Maritime History
Sailing and Stumbling Through History
Captain James Cook’s exploration of Aotearoa, or New Zealand, might be most significant for what wasn’t found: the fabled Great Southern Continent. Cartographers in the 18th century believed that land in the Northern Hemisphere should be “balanced” with land south of the equator. More »
San Francisco Yacht Club Will Not Abandon You
The situation appeared helpless. The President Roosevelt stood by the Antinoe for 85 hours and 40 minutes. They launched several rescue attempts, losing two of their own crew…
Myron Spaulding’s Virtuoso Sailing Legacy
Who was the greatest San Francisco Bay racing sailor ever? In the opinion of Bay sailing legends the finest racing skipper in the early 20th Century was…
The Cult of the Cal 40
It’s the original longboard, a Southern California surfing machine that is capable of sustained 15-knot downwind speeds.
Eight Bells for Clinton Pearson
Boatbuilder Clinton Pearson passed away on April 4. He was 91.
Arriving on Strange, Empty Shores in a Foreign Land
In November 1769, the HMS Endeavour, under the command of Captain James Cook, sailed into Maramaratotara Bay, New Zealand, to observe yet another rare astronomical event.
The Late Brig ‘Pilgrim’ in Happier Times
Here's an update on the sinking of the 'Pilgrim', the full-scale replica of the merchant brig made famous in Richard Henry Dana's Two Years Before the Mast.
The Book that Got Me Hooked on Captain Cook
In 1768, Captain James Cook set sail aboard the 97-ft bark Endeavour, bound for the South Pacific. King George III dispatched the ship from Plymouth.
Reconsidering Red, Right, Returning
It is a mnemonic that, once known, is impossible to forget. It is the simple expression of an important navigational concept: Red, right, returning.
International (and Historic) Women Sailors
In honor of Sunday's International Women's Day, we wanted to make mention of a few sailors who stand on the mantle of history.
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