cruising under sail

cruising sailors

boats & designs

seamanship

singlehanded cruising

traditions

books & documents

photographs & plans

A look at those regions of the world, where certain factors come together to further the developement of the working boat with fore-and-aft rig, reveals a number of similarities, that makes you believe in 'cause and effect' relationships. Whether one looks at the Netherlands in the 17th century, the Thames Estuary and the English Channel in the Éighteenth or northern New England, Brittany or the Baltics about half a century later, closer observations show:

Here are sheltered spaces of accessible water, natural harbours, plenty of fish, timber suited for boat building, seamanship, the art of toolmaking, relative economic prosperity, a developed citizenship and maritime traditions - apparently conditions for progress in the evolution from working boats to the design of seaworthy sailing boats!

They seem follow certain patterns - which can be classified along general subjects, all of which are of special interest to the cruising sailor - forming a sort of chronology of this advancement.

subjects

factors in the evolution ascending

Weather

Geography

plant- and

animal kingdom

People

Economics

Industry

Science

Society

Culture

a moderate climate zone

sheltered spaces of accessible water:

estuaries, rivers, canals

many natural harbours

timber suited for boat building

plenty of fish & seafoods - fishery

survivalists

resonably high population

seamanship

advanced commerce & transport

developed banking system

relative economic prosperity

early industrial manufacturing

art of toolmaking

interest in new technology

research and inventors

developed citizenship

vacations & early tourism

maritime tradition

sailing culture

maritime books & publications

This page is dedicated to the many cruisers who have inspired me and who have given me confidence to be building this chapter on cruising. Trusting their advice i am going on cruises aboard my little ship again and again. Thanks goes to everyone who sent me pictures and information.  Without your help this site would not have been possible!  Please keep sending your material, and i will keep improving the pages!