This may actually qualify as on-topic for this board, so please be patient.
William Kornblum's At Sea in the City (Algonquin, 2002) might be of interest to Cape Dory aficionados, especially those who may be planning a New York City passage this summer, perhaps on the way to the Hudson Get Together July 4-6 2002.
The author is a local university professor and catboat enthusiast who had been sailing the waters around NYC for about 17 years before writing the book. He had found a 1910 Crosby Catboat with the hull fiberglassed over, which he used to make many voyages around the City's waters in the ensuing years.
The book contains some wonderful local history that brings to life the dreary riverscapes that accompany any East River passage. There are some great tidbits about Hell Gate, and a detailed story of the wreck of the General Slocum, a disaster that until September 11, 2001 held the record for the New York City disaster with the greatest loss of life.
There is a great deal of personal reminiscence in the book, but it seems to fit, as it all ties in to some colorful New York City maritime and waterfront history. It's not a thorough maritime history of New York--rather, the author has created a portrait of the often forgotten maritime assets of the City, at times humorous and at times melancholy. The author's specialty in Sociology comes through, as does his political bent, but it's done transparently and is not offensive.
As a Hudson River enthusiast I was a bit disappointed in the lack of much mention of sailing up the west side of Manhattan--you get the impression that he has always made a right turn at the Battery and headed up the East River. There's detailed coverage of Far Rockaway inlet, Jamaica Bay, New York Harbor, the East River and up to Little Neck Bay and City Island.
Bill Goldsmith
Cd27#173
Second Chance
Book Review: At Sea in the City
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Steve Bernd
Re: Book Review: At Sea in the City
I will admit that I am a TJ fan who has read every book I could get my hands on over the years. Some are quite fun (Seagulls in my Soup), others amazing (Incredible Voyage), some tedious and pointless(Outward Leg and ADRIFT)and some make you suspect all TJ's gears were not quite alligned (ICE!). He supported himself by writing, so basically wrote whether he had anything worth writing about or otherwise. There is lots of both.
He was biased, bigoted, stubborn and self promoting but that is part of the charm. He uses way too much filler and I agree with a previous remark that he went out of his way to insult those from nations he did not like (usually Germans and Spanish, always South Americans) but that attitude is hardly rare for an Englishman (pardon, a Welshman). His work definitely degrades toward the end. But he is well worth a read.
Steve Bernd
CD-28 #359
Ventura CA
He was biased, bigoted, stubborn and self promoting but that is part of the charm. He uses way too much filler and I agree with a previous remark that he went out of his way to insult those from nations he did not like (usually Germans and Spanish, always South Americans) but that attitude is hardly rare for an Englishman (pardon, a Welshman). His work definitely degrades toward the end. But he is well worth a read.
Steve Bernd
CD-28 #359
Ventura CA
goldy@bestweb.net wrote: This may actually qualify as on-topic for this board, so please be patient.
William Kornblum's At Sea in the City (Algonquin, 2002) might be of interest to Cape Dory aficionados, especially those who may be planning a New York City passage this summer, perhaps on the way to the Hudson Get Together July 4-6 2002.
The author is a local university professor and catboat enthusiast who had been sailing the waters around NYC for about 17 years before writing the book. He had found a 1910 Crosby Catboat with the hull fiberglassed over, which he used to make many voyages around the City's waters in the ensuing years.
The book contains some wonderful local history that brings to life the dreary riverscapes that accompany any East River passage. There are some great tidbits about Hell Gate, and a detailed story of the wreck of the General Slocum, a disaster that until September 11, 2001 held the record for the New York City disaster with the greatest loss of life.
There is a great deal of personal reminiscence in the book, but it seems to fit, as it all ties in to some colorful New York City maritime and waterfront history. It's not a thorough maritime history of New York--rather, the author has created a portrait of the often forgotten maritime assets of the City, at times humorous and at times melancholy. The author's specialty in Sociology comes through, as does his political bent, but it's done transparently and is not offensive.
As a Hudson River enthusiast I was a bit disappointed in the lack of much mention of sailing up the west side of Manhattan--you get the impression that he has always made a right turn at the Battery and headed up the East River. There's detailed coverage of Far Rockaway inlet, Jamaica Bay, New York Harbor, the East River and up to Little Neck Bay and City Island.
Bill Goldsmith
Cd27#173
Second Chance