atseainthecity

kornblum, William - AT SEA IN THE CITY; NEW YORK FROM THE WATER'S EDGE Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill 2002. ISBN 1-56512-265-8 227p. sketch maps.

This is a book about sailing that I imagine that I could do in my own boat and for that reason is a really good read. As Kornblum notes four of the five boroughs of New York are located on islands and it seems a logical step to explore the area by boat. In this case it is the Tradition, an ancient cat boat. This is not a non-stop epic voyage but a series of small steps skirting the edges of New York harbour, up the east River and into Long Island Sound. Along the way one learns a little about sailing and a lot about the history, geography and sociology of New York and how much it was, and still is, a marine city.

Kornblum sets out with a vague goal but the real strength of the book is the freeboard-eye view of the often surprising edges of the city. Like any really-good sailing book it includes maps showing just where the author is talking about. Unless you live in or about New York this is not a book you will read over and over again but it is certainly worth reading once and the approach is transferable to any small boat exploration.

Highly rated.