In Around Cape Horn Once More, Paul W. Simpson tells the story of Montebello, a French-built clipper ship that was lost off Australia in 1906.
Launched in 1900, the steel-hulled Montebello carried cargo to ports around the world. The 276-foot three-master had rounded Cape Horn on her way to Adelaide, Australia, but ran hard aground on breakers off Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide. The crew improvised a breeches buoy and were rescued, but the ship was lost. Simpson’s book includes firsthand accounts from the sailors, plus photos and illustrations, all of which provide a unique insight into France’s maritime history and the ship’s demise. (Clippership Press, $9)
Cruising The Pacific
The RCC Pilotage Foundation’s The Pacific Crossing Guide has been updated and organized into two parts. Part I covers preparations for the crossing, and Part II looks at weather patterns and route planning. Written by Kitty van Hagen, who has cruised the Pacific extensively, the third edition includes new sections on rallies, coral atolls and atoll navigation, as well as advice on technology, such as electronic charts and satellite phones vs. HF radio. Photographs, charts and diagrams help make this one of the definitive reference books for any Pacific voyage. (Adlard Coles Nautical, $75)
Sails, Soup To Nuts
Sailmakers have benefited from advances in technology since The Art and Science of Sails was first published in 1990. The second edition of the book, which like the first was written by Tom Whidden, president of North Sails, and Michael Levitt, is 90 percent new, as are most of the 100-plus photographs and technical illustrations. Topics include how sail materials are used, downwind aerodynamics and sail plans, such as fractional rigs, fat-head mains and non-overlapping jibs. The authors devote much of the text to circulation theory and how it affects performance. (North Sails Group, $40)
This article originally appeared in the November 2016 issue.
