A Historical Moment

Myers, Mark R-The Neva - watercolour

Pulled With Uncommon Strength.
The Neva Crosses Sitka Sound, 28 September 1804

'...on the 28th towards noon, we moved out of Cross Bay. The weather was so calm, that our ships were obliged to be towed till ten in the evening, when we anchored for the night, at a short distance from the old settlement of the Sitcans. The Neva could not have reached this situation, but for the united assistance of upwards of a hundred bidarkas, which, though small in size, pulled with uncommon strength.' 'This passage in Captain Yuri Lisianski's 'Voyage Around the World' was simply asking to be painted. A fleet of Russian ships being towed Gulliver-like into battle by a horde of Lilliputian kayaks makes an unusual subject to say the least.'

QAJAQ (GL) by Nive Nielsen
by CVA2009

The Wreck of the Robertson II

I'm sad to show these photos of what was - not at all long-ago - a beautiful sailing ship. This ship had over a square mile of sail to the wind!!!

The Robertson II in 2007


The Robertson II in 2009


More information HERE and HERE

Oskar Speck

to quote...

"Oskar Speck's route from Europe to Australia. Most travellers make this trip in a few weeks by liner, or in a few days by air. But Speck took seven years - paddling his tiny craft close to coasts wherever possible, risking the open ocean when he could find no other way."

This is a very interesting read of Oskar Speck's incredible seven year journey - from 1932 to 1939 - presented in three parts.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three