For a 'First Rate' choice of books about 'Life on the Ocean Wave', have a look at our 'Chock-a-block' list below! As well as being able to find out what these phrases mean, there are other nautical acronyms and abbreviations and sailing quotations that will help you to widen your maritime vocabulary.
All types of sailing vessels are covered: from barquettes to smacks and from barges to yachts. If your ancestor sailed from Newhaven on a Trading ship between 1864 and 1889, he could be recorded in the crew lists for those 25 years.
It was a hard life being at sea and the coastal waters of Britain are scattered with wrecks, none more so than the coast of East Anglia. You can read more about them, plus a true tale of being marooned, in the books below.
To help prevent the wrecks from occurring, lighthouses were built - not an easy task in the stormy seas around Britain. The history of the building of the most famous of these, the Eddystone Lighthouse, is chronicled well.
Whether you are captivated by the etiquette and clothes of past yachtsmen or are intrigued by West Country Mariners and Shipping in the early 17th century, our publications will help you to 'know the ropes'.