A Ship's Tale - Softcover

Young, N Jay

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1932482032 ISBN 13: 9781932482034

Publisher: Bitingduck Press, 2012

Synopsis

Walter Cronkite ―A Ship's Taleby N. Jay Young is “an extraordinary tale from World War II of an extraordinary sailing vessel written by a courageous and extraordinary author.”

James P. Delgado, Host of National Geographic Television’s The Sea Hunters and Executive Director, Vancouver Maritime Museum ― “A Ship’s Taleby N. Jay Young is compelling, true to life, and hitting straight in the heart. I can empathize with those men who love that ship―for I too have loved and lost a ship. I encourage anyone with a love of the sea as well as those in a relationship with one of us ‘ship loving’ types to read this book.”

Clive Cussler ― “This is a good book and would make a good film.”

Set in post-war England, this is the story of the square-rigger Bonnie Clyde<.i>. Before this great lady meets her fate, a group of rogue sailors, unable to persuade the Admiralty to help save the vessel, pirates the ship away while she’s under tow to be scuttled. Through their creative use of materials and methods, they sail her through the English Channel and the Irish Sea, hoping to deliver the ship to where she was built in Dumbarton, Scotland on the river Clyde. A former Royal Navy officer Lt. Flynn tells the story. He is lured into conspiring with a Scottish sea captain (Bowman), his British first mate (Harris) who is the inside connection to parts from the scrap yards, an Irish navigator (Edward), and a Russian master rigger (Boris). Together, the crew outsmarts the British Admiralty and Scotland Yard in their attempts to stop the ship. During their journey, the crew fights the weather and avoids modern day detection. A sympathetic public opinion, aided by an AP reporter and a host of unlikely co-conspirators become their allies.

About this title

From the Author:

Most of the characters in this story are people I met while growing up around different waterfronts. I consider myself lucky to have been able to learn about ships and the sea from those individuals with actual nautical experience. They helped me 'learn the ropes' and gave me some of the best firsthand experience with different shipboard situations. Some served during actual wartime across the North Atlantic and throughout the area I describe here.These were some of the finest people who could curse each other out without the use of profanity, and were worthy of capturing this part of their life since none of them are alive today. I feel as if they will live on between these pages and the antics of the characters were molded through actual events. They were incredible!
Although the age of sail has passed, the charm and glory of those days have not. Many ships of this era are being restored and reconstructed by dedicated people, many of them volunteers, who give of themselves so that this chapter in history will endure for generations to come.
Every nautical buff should be grateful that this heritage is being protected and preserved. These ships do not number many, and keeping them afloat and intact is an extremely expensive endeavor.
Quite a few countries use them now as training ships and ambassadors of good will. I volunteered many hours when I was younger, helping to restore and maintain various ships, which were on display for the public and are now used as museums and tourist attractions; it was a deeply gratifying experience.
During that time I enjoyed the company of people, and animals, similar and in most cases exactly like the characters I have woven into this tapestry of A Ship's Tale.
N. Jay Young

From the Back Cover:

One ship abandoned by her empire. A group of rogue sailors attempting to save her. This is the story of the square rigger Bonnie Clyde. She was a grand vessel in her time, but now the sea-weary sailing ship awaits scuttling in the cold waters of the English Channel. Before this grand lady meets her fate, these sailors, (unable to persuade the Admiralty to help save this vessel), pirate her away while under tow to be scuttled. Through their creative use of materials and methods, they sail her through the English Channel and the Irish Sea, hoping to deliver the ship to her original home where she was built in Dumbarton, Scotland on the River Clyde. Together the crew must outsmart the British Admiralty and Scotland Yard, as they run with the weather to avoid detection during a pursuit by the Admiralty. A former Royal Navy officer Lt. Flynn, is lured into conspiring with a Scottish sea captain, Bowman, his British first mate Harris (the inside connection to parts from the scrap yards), an Irish navigator, Edward, and a Russian master rigger Boris. A sympathetic public opinion, aided by an AP reporter, and a host of some of unlikely co-conspirators, become their allies as they struggle to save their ship. This maritime adventure, comedy, and romance is destined to live in the hearts of every old salt and deepwater dreamer.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bitingduck Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1932482032
• ISBN 13: 9781932482034
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 454