Tall Ships Down : The Last Voyages Of The Pamir, Albatross, Marques, Pride Of Baltimore, And Maria Asumpta

Tall Ships Down : The Last Voyages of the Pamir, Albatross, Marques, Pride of Baltimore, and Maria Asumpta

For all its romance, the tall-ship renaissance has a tragic side. Working from official documents, survivor and expert interviews, and his own tall-ship experience, Parrott re-creates the losses of five sail-training vessels: the 316-foot Pamir (1957), 117-foot Albatross (1961), 117-foot Marques (1984), 137-foot Pride of Baltimore (1986), and 125-foot Maria Asumpta (1995). He vividly re-creates each final voyage and then explores the roles played by ship stability, structural integrity, weather, human error, and standards of risk in tragedies at sea.From the Back CoverFive Stories of Tragic Loss at SeaOnce nearly swept from the seas, tall ships have experienced a fifty-year renaissance as sail training and passenger vessels. But that resurgence has had a tragic side, and professional mariner and maritime scholar Dan Parrott explores it in this groundbreaking reconstruction of five infamous losses that claimed 112 lives. Parrott's vivid re-creations of each final voyage dissect the circumstances of loss from forensic evidence, expert testimony, survivors' memories, and his own considerable experience. Rich with history and lore, Tall Ships Down shows unforgettably how small and seemingly insignificant lapses can produce fatal consequences at sea."An engaging--and heartrending--book."--Ocean Navigator"In addition to being a fabulous read, Tall Ships Down is a sailing seminar for both active and armchair sailors."--Sailing"The careful detail makes gripping reading. Not much detective fiction holds a reader's attention so well."--WoodenBoat"A closely reasoned seaman's appraisal."--SAIL"This extraordinary book is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of Tall Ships."--Tall Ships and Sail Training International"An important contribution to maritime studies. . . . Parrott writes with ease and authority, carefully blending both historical and technical data."--Baltimore Sun"If you're a fan of sea stories, you should have a great time reading Tall Ships Down."--Connecticut PostAbout the AuthorDaniel S. Parrott is a professional mariner with twenty years' experience in tall ships all over the world. He holds a master's degree in maritime affairs from the University of Rhode Island, an Australian Masters Certificate, and a U.S. Coast Guard license for Master of Oceans, Motor, Steam, and Auxiliary Sail, 1,600 Tons. After five years in command of the 158-foot topsail schooner Pride of Baltimore II, he now teaches navigation, seamanship, and sail training at the Maine Maritime Academy.