Waterline Books 1996(reprint, M2.4, 267pp, £12.95
Late 1930's life seen through the eyes of a 'Welsh Master Mariner's son. After a boyhood in rural Wales, peopled with colourful characters, at 14 Tristan left home for a berth as boy on the trading ketch "Second Apprentice". At that time the working sailing craft around our coasts numbered about 500 and he gives brief descriptions of the various types. A vivid impression of life on Second Apprentice dispels any romantic notions about 'working sail'. Hard, mean, incessant toil underlay the beauty and fitness for purpose of these boats. Information on the development, construction, handling and management of what was a most cost efficient transport is given. Craft up to 200 tons traded along the Channel, the East Coast and across to and into the Continent carrying diverse cargoes. After an appreciation of his captain and fellow crew this volume concludes with the onset of war.
A very readable first hand account of a bygone age.