Posted by Dave Thewlis on March 16, 2010 at 10:27:08 user dthewlis.
Hi Folks,
I recently received an e-mail from Ian Watkins, a fellow Ransome enthusiast in Australia, asking for help in locating a book which he read years ago, but of which he cannot remember either the title or the author. He is asking for help from the Tarboard constituency. Here is what he remembers:
The plot is similar to "Great Northern?" in that it is about a sailing ship with one (I think) adult and a group of children sailing around the coast of England. Early in the book there is a storm and a yacht near them sinks. There is a discussion on the merits of full bowed craft vs. flared bow craft (the flare bowed craft being the one that sinks). There are small inset illustrations of the different bows (I can easily visualize this page).
The story unfolds with people taking birds from an island. The kids eventually repel the birders from the island by building a rock throwing ballista and, by firing their signaling cannon each time they fired a rock, made out that they had a big gun on the island and thus protected the birds.
There is a great one page drawing of the ballista about two thirds through the book.
The book seemed to me to be very accurate in the sailng detail and I have the impression that the book was post WW2 (I think from some statement about those damned flared bows).
I would be appreciate of any help you could provide.
I (Dave) don't recognize the book at all, but I hope someone on Tarboard can identify it. Suggestions are welcome!