A Ship's Tale

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. 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.

After 40 plus years in the music business as a songwriter, producer, and engineer, I decided to write down some of the many stories that have been in my mind. Sometimes writing takes on a life of its own, and I suppose this one was unique. This story started as a maritime adventure, and then comedy grew through the interactions of the characters, with a touch of romance. I found it was like taking down gold and platinum records and replacing them with pictures that I enjoyed looking at. 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.I began writing about these men, who have all passed, is a way of preserving their memory and antics, which are included in the writing of this story. There were no better "scavengers" for making things appear and disappear from various scrapyards to preserve and enhance their ships! Also, picture a Scotsman, Englishman, Irishman, and a Russian, on the same ship could Insult each other to bits without the use of profanity 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.