Ahoy! Category
Celebrating 20 years of Thomas Kydd: Readers Have Their Say
Posted on August 18, 2021 19 Comments
I sometimes have to pinch myself that the Kydd Series has been coming out for 20 years. I certainly remember my trepidation when putting together, at my agent’s request, a timeline for twelve books! But as I got into the Series, and found the historical record so rich and varied, my creative juices flowed and […]
THUNDERER: Coming Next!
Posted on March 30, 2021 14 Comments
When I first started to write the Kydd Series little did I realise that my original conception of perhaps a dozen titles would more than double. The more I delved into the historical record the greater scope I found for Kydd, Renzi and the rest of the fearless crew for adventures up to and beyond […]
Falmouth, Ahoy!
Posted on August 19, 2014 6 Comments
In under two weeks the Cornish town of Falmouth will witness a truly spectacular sight – white sail cresting the horizon and then coming to anchor in the third deepest natural harbour in the world. Forty-six Sail Training vessels from around the world, including eleven magnificent square sail Tall Ships, will arrive for four days […]
The Good Ship Vega Needs Your Help!
Posted on January 29, 2014 Leave a Comment
[To leave a comment or reply go to box at the end of the page] Vega is a 122 year old Hardanger built Norwegian sailing cargo vessel. Every year the vessel sails 8,000 sea miles delivering 25 tons of donated educational and medical supplies to some of South East Asia’s most remote island communities. But […]
Seafaring Cats
Posted on December 4, 2013 4 Comments
[To leave a comment go right to the end of the page and just enter it in the ‘Leave a Reply’ box] When it became apparent that the mighty 140-gun first rate Spanish ship-of-the-line Santisima Trinidad would not survive the raging storm that followed the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 every effort was made to […]
Prick, Perique or Plug?
Posted on October 17, 2013 7 Comments
[To leave a comment go right to the end of the page and just enter it in the ‘Leave a Reply’ box] I first met Ken Yalden a few years ago. Ken is a keen member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. As we chatted he recalled I had mentioned a prick of tobacco […]
James Craig: From Rotting Hulk to Pride of the Fleet
Posted on October 4, 2013 5 Comments
[To leave a comment go right to the end of the page and just enter it in the ‘Leave a Reply’ box] It’s always a joy to watch DVDs of tall ships and recently Kathy and I broached the rum cask to sit back and enjoy James Craig Sails Again. The 92-minute video is the […]
And a Happy Birthday to the Royal Australian Navy!
Posted on September 27, 2013 11 Comments
[To leave a comment go right to the end of the page and just enter it in the ‘Leave a Reply’ box] Next week an International Fleet Review is being held to commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet into Sydney. Prince Harry will attend the festivities on behalf […]
Spending a penny at sea
Posted on August 14, 2013 8 Comments
Early warships featured a beakhead on the bow which was used to ram enemy galleys. Around the 900s platforms for archers were built on either side of this beakhead. Known as ‘heads’, these platforms were slotted to allow drainage from breaking waves and became a convenient way to answer the call of nature. Since then […]
A Sterling Model!
Posted on August 8, 2013 9 Comments
[To leave a comment go right to the end of the page and just enter it in the ‘Leave a Reply’ box] After seeing my blog on HMS Victory yesterday Mike Softley emailed me some photographs of a very special model he was involved with. Mike takes up the story: ‘Victory was my second home […]
Julian Stockwin 