The Voyage
Captain Harry Pidgeon, the author, was not raised near the sea but after several different jobs , "I decided to build my long-dreamed-of ship and go on a voyage to the isles of the sea" (p. 141). Take note that his craft was a sailboat, no motor of any kind. After several short trips to perfect his seamanship abilities, "when I felt myself competent, I set about preparations for an overseas voyage (p. 143).
Capt. Pidgeon set sail on November 18, 1921, from Los Angeles, California, USA, and headed southwest in the vast Pacific Ocean. After 42 days at sea, "during which time there was never sight of a sail or of the smoke of a passing steamer" (p. 144), Harry dropped anchor in the Marquesas Islands, south of the Equator. The next major island was Tahiti. He particularly enjoyed going to the market and listening to "tales of adventure told by men from the ends of the earth" (p. 158).
In Fiji, he found that "The adventurous traveller is well received in any British colony, and Fiji is no exception. I could have contented myself there indefinitely" (p. 162).
From Fiji, the Captain sailed west between and around hundreds of tropical islands north of Australia and south of New Guinea. He had no timetable, no need to rush. He reported, "I never tired of searching the beach for pretty shells that washed ashore" (p. 157). On the coral atoll (a reef surrounding a lagoon) of Takoroa, he found that nearly all able-bodied adults were pearl divers.
Sailing further west to Durban, on the east coast of Africa, the Captain noted that there was so much interest in his trip that many actually applied to be his helper! He declined their offers and left on February 27, 1924 for Cape Town, South Africa. He enjoyed the climate in Cape Town which he described as much like that of California. To my surprise, Captain Pidgeon reminisced about another long sea voyage, "In this harbor, which once sheltered the tiny ships of Vasco da Gama, mighty steamers now tie up at the wharves behind the breakwaters" (p.194).
Now in the south Atlantic Ocean, the Captain collided with a passing steamer in the midnight darkness after leaving Ascension Island. He exclaims, "This was the most thrilling five minutes of my voyage" (p. 199). The Islander's bowsprit (a spar projecting forward from the front of a ship) "was snapped off" and he "crept into Port of Spain, Trinidad Island, like a bird with a broken wing" (p. 200).
On May 2nd, Captain Pidgeon sighted Cristobal in the Panama Canal Zone. To pass through the canal, he borrowed an outboard motor. After leaving the Panama Canal and back in the Pacific Ocean, he encountered the most difficult leg of his journey. Taking 85 days, for 1,800 miles, he sailed west, "then caught a north wind and headed for California" (p. 205).
He ends his chronicle giving the impressive statistics he accumulated, "San Clemente was sighted and on October 31, 1925, I cast anchor in Los Angeles harbor, after an absence of three years, eleven months and thirteen days, during which the Islander had cruised around the world."
The Comparison
Length of voyages: Gama's: over 2 years, 23,800 miles; Pidgeons's: almost 4 years, encircled the globe, approximately 25,000 miles.
Vessels: both sailing ships, Pidgeon's - considerably more advanced than Gama's four ships.
Navigation equipment: Gama's, primitive and inexact; Pidgeon's: more modern and exact.
Crew: 2/3rd of Gama's died en route; Pidgeon survived many dangers.
Attitude: both captains displayed enormous courage and reacted with awe to the wonders (and perils) of nature.
Cooperation of natives: Gama enjoyed some help but also fought with some of the locals; Pidgeon enjoyed universal outpouring of help in every way he needed.
Goals: Gama sought riches with missionary work secondary; Pidgeon sailed for the pure pleasure of it and to see novel sights.
Cost: Gama's four ships were costly to the King of Portugal; Pidgeon built his sailboat himself from plans copied from a library for approximately $1,000 of his own money.
Rewards: Gama received riches and status; Pidgeon lists no reward but self-satisfaction is assumed.
What I Learned
*The Indian Ocean is between the west coast of Australia and the east coast of Africa, not just south of India as I had previously imagined.
*Bowsprit and coral atoll: see above.
*Mizzen: a sail on the mast (tallest pole in the middle of the deck of a ship).
*Trade winds: a wind blowing almost constantly in one direction.
*Yawl: a masted sailboat with the shorter sail in the rear of the mast.
*Starboard: the right side of a ship looking forward.
*Lee: the side of a ship that is sheltered from the wind.
Amazing Sights seen on this Voyage
*An Ant Hill more than twice as tall as the author on Prince of Wales Island.
*A Zulu taximan in Durban in full native dress including many horns on his headpiece.
*A Dew Pond in Ascension Island, created by planting bamboo and allowing the dew to drip into a hole.
*Land crabs large enough to break open a coconut with their claws on Christmas Island.
*Flying fish and flying squids!
My New Vows
1. Taste a papaya which resembles fruit from the Breadfruit Tree, a staple of the oceanic islandic peoples.
2. Find a place on the seashore and watch the tides come in an out for at least one whole day.
3. Count the number of seashells, lighthouses, and sea birds I've collected when I store them after the summer.
4. Make and taste some tapioca pudding which comes from manioc roots on the island of Borabora.
5. I'll invite more interesting people over to eat and talk.
6. I may or may not be brave enough to learn how to scuba dive.
Oh, if I was thirty years old again, an experienced sailor, had the time and money, this idea of sailing around the world appeals to me!
My Own Sea Reminders
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| Living Room Seascape plus Shells above and on both sides |
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| At the Shore on my Coffee Table |
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| Birds & Sea Critters on the Kitchen Counter |
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| Lighthouses & Sea Birds on the Fireplace Mantel |
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| The Front Entry Table give a clue of what's to come! |
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