The Way of a Ship: A Square-Rigger Voyage in the Last Days of Sail

ISBN: 9780066210124

Ecco Press (HarperCollins) | 1 April 2003

Hardcover | 368 pages

A gripping reconstruction of a perilous 1880s square‑rigger voyage around Cape Horn, The Way of a Ship: A Square‑Rigger Voyage in the Last Days of Sail tells the story of Benjamin Lundy’s unforgettable passage aboard the merchant sailing ship Beara Head. Drawing on the author’s deep understanding of seamanship and maritime history, Derek Lundy — himself an experienced amateur seaman — masterfully evokes both the romance and brutality of life at sea under sail. As Benjamin battles fierce storms, treacherous waters, and the relentless demands of handling enormous sails 150 feet aloft, the voyage becomes more than a nautical adventure: it reflects on human endurance, the transformation of maritime life with the coming of steam power, and the timeless lessons learned from facing the unforgiving ocean.