The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/56633
BOOKS QUAKE SURVIVORS TELL THEIR STORIES On the afternoon of February 22, 2011, a massive aftershock devastated the city of Christchurch and its people, resulting in a massive emotional and construction fallout. In Trapped, the author, Martin Van Beynen, writes on the randomness of this event, which is almost unfathomable as the reality sank in that we lost 181 people in the earthquake. Hospital records indicate a further 250 to 300 people were treated for serious physical trauma in the hours following the quake. In some cases survivors lay trapped next to the dead and dying as they awaited rescue. Survivor's guilt is a well-known reaction and many of the survivors felt it, for a short time at least. Others continue to be wracked by the harrowing experience as the come to grips with the difficulties and burdens survivors must overcome. Trapped (Penguin Group (NZ), $35) is best summarised in the words of Fire Service station officer Paul Rodwell, who rescued many survivors from the rubble. "The raw emotion of these personal stories makes for a moving and dramatic book. They provide a fascinating perspective from survivors who cheated death, some only just, and then have to carry on." A portion of all the royalties from the book will be donated to the Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch. TALL TALES AND TRUE Dramatic stories abound along the waterfront of Vancouver, the largest city of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its people, ships and events shaped a city, a region and a nation from the early pre-historic mariners who ventured out of the Arctic to the enterprising goldminers, trappers and lumbermen. Maritime archaeologist James P Delgado, the executive director of the Vancouver Maritime Museum, captures the birth of the port in his book, The Illustrated Maritime Story of Greater Vancouver (Vancouver Maritime Museum, Stanton Atkins & Dosil C$45) It is little over a century since two milestones, the arrival of the trans-continental railway, followed by the Canadian Pacific Highway, made Vancouver a key link in the commercial chain between the markets of North America, Europe and Asia. Today, Vancouver Harbour and its surrounding docksides GOT OLD, UNLOVED MARITIME BOOKS GATHERING DUST? Professional Skipper is looking for unwanted books featuring all aspects of New Zealand's maritime history, from shipping to fi shing to the waterfront, to add to our growing in-house reference library. CONTACT: The Editor, Keith Ingram Professional Skipper, 4 Prince Regent Drive Half Moon Bay, Manukau City 2012 PHONE 09 533 4336 email: keith@skipper.co.nz 70 Professional Skipper March/April 2012 possess some of the biggest volume and most modern cargo-handling facilities in the world. To reach this point involved a remarkable story of railway tycoons, shipping magnates, stevedores, ships' captains, immigrants, scoundrels and heroes, all hardworking men and women. Their tales are captured in this book as Delgado takes you on a magnificently illustrated, authoritative tour of the dynamic ebb and flow between the water, the surrounding land and the people who strove and dreamt of developing the waterfront. The book is available on-line or mention Professional Skipper and the museum will give you a discount. See www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com YACHT BET ALLCOMERS FOR THREE DECADES Ranger: the making of a New Zealand yachting legend (New Holland, $42) written by Sandra Gorter and Aroha Tercel, is the tale of how an immigrant family in the then-fledgling city of Auckland overcame social barriers and financial hardships to design, build and race a yacht that would leave an extraordinary legacy. By 1935, Lou Tercel was already an accomplished boatbuilder and yachtsman. He had spent the Depression building boats to other men's specifications and now he wanted to build his own, one that would challenge and beat the best in Auckland's sailing fleet. Lou knew he could come up with a radical design that would shake the complacency out of the old school and open up a new direction in yacht racing. Built in the backyard of his home in Ponsonby Terrace, Auckland, Lou never claimed that the Ranger was a revolutionary new design, only that he used features that best suited a boat for racing and cruising in Auckland's variable conditions. Launched in December 1938, the legend was quickly born, as race records began to tumble and the old guard scurried to change the rating rules to exclude dangerous designs. But Lou knew the rules and the many books published on the various principles of design and construction, leaving many of the knockers spluttering in their gins and rums. During her racing period from 1938 to 1968, Ranger was always the boat to beat for line honours. During the 30-year stretch she scarcely ever conceded a win unless there were exceptional circumstances. An outstanding book, Ranger is a tribute not only to Lou Tercel, the designer, builder, engineer and skipper, but also to the elite group who raced locally made yachts at this time to make up New Zealand's sailing roll of honour. Ranger is available from Boat Books in Auckland and other booksellers. VIP.S61