and even poetic. This feeling was shown toward the along many a rugged Spray

coast, and reading many a kind signal thrown out to her gave one a grateful feeling for all the world.

down upon the the west after she passed Cape Agulhas, but that one she One more gale of wind came Spray form

dodged by getting into Simons Bay. When it moderated she beat around The Cape of Good Hope. The voyage then

seemed as good as fi nished; from this time on I knew that all, or nearly all, would be plain sailing. From the recent

T

he Cape of Good Hope was now the most prominent point to pass. From

count on the aid of brisk trades, and then the would soon be at home. Table Bay I could Spray

On the fi rst day out from Durban it fell calm, and I sat thinking about these things and the end of the

voyage. The distance to Table Bay, where I intended to call, was about eight hundred

miles over what might prove a rough sea. sweeping round Gales of wind

the cape even now were frequent enough, one occurring, on an average, every thirty-six hours; but

one gale was much the same as another, with no more serious result than to blow the Spray along on her

course when it was fair, or to blow her back somewhat when it was ahead. On Christmas 1897, I came to

the pitch of the cape. On this day the to stand on her head, and she gave me every reason Spray was trying

hard weather the ran into a calm under Table Mountain, where she lay quietly till the generous Spray

sun rose over the land and drew breeze in from the sea. On the following morning the Spray sailed into the

Alfred dry docks, where she remained while I traveled the country over from Simons Town to Pretoria.

Johannesburg, and Pretoria was a pleasant one. At the last-named place I met The trip to Kimberley,

Mr Kruger, the Transvaal president. His Excellency received me cordially enough, but my friend

Judge Beyers, the gentlemen who presented me, by mentioning that I was on a voyage around the world,

unwittingly gave great offence to the venerable statesman, which we both regretted deeply. Mr Kruger

corrected the judge rather sharply, reminding him that the world is fl at. My friend the judge seemed

embarrassed, but I was delighted; this incident pleased me more than anything else. W

to believe that she would accomplish the feat before night. She began very early in the morning to pitch and

toss about in a most unusual manner, and I have to record that, while I was at the end of the bowsprit reefi ng the jib,

she ducked me underwater three times for a Christmas box. I got wet and did not like

it a bit; never in any other sea was I put under more than once in the same short space of time. A large English

steamer passing ran up the signal, ‘Wishing you a Merry Christmas.’ I think the captain was a humorist; his own ship

was throwing her propeller out of the water.having recovered the distance Two days later, the Spray,

lost in the gale, passed Cape Agulhas in company with the steamship now with a fair wind. The Scotsman,

‘ While I was at the end of the bowsprit reefi ng

the jib, she ducked me underwater three times’

Joshua Slocum (1844-1909) ran away from his Nova Scotia home aged 14 and joined the merchant

navy, beginning a lifetime at sea. He climbed the ranks before commanding severeal ship and eventually owning his own vessles.

but his fi rst wife died in 1884 and He brought up his family at sea

About the author his second wife enjoyed life at sea much less, moving ashore in Boston, Massachusetts. There Slocum rebuilt a 37ft gaff-rigged oyster boat named

Sprayfor which he had a book deal. He set off in April 1895, returning three years for a round-the-world voyage,

later, but never settled into domestic life. He sailed for South America in November 1909 and was never seen again, presumed lost at sea.

There’s always a good read hidden on a sailor’s shelves. Tell us your favourite. EMAIL [email protected]

PHOTO: ALAMY