Schooner Sunset: The Last British Sailing Coasters - Softcover

Douglas Bennet (author)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1557508720 ISBN 13: 9781557508720

Publisher: Naval Institute Press, 2001

Synopsis

The small fore-and-afters, the coastal schooners, were among the last commercial sailing ships to remain in existence; today they are gone, as are nearly all the men who sailed in them, and with them the knowledge which was needed to work them by the power of the wind alone.
This book, written by one sailed on them, paints an authentic picture of life at sea and describes the ships and seamanship which he came to know so well, though one of the most remarkable aspects of Bennet's work is the magnificent collection of drawings which depict every aspect of the ships' construction and rig. Information on the smallest item of equipment is to be found in these pages and is presented in a way which could only ever have been done by one who had first-hand experience. This is augmented by a newly-compiled list of vessels extant in 1935 and the few remaining in 1945.
With the passing of the years and of the men who sailed the last merchant schooners we have lost most of the detailed knowledge that was needed to build and sail them; Douglas Bennet's contribution is as unique as it is clear and this posthumously published work will become an essential source document for all enthusiasts of the last days of sail, practical sailors and, not least, those many modellers who, until now, have sought in vain for a clear image of some small shipboard detail.

About this title

Synopsis

Owing to their simplicity of rig and the small fore-and-afters, the coastal schooners, were among the last commercial sailing vessels to remain in existence; today they are gone, as are nearly all the men who sailed in them, and with them the knowledge which was needed to work the vessels by the power of the wind alone. One of them was Douglas Bennett, and in this posthumously-published book he tells of the working life aboard and describes all the facets of construction and fitting out. This book contains no gripping dramas of the sea, nor wild adventures; instead, it was primarily intended to paint the authentic picture of life at sea of the men who worked the craft, and describe the seamanship which was employed from ship to ship. A collection of drawings which depict every aspect of the ships' construction and rig is also included.

About the Author

Douglas Bennet was born in 1916 to a Cheshire farming family. He was to form a close attachment to the last trading coastwise schooners and joined the Alert in 1934 and the Brooklands in 1939. After the War he always maintained his close interest in the few remaining craft and never missed an opportunity to record their finer details in his meticulous drawings. David Clement, who has carefully edited Bennet's work, has nurtured a deep interest in ships and the sea since an early age. He was a founder of the Southwest Maritime History Society, and is editor of its journal. Amongst other maritime associations he is a council member of the Society for Nautical Research, and Chairman of the Topsham Museum.

Edition details

• Publisher: Naval Institute Press
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1557508720
• ISBN 13: 9781557508720
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 200