Thank you so much. I read the
books of Patrick O'Brien, the
Captain Aubrey series. As much for their
history as their adventure. The
English Naval ships would lose as much as a third of their crew each year or so, to harsh
weather, poor
food, and lack of vitamin C and falls.
Most couldn't swim and few vessels would turn back for a
MOB.
Every time I see an old
boat I touch my forlock to the
men who sailed them, without engines, without much in the way of maps, and navigating by the stars alone.
And the respect too, to the Polynesians who did so much in the pacific in such little boats.
By gone times, fortunately, but only one or two generations away.