At the age of 34, John Pollack quit a prestigious speechwriting job on Capitol Hill to pursue an idea he had harbored since the age of six: to build a boat out of wine corks and take it on an epic journey.In Cork Boat, Pollack tells the charming and uplifting story of this unlikely adventure. Overcoming one obstacle after another, he convinces skeptical bartenders to save corks, corrals a brilliant but disorganized partner, and cajoles more than a hundred volunteers to help build the boat, many until their fingers bleed. Hired as a speechwriter for President Clinton midway through construction, Pollack soon has the White House saving corks, too. Ultimately, he and his crew set sail down the Douro River in Portugal, where the boat becomes a national sensation. Written with unusual grace and disarming humor, Cork Boat is a buoyant tale of camaraderie, determination, and the power of imagination.From the Trade Paperback edition.

    This work conveys the magic as well as the techniques of sailing. Among other topics covered are: anchoring, rope work, rigging, weather, rules of the road, trailering, and working the winds.

    Clark Russell was born in New York in 1844 to English parents. His experiences in the British Merchant Marine provided an authentic backdrop for his acclaimed sea novels. Russell is highly regarded for his realistic portrayal of maritime life, and his harrowing account of the sailors' plight in The Wreck of the Grosvenor was very influential in the passage of reform laws to improve the lot of British merchant seamen.

    Tired of everyday life ashore, Farley Mowat would find a sturdy boat in Newfoundland and roam the salt sea over, free as a bird. What he found was the worst boat in the world, and she nearly drove him mad. The Happy Adventure, despite all that Farley and his Newfoundland helpers could do, leaked like a sieve. Her engine only worked when she felt like it. Typically, on her maiden voyage, with the engine stuck in reverse, she backed out of the harbour under full sail. And she sank, regularly.How Farley and a varied crew, including the intrepid lady who married him, coaxed the boat from Newfoundland to Lake Ontario is a marvellous story. The encounters with sharks, rum-runners, rum and a host of unforgettable characters on land and sea make this a very funny book for readers of all ages.

    11.00pm. Dense fog blankets the North Atlantic as two liners, the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm, surge blindly towards each other in the overture to a night of devastation and horror.Here is the true story of that momentous collision - the people on board, the courage and the cowardice, the panic that spread amongst the ravaged Andrea Doria's 1706 passengers and crew .... the terrifying scenes as the life boats drew near ... and the final death throes of the great liner as she plunged beneath the swirling waves.The harrowing reconstruction from eyewitness accounts of the catastrophe and the enthralling rescue operation - an explosive account of humanity pitched headlong into a nightmare.

    It could be you want to work on a cruise ships, you want to or have taken a cruise, maybe you are looking for tips on cruising or maybe you just like fun stories about cruise ships. If you are interested in any of those items I just listed, then this book is for you. Before we begin our journey, I guess I should tell you a little bit about myself and why I have written this book. For my cruise ship experience, I worked about 12 years on cruise ships around the world and 2 years working in shore side offices in Florida. I worked with 4 different cruise lines and worked as a scuba instructor/dive manager, shore excursion manager and then in the shore side offices as an IT geek, and finally a few years as an IT officer (yeah, I know, scuba instructor to computer geek, what can I say, it has been an interesting journey). Stories in this book include ones about: Getting a job on cruise ships Life on board ships On board romance Hurricanes Running aground Adrift at sea Kick backs Falling overboard Living on a tropical island Crazy things the crew and passengers do and much much more........................ I also have photos about my life at sea that can be seen at: www.cruiseshipstories.com Looking at these photos will bring my sea faring stories even more to life.

    hiking, each year's Data Book consolidates the most basic information from 11 detailed guidebooks into a lightweight table of distances between major Appalachian Trail shelters, road-crossings, and features. It is divided according to the guidebook volumes (one state or two or, for Virginia, parts of a state) and updated each December to account for Trail relocations, new (or removed) shelters, and other changes. In addition to codes for lodging, food, water, and other essentials, the Data Book is keyed to both the individual guidebook sections and to the separate maps. Day-hikers and long-distance hikers alike rely on this volume for armchair planning as well as on-the-trail orientation. This also is the source for the ever-changing official answer to, How long is the trail?

    Their globe-spanning travels and side-splitting adventures are recounted in Blown Away, a sort of Swiss Family Robinson by way of the Marx Brothers.

    While not nearly as much in demand today as they were in the days of the Yankee clippers, these skills nevertheless remain important and necessary to today's yachtsmen and owners of smaller pleasure boats.In this excellent handbook on basic shipboard skills, marine expert Hervey Garrett Smith offers boating and yachting enthusiasts a complete course in rigging, working, and maintaining a ship. More than 100 illustrations help the reader grasp the fundamentals and fine points of handling a ship while the author describes in detail a sailor's tools, basic knots, and useful hitches as well as the arts of splicing, handsewing, and canvas work.Other topics equally important to safe, economical, and efficient boat maintenance and management include belaying, coiling, and stowing; towing procedures; how to make a chafing gear; and much more. Easy-to-follow instructions for fashioning decorative knots, ornamental coverings, and nettings, and even how to make a proper bucket round out this engaging and informative guide.Packed with useful "hands-on" information conveyed in a chatty, humorous style, The Arts of the Sailor is the perfect book to keep aboard ship for study and for ready reference when the need arises. It also makes delightful reading for armchair sailors and the legions of landlubbers with an interest in the sea.

    To counter this problem, Thomas J. Cutler has compiled a history of our naval heritage in the form of A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy. The work is unique in two important ways. First, it is written thematically rather than chronologically. This allows recent history to be blended with more distant (but important) events in ways that will reinforce the timelessness as well as the timeliness of the U.S. Navy, thereby having a greater appeal to today's sailor. There are a number of themes being used--the most obvious are manifested in chapters with the themes of honor, courage, and commitment, but others serve as useful vehicles as well; for example, there is a chapter called What's in a Name? that briefly discusses how ships have been/are named and then uses the many ships that have carried the name Enterprise as the theme for presenting significant portions of the Navy's history.The other unique characteristic of this history is that it focuses wherever possible on the roles of ALL sailors rather than just the officers. That is not to say that Jones and Decatur are not there, but that the emphasis is along the lines of the crew of the Bon Homme Richard fought on into the night... rather than Jones fought... Also, there are plenty of individual sailor heroes who can stand alongside the Perrys and the Farraguts (Boatswain's Mate First Class Williams who won the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, Dorie Miller of Pearl Harbor fame, Gunner's Mate Third Class Paul Henry Carr at the battle off Samar, etc.). Some emphasis upon what it was like to be a sailor (working and living conditions) at different times is included as well.

    

     Imagine waking up in your once beautiful mansion, being pampered by housekeepers, and maids, surrounded by people who literally worshipped the ground you walked on...all simply because you were considered 'Hood Royalty.' That had been the life for twenty four year old,Sanai, until it was all suddenly snatched away from her when her fiancé was sentenced to 25 years, leaving her with absolutely nothing but pain and heartache. Sanai had two kids and one on the way, and just with that pressure alone she finds herself at rock bottom, forcing her to move back to the low income section 8 projects where she was born and raised. It doesn't take long for Sanai to see that being a pretty kept chick can only get you so far, especially in a world full of savages, thugs and drug dealers. Growing up in Newark's Southward, life hadn't always been easy for Saint. From birth, he had been thrown into the gang banging lifestyle, following in his mothers footsteps as one of the most vicious Crips throughout New Jersey. Saint and his left hand, Cuz, only have two things on their twenty year old minds: getting money and sleeping with multiple women that loved their lifestyle. Above all things they plan to one day take over the legacy and run things just like their parents. That is, until Saint runs across the sexy single mother that moved into his projects. Kayla and John have been together for eight years. Their relationship transformed from two happy people, into strangers who coexist fearing the idea of being alone. At wits end, Kayla agrees to give their a relationship one last shot by allowing another woman into their bedroom. Just when things start looking up, Kayla meets the rough, straight forward, Havoc, who shows her that real men don't need much in this world to be satisfied. But is Kayla ready to leave a 'grown boy', or is she too focused on the longevity to get her happy ending. Sit back and enjoy the ride as the gang experiences the wins and losses that come along with the game they love. Sometimes you have to lose people in order to make room for those worthy of being in your life... loving the Plug is cool, but it's that Savage that your heart desires.

    William Calvert was an exception to the rule. His advancement was due solely to his actions against the enemy. As Admiral the Earl St. Vincent said of him. “Luck! It has nothing to do with luck. I don’t consider being wounded three times in as many years as luck! No this young man plans meticulously, trains and exercises his crew to the highest degree, and then it is a matter of bravery and innovation!”“Like a young Nelson without the vanity!” Added Admiral Gambier.The French Revolution is in progress and Britain awaits war. 17 year old William Calvert joins the Royal Navy as a Master’s Mate. This is the Navy of the time of Nelson. Already fully trained in Navigation and Seamanship by his late Merchant Captain and Owner father, Will soon proves his worth.When the Master falls ill and the second Master is sent to another ship, Will deputises as Master on a 74 gun ship-of-the-line. The Squadron soon becomes aware of Will’s outstanding ability, when with a hurricane threatened; as a result of his precautions his ship comes through the storm with the least damage. Promoted to Master he also saves his ship during a full gale in the Atlantic. Back in Britain, with the country at war, Will is sent as Master to the frigate Artful. Although injured he finds himself the sole officer on the quarterdeck at the moment the frigate is about to engage two French frigates.Promoted to Lieutenant he joins HMS Victory where he is noticed by Admiral Lord Jervis. After the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, Will is sent back to Britain, where with the Admiral’s strong recommendation; he is appointed Commander of the schooner Snipe. A ship to become famous for its daring exploits.

    These are three action thriller books that are sure to keep you turning pages. -- PRESIDENTIAL SHIFT --- The vice president killed... The first lady attacked... A president on the edge... Cal Stokes, former Marine and owner of Stokes Security International (SSI), has had a busy year. Trying to calm his inner demons and forget the tragic loss of his men, Cal dives headlong into his work, taking the battle to the enemy. Now the president needs his help to uncover a leak in his administration and start the long road to cleaning up Washington, and wrestling power back from corrupt officials who threaten to plunge the American government further into the abyss. Will Cal uncover the truth before it's too late? -- NATIONAL BURDEN -- A new president under pressure... Threats coming from every angle... The SSI team caught in the middle... Following his predecessor's abrupt departure, newly appointed President Brandon Zimmer must deal with aggressors at home and abroad. The sharks sense his weakness and are out for blood. The burden might just be too much to handle for the young president. Will President Zimmer cave to outside forces, or stand strong with his friends from Stokes Security International (SSI), like former Marine Cal Stokes and ex-Navy SEAL Travis Haden? And with their own responsibilities weighing heavy on their shoulders, will the team at SSI be able to stop a plot to manipulate the stock market and the country's economy? Regardless of the outcome, one this is for certain: Everything is about to change. -- LETHAL MISCONDUCT -- A ray of hope for millions... Powerful forces move to stop it... A Marine and his team play for keeps... A cure has been found for one of the world's deadliest diseases, but unseen forces want to keep the medical miracle from seeing the light of day. Can former Marine Cal Stokes and his new presidential sanctioned team track down the cure, save its inventor and take out the those trying to maintain the status quo?

    Aware of her intense feelings for the man ten years her senior, Lily comes to a decision, but not before Devin ups the ante.*Please note, though this story has a beginning, middle, and end it is short in form. If you prefer longer novels, there are other Asia Monique titles for you to choose from. This standalone novella is book six in the Flower Sister series. It is not required, but recommended to start at book one.