Sailing Craft in Europe and Asia ¹

Abstract

IN these days, when sails are falling more and more into disuse for ocean-going vessels, and the construction of sailing-ships is a dwindling industry, it is refreshing to come across a book like this, breathing throughout an intimate knowledge of sailing-ships and sailors, displaying insight into, and sympathy with, the nature of the men who follow the sea on the coasts of many countries, and showing in every page powers of quick observation and ready understanding of all that makes for the efficiency of sailing craft. The author indicates his recognition of the inevitable triumph of the steam-ship in competition with the sailing-ship for purposes of both peace and war, but he rejoices no less in the belief that throughout all time fishing-and coasting-vessels will remain dependent upon sails, and so will constitute a school of seaman-ship in which the traditions of the past will be maintained. Mr. Warington Smyth describes the volume modestly as “an attempt to record the peculiarity of the principal types of sailing craft in Europe and Asia which I have observed... and to consider the causes which have been at work in the development of boats and the results attained under the conditions with which they have had to contend.”