Maritime

Fatu-Hiva – Thor Heyerdahl

Published by George Allen & Unwin, London in 1974 a first edition.

Octavo, 381 pages very nicely illustrated. A very good if not fine copy.

This all happened before WWII even though published in the 1970’s … Thor Hyderdahl’s first adventure. Armed with a beautiful new bride he set off to Fatu-Hiva in the Marquesas Group. They built a cabin in the jungle, ate with the last cannibal etc all very interesting and very nicely illustrated with great photographic images considering the period.

Great condition and very exciting Heyerdahl

$25.00

Updating cart…

The Impossible Voyage – Chay Blyth

Published by Hodder and Stoughton, London in 1971 a first edition. Octavo, 215 pages plus list of “stores” compiled by his wife. End paper charts and nicely illustrated from photographs of the preparations, voyage and celebrations. Dust jacket a but ruffled at the spine top and repaired on the inside. Otherwise a very good copy.

As Chay Blyth’s opening a paragraphs highlight the title of the book is a bit silly as his objectives if they were ‘Impossible” were achieved. The explanation of impossibility … “the first ever solo non-stop wrong way round the world sail against wind and current” .. again we are not too sure of that. We had better stop as it is Chay Blyth after all and it is a fantastic achievement. Any voyage that runs low (some refer to it as high) in the Southern Ocean is special and clipping the coastline of Tasmania even better. Highly praised back in England justifies a welcome from the Organist come Prime Minister Grocer Heath.

Chay Blyth makes his mark on the record books around alone .. but the wrong way, against all?

$20.00

Updating cart…

Temptress Returns – Edward Allcard – First Ed 1952

Published by Putnam, London a first edition 1952. Octavo, 304 pages plus rear chart, end paper maps, illustrations and diagrams and technical information at the end. Chip to dust jacket spine top and a little aging … still a very good copy now, like all our books, protected in removable Brodart. A super and scarce sought after account.

Edward Allcard’s important account of his “single-handed” Atlantic crossing west to east. In completing it he was the first person to have done it both ways alone.

The popular press also had a field day and the “singlehanded-ness” is in inverted comma’s because as he found a stowaway leaving the Azores … the Portuguese beauty … Otilia Maria de Mesquita Frayao. Tough times at sea.

Allcard first across both ways … One of the top ten post war sailing classics

$70.00

Updating cart…

Sea Change – Alone Across the Atlantic – Peter Nichols

Published by Viking a first edition 1997. Octavo, 238 pages. Very good if not fine condition. An entertaining and informative read.

A different sailing book. There are no pictures or maps here. Maybe therefore it is not surprising that the writing I special. Peter Nichols has sailed with his wife. Sadly, they separated after a west to east Atlantic crossing. This book reflects on his single-handed return voyage in the 27-foot engineless “Toad” which had a habit of springing leaks.

Interspersed throughout are references to classic sailing accounts … Chichester, Blyth, Moitessier, Knox-Johnston, Ridgway et al.

Interesting for an experienced maritime reader most useful of an introductee.

Nichols a personal challenge – knowledgeable author.

$25.00

Updating cart…

My Old Man and the Sea [Cape Horn] – David and Daniel Hays

Published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, North Carolina a first edition 1995. Unusually printed in Australia by the Australian Print Group.

Slim Octavo, nice production with a number of special charts and diagrams of the boat design etc .. no photographs … must have forgotten the camera. Very good if not fine condition.

A very nicely put together record of a father and sons voyage from New London, Connecticut through the Panama, down around the Horn and home. Oh … and with the Galapagos and Easter Island on the way.

David and Daniel Hayes not only sailed together but they built together the 25 foot Sparrow which was to look after them all the way.

A very good account and some excellent technical content.

Strap yourself in for the Horn with Hays and Hays

$25.00

Updating cart…

A Fighting Chance – How We Rowed the Atlantic in 92 Days – John Ridgway and Chay Blyth

Published by Paul Hamlyn, London 1967 a second impression. Octavo, 255 pages, illustrated and with end paper maps. Very good condition.

Captain John Ridgway and a very young looking Sergeant Chay Blyth row across the Atlantic west to east from Cape Cod to the Aran Isles of the coast of Ireland.

At the very end they were threatened against rocky cliffs. Paratrooper training helped them through.

Interesting book structure with each taking a chapter in turn having completed detailed logs of the voyage. Nice technical content at the rear

Rowing across the Atlantic a breeze for Ridgway and Blyth

$25.00

Updating cart…

Fatu-Hiva – Thor Heyerdahl

The Impossible Voyage – Chay Blyth

Temptress Returns – Edward Allcard – First Ed 1952

Sea Change – Alone Across the Atlantic – Peter Nichols

My Old Man and the Sea [Cape Horn] – David and Daniel Hays

A Fighting Chance – How We Rowed the Atlantic in 92 Days – John Ridgway and Chay Blyth

Product Categories