Back in 1969, just to prove it could be done, David Pyle and crew Dave Derrick set off in their 18-foot Drascombe Lugger Hermes, first across the English Channel toward France, and then down the Tigris through the Middle East, and on through to the other side of the world. Negotiating currents, governments, and pirates, the daring duo eventually landed in Darwin, Australia, having quietly undertaken the longest open-boat voyage ever.
We caught up with David Pyle after reading his recently reissued book, Australia the Hard Way.
Do you remember when you first got interested in boats and the first boat you sailed? The first time I remember was around the age of 3, at the end of the Second World War, when our family moved from Sheffield down to Gosport, close to Portsmouth Harbour. My mother and father often sailed their International 14 there before the war and in 1946 my father bought an 18-foot clinker keel yacht and started racing again with me on board, used as a form of moveable ballast. At age seven I was given a rowing dinghy which could mount a small sail. By now my father had purchased a 30-foot wooden lifeboat and converted it into a four-berth sailing ketch. With so many shortages after the war he had to find and use various items from a scrapyard, like masts from lengthy ex-Navy oars, a door to the “head” that had previously been the lid of a wooden bureau, and the engine a home-converted 4-cylinder model from a disused fire truck.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A HEAD FOR RUBATO
I dislike port-a-potties. I'm not too fond of poop in any form, really, being non-scatological by nature.
THE ARTFUL SAILOR
Ain' nothin' new about using sails as nautical billboards. The ancients painted all sorts of signs and symbols on their sails.
Twin Keels
OUT WIHUEIRIJE with Howard Rice
Cedar Key 2022 Windy Boat Meet
Cartop Cruising
A New Trailer
THE BIGHTS
PLAN STUDY: Fancy Free
If you're looking for a simple and inexpensive cruising sailboat with traditional character, our FANCY FREE should fill the bill. The sharpie-dory hull with flat-bottom, hard-chine form is ideal for the amateur.
BOAT REVIEW: Rhodes 22 Revisited)
Overlooked by the masses, admired by owners—there are good reasons the Rhodes 22 has been in production for over a quarter century.
Another Favorite Mod
The always creative Tom Luque sent us details on one of his favorite modifications
BLOODY TUESDAY
“Although the author if indeed he even used his real name) calls this story fiction, we arent so sure. You be the judge. Eds
CRUISING ISLE ROYALE
I sle“ Royale on Lake Superior is one of my favorite places to cruise. Established as a National Park in 1931, Isle Royale is located about 20 miles off the North Shore of Lake Superior near the Minnesota/Canadian border.