The Mind of the Sailor: An Exploration of the Human Stories Behind Adventures and Misadventures at Sea

A consideration of the emotional and intellectual aspects of sailing and how they affect cruising and racing yachtsmen alike. Among other things, the book looks at the importance of harmony on board, what makes a successful skipper, and what makes sailors abandon ship in the face of danger.

It's no accident that some of the world's greatest literature has inspired by the sea. At sea in a small boat, a sailor experiences unique emotional and psychological dimensions. The sea is an unpredictable and unforgiving environment that requires the utmost in self-sufficiency. The skipper bears an extraordinary responsibility for the boat and crew. The crew comprise an isolated, interdependent community that must cooperate effectively for an extended time in close quarters. And sailors who attempt long passages alone expose themselves to extremes of fear, loneliness, exhaustion, and hardship that few of us will ever experience. Yet until now there has been little serious study of the psychological aspects of sailing.

The Mind of the Sailor fills that gap. Peter Noble, a psychiatrist and experienced offshore sailor, examines the psychological forces at play on a boat and explores critical issues such as what it takes to be a good skipper, why some sailors handle stress better than others, and why some crews pull together in adversity while others fall apart. With coauthor Ros Hogbin, Noble also considers the special issues raised by long-distance cruising, ocean racing, singlehanded sailing, sailing in heavy weather, and abandoning ship.

Noble illustrates these themes with famous events from the history of seafaring, ranging from the amazing to the bizarre. Among them is the story of Captain Bligh and the mutinies he provoked; the strange case of Donald Crowhurst and his descent into madness and suicide during an early singlehanded race; and the infamous case of the yacht Apollonia, in which a disgruntled crewmember took control of the boat and executed the owner.

Along the way, Noble draws practical conclusions on questions that concern every boater, such as how to be a better skipper, how to assemble a compatible crew, and how to run a safe and happy ship. The result is both a fascinating exploration of the mind of the sailor and a riveting story of the sea.