this simple act of reading a book,,,,,,,

[starcrest]

would prove to shape the course of the rest of my life.while growing up in new york my father always had a motor boat in one of the marinas in mill basin.he would always take my brother and me out fishing in the ocean all times of the year.when we moved to new jersey we had a water front home with the boat in the back yard.at the age of 16 in 1974 I became a certified diver.so it was that I grew up on the waterfront.then,more importantly,in the tenth grade of high school,for an american prose fiction english class,I had to do a report on the book of my choosing.we were handed pamphlets from a mail order book club.my eye was caught by the picture of the cover of the book"dove " by robin lee graham.I finished that book in two days as I could not put it down.....from that point on.......I wanted to see for myself.......what was beyond the horison

[CapnK]

Same here, Eric, in a lot of ways. Although I didn't get to go out on the water much (no boats in my family, too poor :) ), I would go to the library at the college where my Dad taught during summer and read read read. Lotta books on flying, and a lotta books on sailing. Then one day my brother left his copy of "Dove" at home, and I remember reading  it (fast, like you) and realizing "Hey, this guy wasn't much older than I am! Maybe *I* can do that one day...". "Dove" made me realize that what all those "heros" were doing was also doable by a modern day kid.

I've always considered myself to be in debt to Robin Lee Graham for opening my eyes to a world of possibility I had never considered. :)

[Pixie Dust]

I loved this book.  Read it as a teenage girl because it was short... needed to do a book report in a hurry.    ;) WOW Never forgot it.... When my boys needed to do a book report, I bought it for them to read.  I probably still have it on my book shelf.

Another book that really made a statement to me is one titled -First You Have to Row a Little Boat by Richard Bode.   Wonderful little book that relates lifes lesssons to sailing.   After reading it, I purchased a copy to keep.  One worth reading and re-reading.

[Capt.Ron]

I was fifeteen when I first read Robin"s book, I was sailing with my parents along the BC Coast. "Dove" seemed to me, to be the Dream that I would soon start living for. I would read the book and drift off occassionally,..... to the South Sea Wonders he was experiencing.

I recently came across this book in a used book store and snatched it up quickly and re-read it 30 years later... I have done some sailing, and living,.. but I have not left for the big one yet... one day, ..until then I can still remeber and dream....

DOVE inspired me to follow my heritage... son of a son of a sailor.....

[starcrest]

the only difference I have is the fact that I have absolutely no enthusiasm from family members.infact all I ever got and still to this day is sarcasm,negativity and regrets.to them what I am doing with my life is not normal nor is it possible.how can any one live ona goddam fkn boat(this is where the quote from the movie starship troopers comes in) this is all I get where do you eat where do you sleep what if you have to go...you know....thats where I got the idea of..." it only stinks for a little while"It got even worse when I had a woman live with me for a year.the fact that I actually crossed the ocean to them is like we never landed on the moon or the holocaust never happened.and now that I have this boat...well I am still overcomming some major health concerns but I am not giving up the liveaboard life.when I lost my last boat they were probably relieved.and now they only want me to get rid of this one.quite a difference from  the r.l graham situation.this ocean crossing is something no one in my family history has ever done...it was all my own doing.absolutely no family support what so ever.and they are afraid of what my capabilites are."YOU MEAN I WONT HEAR FROM YOU FOR AMONTH OR MORE??????"look ma...I will sendya a message in a bottle.and if I ever make it to the galapagos...I will sendya  a marine iguana.

[s/v Faith]

my eye was caught by the picture of the cover of the book"dove " by robin lee graham.I finished that book in two days as I could not put it down.....from that point on.......I wanted to see for myself.......what was beyond the horison

  Been looking for a while for a copy, finally found one in the Maritime Museum book store in San Francisco couple weeks ago.

  Spent the last two days aboard, think I am fighting a bit of the flu.  Stayed below, curled up with this book.  It is a great read, thanks guys.  ;D

[starcrest]

thats not the only book that I read.b4 making the first trip I read john neals "log of the mahina"....the albin vega 27 trip. there was also "a cruising guide to the hawaiian islands' a small spiral bound publication no longer in print.you know what that lead up to.and no I wont write abook of my own even tho the offer has been made.

[s/v Faith]

OBTW,

  I found the copy I read at the 'Maritime store' in San Francisco.

THis is a great organization that keeps the art of wooden boat building alive, and maintains several old boats including the 1886 square rigged 'Balclutha'.