Maritime classic communicates across a century
The Track of the Typhoon, by William Washburn Nutting
Over 100 years ago, an American adventurer decided to cross the Atlantic in the small yacht Typhoon from New York to Cowes and back, and in doing so pretty much invented the sport of pleasure cruising.
‘We were not trying to demonstrate anything; we were not conducting an advertising campaign; we hadn’t lost a bet. Nor were we subsidized by anybody who had – or was. I had the little vessel built according to Atkin’s and my own ideas of what a seagoing yacht should be and we sailed her across the Atlantic and back again for the fun of the thing.'
These are the words of William Washburn Nutting, who published a book about his 1920 voyage in that has rightfully become a maritime classic. Reissued this year by the Lyons Press imprint, The Track of the Typhoon remains a fresh and vivid account of nautical challenges and thrills.
The warm, informal tone of the writing makes it easy to forget how long ago the words were written, and it comes as a jolt when, for example, the author describes sailing past abandoned vessels that had been used in the First World War only two years previously.
Illustrated with black-and-white photos that somehow share the timeless feel of the narrative, The Track of the Typhoon is as much of a treat for today's readers as for our forebears.
The Track of the Typhoon
By William Washburn Nutting
Lyons Press, £18.99
ISBN: 978 14930 90457
Buy this book in the Nautilus Bookshop
While you're there, why not browse the rest of the titles in our unique maritime bookshop, which sells all the books reviewed on these pages.
Buy nowMore Books
Carving out a career
Ships' Figureheads: Famous Carving FamiliesThe decoration of ships with figureheads was a way to present the might of military and mercantile power for centuries. These days, the skills needed to make these sculptures are kept alive by experts such as Andrew Peters, who has worked on restoration projects such as the Cutty Sark tea clipper.
Knotty problems solved
The Knot Bible: The Complete Guide to Knots And Their Uses by Nic ComptonKnot-tying is a vital competency skill for seafarers, and this expanded edition of The Knot Bible by Nic Compton offers guidance on over 200 knots and their practical uses.
Why it's nice to splice
Splicing modern ropes, 2nd edition: a practical handbook by Jan-Willem PolmanSplicing rope is as an essential skill for seafarers as tying a knot, but some skills are disappearing. This definitive guide on why splicing gets more from your rope is a great stocking filler for all boaters, whether recreational or commercial.
Heartfelt and humorous account of a career founded on fishing
Welcome Home - Fish or No Fish, by Skipper John RobertsWelcome Home – Fish or No Fish is a memoir that carries readers from the shores of Grimsby across the world’s oceans, charting a remarkable career at sea.