The Last Cape Horners
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- čas přidán 16. 05. 2023
- Gustaf Erikson of Finland owned the last great fleet of sailing ships the world would ever see. We have rare first hand accounts from men who sailed from Europe to Australia to load grain and return to Europe by way of the treacherous Cape Horn. These sailings were known world wide as The Last Grain Gaces.
We are so lucky to have these men relate their stories and to have the photos and movies taken.
Yes "men" I am sick and tired of having women's sports, movies, books, shuved down our throats on TV especially. Christ they now have ads for women's Tour de France, rugbey, cricket, boxing, etc. The Olympics have become so deluted with womens mediocre events getting top TV slots. Same with womens soccer and cricket events. And worst of all the women in tennis getting same money for playing three sets only. Let them compete against the best in the world and pay them only if they can compete with the best in the world.
This bullshit with comparing Jockavic aganst Natralvota. It takes super human effort to win in the mens competition. But anyone can win the womens events. You simply cant compare. Jockavic is by far the greatest athlete.
@@den264 Agreed, the best must always be the best rewarded.. women are welcome to compete for equal prize money, simply dispense with the male/female competitions and everyone plays an opponent of either sex, (there are only two by the way) the last left standing takes the highest prize.
@@den264Damn buddy who hurt you?? It’s a documentary on some beautiful big ole square riggers and the men (sorry I know that’s apparently a trigger word for you) who sailed them and you’re over here on an absolute diatribe against women’s sports, like what’s goin on with you bud you ok..? Please don’t get me wrong, I do agree with a lot of what you’re saying but DAAUUM my boi simmer down before you have a heart attack, a stroke or both like please just take a breath..
@den264 Where does all this venom come from? No one is forcing you to watch women's sports if you don't want to. BTW, the oldest person to sail around the world nonstop, SOLO, is Jeanne Socrates, on Nereida at age 77. She's still sailing alone, around the world, only with stops into different ports this time
I love to see the way we were ....now humans bunch of poofs
I served 14 yrs in the Royal Navy, in 4 warships, and have no illusions about the sea. Now in my 70s I still like to look at the sea - but from dry land! I have great respect for these old shellbacks. Great footage thanks. Frank in Bristol.
If you have any fascination with the era of sail, watch this masterpiece.
I'm a retired trucker. I'm gone through hurricanes, snow storms and floods where used the telephone poles as guides to where the road was. Stuck for 3 days with a broken truck off road in Northern BC delivering to an oil well. It was -40f and a snow storm. My heat was in a hard hat with diesel fuel and under the truck with snow banked around it. People thought I was a pretty tough guy.
After watching this video, those people were 10 times the man I was. Things are so much easier and safer than was it those days. Watching that in a real life video, that would have scared the crap out of me. Up working the sails standing on a rope holding on to a flapping sail, the ship heeling and no safety harness in hurricane force winds was just insane. Plus the waves were higher than where they were. Nope, I feel like a wimp compared to those people.
ME TOO ARROW TRUCKING ...THEN SPENT 10 YRS SAILING THEW WORLD REY
Got stuck in Western Australia in floods travelling. First few days tourists fed a kangaroo stuck on an island. A week later a native swam across and killed/cooked it for us to eat. 3 weeks later helicopters came and took Mums and kids away while dropping off food for us (mind you we all kicked in earlier for a truck to travel 1000 km to get a drink or two for us). Took another few days but off we went but not a patch on those tough guys.
@@sandy-quimsrus Yeah, they sure had me beat. What had me messed up, they went back for seconds lol. One trip of that would have had me living in Aussie for my lifetime lol.
haha...you're a tough bugger mate👍
One thing not mentioned was that during following seas around the horn ,a screen would be erected so the helm couldn't see what was behind them ,😮
I spent 11 years as navigator in the Merchant Navy. While in dry dock in St Nazaire in 1979 I purchased the Heller 1/150 scale model kit of the 'Pamir'. It took me 25 years, on and off, to complete it [!] and it now resides in a bespoke made display case. During its construction I learnt much about the history of the great 'windjammers' so I found your documentary very interesting and well presented. Thank you.
Cool beautiful caft
Hi richard i served with you
Great comment
I sailed arround Cape Horn in 1993, I was onboard a US Aircraft Carrier, and it was rough going, I could not imagine being on one of these. These men and women are a special breed.
I have to ask...Isn't there a safer route through the Straits of Magellan without actually rounding the cape? Why would sailors choose the Cape route?
@@redplanet7163 Some Vessels are just to large and draft too much depth to safely go that rout.
@@stephenmcelroy1179 Thanks for your reply. So it's fairly shallow? Presumably Magellan's ships made it through. Are there markers to mark the channel? Also, I'm guessing the winds would not blow a ship through quickly like the cape route. But for smaller vessels it surely must be much safer. I have often wondered about these things. I'm sure all the info's out there if I look.
The Magellan Strait is quite narrow in places and winding. In those days it was not lit up by light houses and buoys. I suppose there are such things now. Safer ? If it were they would have gone that way.
@@redplanet7163 WIndjammers weren't agile enough, they can't turn and the Sway were quite significant. Too narrow passage.
As a child, growing up near Falmouth in the 1960s, my Father introduced me to a man named Peter Davies. I remember him to be one f the biggest human beings I'd ever seen .... likely because I was a mere 7 or 8 years old at the time and rather small in stature !! I later learned that he was Captain Peter Davies, I do remember him having a profound aura of gentle authority about him, so intense that you simply wanted to respectfully address him as "Sir".
Though my memory of the details has faded considerably now, Captain Davies, well into later life and using a collection of slides, would give talks at local pubs and yacht clubs etc about his experiences serving aboard the round-the-world grain ships. These talks would be in 2 parts, the first was a factual talk about the general operation of these vessels and the second was essentially a collection of sea stories and "yarns".
Many years later I learned that he was also an artist, though I don't believe he was one of any notable acclaim, his depiction of the ships he painted was superb, however his seas were poor, at least that's what I was told.
My Father, knowing my admiration of Captain Davies, gave me one of his paintings which he'd found in a local auction. The painting is of the Passat under full sail, but sadly it was was in very poor condition. I had the painting restored by a friend of mine who happens to be a well respected Art Conservator here in Canada and subsequently framed.
I've searched the internet high and low (though I'm not very good at it) to find information about Captain Peter Davies. Beyond finding a few others of his paintings, my search has been fairly fruitless. I am curious to know whether he was ever Master of Passat and about his career in general.
I've been a modern seafarer since 1977 and have had my own set of experiences on the world's oceans though they pale significantly to those of these true "Seaman" who worked these sailing ships. The vessels are gone and so are the men, the likes of which will never be seen again.
I humbly salute you.
Great story Ive only been interested in sailing the last 20 years after moving 50 mile away from the coast. I follow the vendee globe every four years and dream of setting sail.
Cool story.
A non-heroic but fun sailing story from a fellow Cdn.
Years back I’m in Singapore staying with a buddy working rigs off Brunei.
One day, he says his friend John is arriving. John, who was married to a Filipino, has spent years turning an old part-concrete (if memory serves) fire boat into a sailing boat, and Singapore was his first port of call.
Met him, and his wife, many good beers and great stories.
Years later, I’m visiting my Dad. My Dad was a big sailor, and really liked Tristan Jones’ autobiographies about his sailing and ‘adventuring’.
So I’m looking for something to read one night. Pick up a Tristan Jones book. Flip to a random page mid-book to scan over a few paragraphs.
Less than 30 seconds in?
“It was off the eastern coast of South America where I met John and his lovely Filipino wife, who were sailing a converted fire-service boat around the world…”
What a harrowingly beautiful documentary.... you have my thanks and utmost appreciation... just remarkable
Wow, after falling asleep to many CZcams videos I found one that literally kept me on the edge of my seat. It's hard to fathom The bravery, strength, grit, and determination of the men and women who risked such great undertakings. Hardly seems real from the perspective of 2023.
This is a beautiful collection of stories you have put together perhaps for future generations to see what life was like in the age of commercial sail. I knew Tor Lindquist thru the Melbourne Maritime Museum and spent a few days sewing sails for the Polly Woodsidewith him.
I read Stormalong by Alan Villiers when I was 8 or 9 years old and loved it. Some 65 years later I still have the book, and its still a favourite. A hard life for tough characters. Thank you for posting this film, fascinating.
It warms the heart that these incredibly brave men had the well deserved satisfaction of getting their stories documented. The West was built by strong men and their wives rearing strong children. Let us always appreciate these pillars.
My husband’s grandfather, in the 1800’s Samuel Ruden, was “sold” into apprenticeship at 12 years old. They taught the kids a new piece of rigging each day & if they did not learn they were beat!!! Eventually he became a ship’s captain. Amazing man & true hero. Nobody raises children today who could do any of this.
Thank you to everyone that has made these comments. My father sailed with the British merchant marines on the Braque Kilmallie. They sailed around the world three times. From the experience's that my father told me of their journeys it was a very great experience and it really took a lot to make these sailings. I have quite a few photos that my father took on these journeys and it really is something to have as a memory of my father, he passed away when I was 13 but I will always remember him and my mother.
Oh wow I would love to see those photos! I'm sorry you lost him so young.
"Man doesn't live forever, if he lived that challenging and adventurous life while he may, that's not such a bad idea". Well said sir. Respect @43:05
I once climbed a mast to sort out a problem with a halyard. The yacht was moored alongside a jetty but the movement at the top was enough to make me nervous even with a safety harness. How these men worked aloft in such dreadful weather with no protection is beyond my comprehension - they were giants! What a revealing and fantastic account of the hardships of those sailors endured and which must have made their times ashore or in good weather so much more pleasurable.
Yeah..I had to change out my mast light...at the dock..I got to the middle spreaders and started peeing my shorts..
Very true indeed. My grandfather talked about it sometimes, but to be very clear, there were lots who didn't survive. Many fell, and died because of the damage caused when they hit the ship!
@@viktorbirkeland6520 and murder
My husband’s grandfather Samuel Ruden was apprenticed at 12 years old in the 1800’s & learned all the sheets & rigging & worked way up on the ropes at 12!!!! Painted his ships in detail as a retired ship’s captain. The superstition was true they didn’t believe in learning to swim.
I was fortunate to meet Captain Irving Johnson in the late 70s in Long Beach California. What an amazing man he was. He was showing and narrator of his adventures on his sail boat the Yankee. Him and his crew salvaged the anchor from the Bounty.
The Last Great Grain race by Eric Newby is a brilliant book.
Great pictures and an excellent story we'll told
My favourite, got both . Read them about every 10 years
Thank you Garry Kerr. I was astonished as I watched this video. Shocked that the footage existed and that the men who sailed as young men on the ships gave their testimonials of life aboard. It's fantastic!
The Peking was completely restored by the Germans. There are some Doku, done bei German TV, about the whole way. From getting the wreck back from NY harbor to hamburg and the whole restauration. I Think yt can translate it.
czcams.com/video/n11HVFKO0jA/video.html
czcams.com/video/So609NxlTcw/video.html
czcams.com/video/rENLjOMqppA/video.html
So amazing to see and hear men, and women , who worked those ships through such brutal conditions . It’s hard to imagine today people going off for a year or more for a job and only getting to see your family every year or so. Today people get divorced or infidelity if they are gone a week . I’m 70 and have worked ranches, horse packed into the wilderness and seen high mountain storms and sub zero weather. But what these men did was truly amazing and they had to be more tough than anybody I ever met. Thank you for this video.
" get divorced or infidelity if they are gone a week ." Is that the truth. I know a young fellow who would leave home maybe 4 or 5 nights for work. This was too much for the "Mrs-es". Off to the neighbor. Gee has she made his life hell.🤨
I rounded the Horn on New years Day (Summer) in 1946 on a voyage from Vancouver to Capetown, 49 days and nights!
Fantastic video, very well put together and a great tribute to the last Cape Horners - many thanks
Truly at a loss for words... I'm stunned.
What a sad scene to see these great sailing ships go into history but this story is almost unbelievable and riveting
For two summers I served on the crew of the US Brig Niagara, Erie, Pennsylvania. This ship was the 2nd reconstructed Niagara, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship in the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. I "hauled sail" on the mainmast on the topsail yard.
Our motto was "One hand for the ship, one hand for yourself." Although we often did clip our safety harnesses to the steel safety rail running on the aft side of the spar if it was really windy when hauling in sail, or "busting up" as it was known.
Hard work was rewarded at day's end with a sleep in a canvas hammock belowdeck - broken by one hour standing deck watch at night. Meals were made on a wood fired Candadian cast iron wood-fired stove by the ship's cook. We ate well.
To have the opportunity to sail on a "sticks and strings" wooden square rigger was a distinct honor.
This whole presentation is so full of exquisite beauty, love and pain…well, words fail me! Thanks so much for the video and thanks to all who made it possible for the next generation and the next, and the one after that…to have a way to participate in this history…all these many years gone by. Those ships are remarkably beautiful
The Peking was completely restored by the Germans. There are some Doku, done bei German TV, about the whole way. From getting the wreck back from NY harbor to hamburg and the whole restauration. I Think yt can translate it.
czcams.com/video/n11HVFKO0jA/video.html
czcams.com/video/So609NxlTcw/video.html
czcams.com/video/rENLjOMqppA/video.html
I feel I am not worthy to comment on these ships and Men, I am in awe!
My grandpa always talked about the Cap Horners with great respect and we children sat like in trance listening to the stories in the light of the oil lamp in the evenings. He never sailed but was working in the harbors.
This amazing doc is a lesson to us all in the pampered modern world that many live in. In the words that one of the contributors uttered, that the dangerous situations they endured made them invulnerable to anything that life could throw at them after these hardships.
It is definitely worth the effort to get a copy of " The Last Grain Race by Eric Newby " ! He worked on the last of his ships !
As well , you my may want to add a copy of " Two Years Before The Mast by Richard H. Dana Jr. " !
As others have said before, Iron Men and wooden ships! A way of life to not be repeated.
But... but ... but these were iron ships ;)
@@SergeyPRKL The sentiment still holds true!
Different breed of men/women back then. Tough as nails
This is incredibly interesting, thank you so much for sharing it. These guys have to be some of the very best men, it would take such grit and sharpness to survive that journey regularly.
As a child we had a large painting of a tall ship in a storm with men in foul weather gear. Made me feel fortunate to live out on the prairie in winter in the Dakotas in blizzards!!
What an inspiring tale. To sail a ship around the Horn, the adventure of a lifetime, never to be repeated...
My forefathers did it regularly and Yes to be repeated ❣️ Still going on…
@@anneli1735 You imply that square-masted ships are still being sailed(?), on what sea(s) and what are the names of these ships ?? [ I thought they were ALL gone, forever.]
It's emotional for thise dudes. You can hear it in their voices. Thank you 💫
Thanks for the great video. I love all things sailing especially the 4 master. In the 1980si met a woman who owned a metal hull square rigger. She sailed out of Kealakekua bay on the big Island ,Hawaii. And hauled basic provisions to several small islands in the south pacific profitably. I met her daughter who grew up on that ship wow what an adventure.
Working those ships must have been seriously hardcore job. I have climbed mast of my sailing catamaran several times in calm conditions and it was barely possible to do anything at the top because even small waves can make mast swing a lot. Can't imagine doing it in stormy conditions. Yet these guys routinely climbed 40 meter masts in hurricane force wind while the ship was rolling and pitching wildly. Deepest respect to them.
Unbelievable! Nobody can imagine, what these men experienced!
Wow. Gives you a much better idea of the difficulty and the number of men needed. No movie I have ever seen conveys that accurately. Nine or ten men on one sail, they always show one or two people. Great stories, must have been absolutely terrifying.
There is in Master & Commander a scene with tens of men on the sails doing just that. The best age of sail movie :)
I love that film. It's probably the most accurate of any portayal.
these people are extraordinary. what kind of sailing marvels were created by them!
Topguns sailers. Amazing brave men. Respect well earned.
Sailed a few times in heavy seas. The Cape is another level. The edge of the earth.
During my years as a professional yacht delivery skipper I was fortunate to have the opportunity to act as Mate aboard the replica 16th-century galleon, 'The Golden Hinde' for the voyage from Yokahama back to Plymouth, England. A six-month voyage of something over 12,000 miles..a unique experience and one that helps me relate to what these men experienced, both the wonder and the pain.
It took you six months to go only 12,000 miles? The journeys depicted in this marvelous film were longer and completed in sometimes half that time. What a slow barge the Golden Hinde must be! (Smiley Face)
@@mikestirewalt5193 People often fail to appreciate the progress made in sailing ship design over 300 years. The Golden Hinde , (spelled with an e at the end to distinguish it from an earlier, 'static' display vessel), is approximately one third the length of the great Cape Horners', as you no doubt know, waterline length is what dictates maximum hull speed and 16th century galleons were small by comparison to later vessels, sailing to windward, was just possible but barely worth the extraordinary effort required in sail handling. With all sail set and a force 6 behind us we could make 7 knts, By the end of the trip my 'watch' team held the Blue Ribbon' for most nautical miles covered in the four hours, 34 ! No winches, nothing but 'Handy Billies' to assist, just always having to line up between 5 and maybe twelve crew to get the job done.. we had a crew of only seventeen. We even had the advantage of a small diesel engine, installed mostly to assist in harbour manoeuvers but having to work to a very tight schedule we kept it running for much of the trip, it probably added 1 kt in calmer weather.
In 1973 I was doing work on the yards of the sailing school ship "DAR POMORZA". Those were beautiful moments but the best was the smell in the middle of the ocean from the ship's bakery still at dusk when the baker baked breads for the 150-strong crew every other day.
@@jamesgraham6122 Interesting account of what it was like for you and the ship design differences .
Francis Drake
Thanks for sharing this ❣️ My father, born in 1910 to an old seafarer family, started his merchant marine/navy career bottom up being 15 years old only after his father’s passing in 1925 on the P-liners and had been a proud Caphornier following the steps of his forefathers. I could only do it on a cruise ship years ago in memoriam but yes I can say “I’m a Caphornier too” ❤
I have goosebumps to begin watching this.
Sailed 5 months....as crew for elderly friends....good grief...best experience I wont do again.
Most excellent documentary, most worthy of keeping in the archives. Salutations to the thousands of such sea-fairers of that time. All merchant seamen/seawomen as well.
That was an amazing documentary. So very very well done.
In 1948 i read a book called the "The Last Grain Race" by Eric Newby. He was a crew member aboard a square rigger named MOSHULU. The book title is self explanatory. I was 11 at the time but it was a story that was truly excitinng. Even a must read for anybody interested in seafairing. The voyage was the last one for the MOSHULU. This vessel was bought and subsequently preserved by the Cambell's soup company. The last time I saw her was in Philadelphia where she had been repurposed into a restaurant. That was over 20 years ago. Just checked google maps and I see it is still there. Well worth a visit if you are in town.
Thanks for the info, beautiful ship/restaurant, checked it out on google earth and saw the USS New Jersey across the river from her, got to stroll her decks back in '68 when she called in Norfolk on her way to Viet Nam and tied up a pier away from us...The youth of today are missing out on reading, the book that did it for me was "Two Years Before the Mast"...Cheers
I remember, as a very small boy, been taken down to Duncan Docks in Cape Town, to see the Lawhill tied alongside. It looked massive to me. Beautiful ships !
My father Gustav Alling was a Cape Hornier ,sailed with Gusrav Erikssons ĶILORAN ,the grain trade.Rounded the Horn 4 times between 1928-1937.⚓️⚓️⚓️⛵️
Gustav Eriksson Marienehamn.
Absolutely brilliant montage. Thank you
In Hamburg, the tall ship "Peking" has just been restored. The ship, built in Hamburg, lay in New York for many years and was in terrible condition. Now it is again a magnificent sailing ship, which has also sailed around Cap Horn several times.
Absolutely brilliant, jaw-dropping documentary. Thank you
What a great piece! I put this on my watch list thinking it would be soundless black and white snipets stuck together and I'd speed through to see what there was. Instead I was drawn in and watched all of it. What an interesting time period to be able to capture with film - and watch.
That was an incredible film. Life was hard in the old days, not only on ships but in the mines, farming and everywhere.
My father was a hard man, raised by even harder parents who survived the world wars.
As a child we weren't allowed to cry or my father would yell, 'shut up or I'll give you something to cry about'! Children nowadays are spoilt rotten, they have everything they need in 3 clicks.
Eat ship is it
What ship I mean
These ships really are Graceful Racehorses! It must have been saddening to work on a steam ship after them.
I was brought up right on the northeast coast in New England, the ocean is my happy place, I always thought what it must've been like sailing those ships, hard work but something magical about being out to sea with just the wind for power. It's good that these stories survive. Thank you.
I came across this by chance and I am so glad I did. A beautifully made documentary about remarkable people doing remarkable things. As one of them said, “Man doesn’t live forever. If he lives a challenging and adventurous life while he may, that’s not such a bad idea.”
Heroes, all of them.
So many fantastic stories and memories. Shows us how powerful humans truly are.
Yea & no parasite amongst them !
I’ve seen this before and am happy to watch it again 👍
I can’t stop watching this story. It’s a true story of legendary men overcoming incredible hardships on a nearly daily basis. Moreover, it’s one of the best examples, outside of combat, of individual responsibly for the sake of the team. It exemplifies the true idea of being stronger as a cohesive team. One member falls short of what’s expected and everyone pays the unthinkable price. Outside of the higher level of Special Forces military organizations this type of life is lost.
Incredible!!! If not filmed, no one would believe!!! Days and days of storm, with cold weather all the time, no time to sleep or eat!!
Any time you could sink!!!
Time travellers!!!
Wonderful vídeo, thanks for hearing all those voices w precious testimonies!!!
Fantastic!! ❤
This was an amazing and captivating documentary. I loved it!❤
Was not a participant in this generation my parents where and from them I learnt what I passed onto my son and daughter best I can have done good people. Such a short time ago less than a hundred years look at society now , sad but true. 1958 birth here , oh how times have changed, glad there are a few probably very young at the time where still alive 2 when this doco was made. Great piece of work and thank you Garry , same name my Gary is spelt with 1 r. Was only 83 years ago .............just a thought good people , 2 world wars in that time and all that senseless waste.
I love this documentary. Thanks a lot. The reality is that the average speed of a windjammer on a long voyage seldom exceeded 6 to 8 knots on average while steamships could chug along at higher speeds. Modern ships sail at an average of 9 to 15 knots with top speeds of 16 to even 24 knots like the large containerships that go through the Suez Canal from Shanghai to Rotterdam. There is no way in heaven that any sailing vessel could match that. Tea clippers did an average of 16 knots, though, but their cargo weighed next to nothing.
From Wiki - Cutty Sark was the fastest ship on the wool trade for ten years. In July 1889 the log of the modern passenger steamship SS Britannia recorded that when steaming at 15-16 knots she was overtaken in the night by a sailing ship doing 17 knots, which proved to be Cutty Sark.
Ships are not things, they own souls ..... some of them are '"bad girls", but most are so beautyful, so elegant, so brave .... a perfect balance between gazelle and lion ...
That is the BEST doco I have seen! A story I knew nought of. Thankyou so much.
Wow. I just noticed myself holding my breath anxiously waiting for the next wave under the never ending Gail force winds imaging myself holding on for life while feeling the cracks in my hands but without time to giving it any mind as every hand being needed on deck.. one of the most exhilarating narrated events, no the single most terrifying adventures I've been blessed to not having to have experienced myself. The entire time listening wondering if I ever had what it takes to survive the journey without willing myself to die rather than going through another day of this life and death struggle.. I'm stunned at what mankind is capable of,,. And to volunteer in exchange for a few sheckles as a wage could only have been made by men not knowing what they were in for as it was said there are no words anyone could use to describe what they were in for..
I was amazed by this presentation, I enjoyed every moment, So very interesting, the wind jammers,I've heard this expression before, I'm 60 now,always had a fascination for History, land sea and air,thank you for a lovely presentation, THE GRAIN RACERS 😢😢😢😢😢😢😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤
Thank you Garry Kerr for producing and preserving this amazing and inspirational part of history.
Amazing and sad. The men in this video really brought their experiences to life - different than reading about it. I am lucky to have been able to see this video. Thank you, for making it.
What a great video! I'm so awed at these sailors I can't find words to express what I feel. And, I love the tall ships.
This was an amazing documentary. The last great generation. For once, finally, good job CZcams.
One of the best documentaries I have ever seen. Thanks for uploading.
Surprisingly very pleasant very interesting. Loved it. I could feel the spirit and pride of the men. Love the Aussies. Thank you for this video.
When I was 10 in the 1950's our neighbors rented a camp to an old sailor who crewed on the Cape Horners. He had a parrot who knew every curse that ever existed. The stories he used to tell me.
Wow! A true blessing to have watched. Rarely does a video of any sort keep me captivated and immersed. This one certainly did.
i did managed to work for a few years on sailing ship as a instructor teaching students how to operate the sails safely on a polish frigate dar mlodziezy. if life had turned on diferently i would probably still be there, but it was not to be. i still trsure those years in my memory. good film thank you
Watched it in awe..... thanks ever so much for sharing this fantastic documentary!!!
What a superb documentary. Absolutely, stunning and a trade I knew nothing about. Those men were amazing.God bless them, we will not see their like again and they did what they did with such grace.
I've slept on the Viking in Stockholm as a tourist for several nights.
A beautiful beautiful ship. Was totally unaware of the connection with Australia.
Amazing!!
What an absolutely fantastic film. Thank you for uploading it.
Wonderfully told tales. I do miss my own time at sea and port. Brought back memories and the wonderful feeling of being on the water.
This is one of the best documentaries I've watched. The music, footage and narration was so well edited. Really a masterpiece.
This is perhaps the most beautiful documentary ever put together - about anything! The original film footage is frightening, as are the stories - and the choice of backing music is unforgettable.
What brave men (and some women) these were! Bringing grain to the people of Britain cost countless ships and lives ... I wonder if people ever paid a single thought to them when they took a bite of their bread?
They were mere boys when they signed on! They were men when they left! Imagine your 15 to 18 year old son being gone for 10-12 months on one of these let alone going around the Cape! Great documentary.
what an amazing story! So glad this was uploaded here otherwise I don't think i would have ever seen it.
These men were incredible!
A very fine and interesting production! I have seen much of the footage before, but it was nice to see it all in one in one go, and some more into the bargain. Thank you so much! 🙂 My great grandfather worked his way up on square riggers, from deck boy to mate, and then to master, before he went over to steam and engine-craft, and he had some stories to tell too! He was Norwegian, and sailed in both wars, loosing one ship to the Germans.
Wonderful documentary of tough times & tough men. Fascinating to see & hear first hand accounts of life & times now sadly gone. Very many thanks.
Wow. Great footage and narration. Thank you.
I just - again watched the Ghosts of Cape Horn, and now - i got this! My Father WAS one of the Capehorners, born 1903..... Me, myself, I am just a normal nowadays sailor, yet I do possess my Capt. Sert....
It’s cert, not sert, so, I think your a total bullshitter
incredible testimony of the glorious days of sailing. Thank You
Everyone enthralled by this footage should read "The Last Grain Race", by Eric Newby, which recounts his life as a deckhand on the 'Moshulu' which sailed out of Belfast in 1939 on the eponymous voyage to Australia, for the last time as it turned out. By the time the grain fleet had returned in 1940 the world was at war. Two of the Scandinavian vessels hit German sea mines off Denmark. So ended an entire epoch of history.
czcams.com/video/HWNwJQNMEHM/video.htmlsi=X4ovsbdhETKUi_Ja
Many years ago I rented a home from the son of the 3rd mate on the Pamir during WW2 . The story of this is incredibly interesting also ,right up until she was lost in 1957 without trace. The home was full of books about the sailing ships including all of Villiers books . 😊
My father aged 15 only started his merchant marine life in 1925 on the Pamir bottom up ❤
these were some tough ol boys man. what a cool Docu
Truly incredible, inspiring and humbling. I watch Master and Commander every few years, a time of giants. Ty for sharing.
What a great documentary. Much respect to those who sailed and perished.
If you're interested in a sailor's life, "Two Years Before the Mast" is a must read.
It is difficult to comment on this record of one of the greatest passages of time in the history of mankind, except to say that when you are out there you cannot question what you are doing. It just must be done and it brings an appreciation and acceptance of life that cannot be gained from any other experience. What a shame that this wonderful education that delivered the best of what we can achieve as people will never be repeated.
I served on an WW2 LST (Landing Ship, Tank) in the 1960s in the heat of the tropics, living and working conditions were HELLISH and a typhoon cracked, but didn't break us...Our crummy little ship was a luxury yacht compared to what those Cape Horners experienced... It was interesting to me to find out I was 2 when the last grain race happened.
I bet you have some amazing stories.
For those interested in the Age of Exploration and the days of sail, look into the accounts recorded in "Hakluyt's Voyages", a book of that title edited by Richard David cherry picks some of the accounts/journals. The last chapter dealing with the final voyage of Master Thomas Candish (Cavendish), Esq., beggars the imagination...and renders voyages such as the above into (with all due respect) pleasure cruises.
So did Villers, as skipper, during the war.
What a wonderful documentary . . . Thank you so much.