Hatrack River Writers Workshop: The Bard's Gift--Sailing Passages

This is topic The Bard's Gift--Sailing Passages in forum Fragments and Feedback for Books at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :

My current novel, THE BARD'S GIFT, involves considerable sailing in wooden ships and boats. I'll confess. I am not a sailor. I get seasick. My experience is limited to a few whale-watching trips (usually sea sick) and a couple of cruises on relatively small cruise ships (80 passengers, on which I was only sea sick once).

I've also at one time or another read all of the Horatio Hornblower books and most of the series on which "Master and Commander" was based.

That's not enough to give me confidence in this, especially since one of my main characters is a bit of an innovator.

So, are there any sailors out there willing to take a look at just the sailing passages, which come out to about 7400 words?

I'm not looking for line edits. I'll be getting those from first readers next month. I just want to know if I've written anything that would be embarassing if I knew enough to be embarassed by it. [Embarrassed]

Of course, if you want to read the whole thing, I won't say no. [Wink]

Posted by Grumpy old guy (Member # 9922) on :

Sorry Meredith, I can't help. But that's one of the things I want to learn in the next few years -- how to sail. Then I intend to build a sail boat.

Phil.

Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :

Meredith, I'm sorry that you're prone to seasickness, but if you want to give it another try, in San Pedro, the tall ships visit from time to time. You can actually take go out on one for a mock battle. And I'll bet the crew are happy to fill you in on a lot of details even if you just go walk around and ask questions.

Also, I think there's one permanently docked in San Pedro to used to teach inner city kids sailing skills, teamwork and such. I'll bet you could find someone to help you there.

And I think the tall ships may visit Marina Del Rey a couple times a year, too. They go up and down the coast.

Here's a link for one coming up next week: http://palosverdessource.com/2012/12/07/the-tall-ships-are-engaging-in-battle-off-the-coast/

ANd a couple of other links: http://www.historicalseaport.org/news/22-news-releases/101-california-schedule-winter-2012

http://www.tallshipsfestival.com/

Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :

BTW, the mock battle is really fun and I found it to be a very smooth ride.

Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :

Thanks. I may do that, just because it looks interesting.

The ships in this story, though, are a couple of hundred years older than the tall ships. Viking cargo ships (knarrs) and a two-man fishing boat (faering). And much of the difficulty involves sailing in ice-filled waters around Greenland.

Posted by mbwood (Member # 9525) on :

Hello, Meredith;

I've sailed on Lake Erie for about thirty years on sail boats up to 49 feet in length, plus chartered in the Grenadines. Must confess I've never been on a knarr or a faering though. Also, I've never sailed in ice-filled waters anywhere - for that, I just don't have the cojones.

PM me.
mbwood