Scuttlebutt
Tales and Experiences of a Life at Sea
by
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ADVENTURES AT SEA We have all read and heard tales of tragic adventures at sea − severe storms, shipwrecks, lost at sea, injuries, and more. But have you ever considered that the real “hair raising” experiences seem to happen to the least qualified and least prepared boaters? When you pick up a book about real life adventures at sea, more often than not you find that the author or main characters knew very little about boating and the sea, and they found themselves in situations that could have been avoided if they had been more knowledgeable. They didn’t take proper measures to prepare their boats, to learn to navigate, to check immediate and long term weather, to learn sound seamanship, or to prepare contingency plans. If they had followed these sound measures, there probably wouldn’t be as many adventure at sea books as there are today.
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About the Book
For years, Robert B. Kieding has shared his nautical knowledge with the residents of Santa Barbara, California, in his weekly column in the Santa Barbara News-Press. Now, with Scuttlebutt: Tales and Experiences of a Life at Sea, he brings his wit and wisdom to people across the country and around the globe. At sea, the scuttlebutt was a cask with an opening called a “scuttle,” around which crewmembers would gather and chat when weather or the captain’s law allowed. It functioned in much the same manner as our modern-day office watercolor—a place to share and exchange workplace chatter and stories of dubious provenance. Eventually, the term scuttlebutt came to mean “shipboard rumors or gossip.” In this tradition, Scuttlebutt covers a wide range of marine-related topics—everything from boating history to sage seafaring advice to humorous personal anecdotes. Kieding’s warm and engaging writing style and his obvious love of all things nautical will make this collection appeal to boaters and land lovers alike.
About the Author
Robert B. Kieding is a lifelong sailor and the author of a weekly column for the Santa Barbara News-Press. He served as the chairman of the junior rowing program for the 1984 Olympics and was the primary founder of Santa Barbara’s popular Maritime Museum. He and his son, Ken, operate Chandlery Yacht Sales, which specializes in sales of new and used boats and yachts.