The Mariner’s Library
The Mariner’s Library brings forgotten & obscure sailing books to life, allowing them to pass on their hard-won knowledge to a new generation of sailors. Read by solo, round-the-world yachtsman and host of ’The Mariner’ podcast; Chris Stanmore-Major.
The Mariner’s Library brings forgotten & obscure sailing books to life, allowing them to pass on their hard-won knowledge to a new generation of sailors. Read by solo, round-the-world yachtsman and host of ’The Mariner’ podcast; Chris Stanmore-Major.
Episodes

Nov 15, 2022
Nov 15, 2022
34 min
Although only a young man of 25 when he set out on this fabulous expedition in 1907, salt water clearly flowed in his veins and it is a real pleasure to be learning, 115 years later of the unique adventure he and his small crew embarked upon in a world that had yet to journey to the South Pole.
I would like the listener to keep in mind when enjoying this book that at that time in the early part of the twentieth century, the Kerguelen Islands far to the South of Australia, to which Capt du Baty was heading; were known as the 'Islands of Desolation'. To be frank, that was as good a name as any, lying as they did at the edge of the known world- just imagine setting out now in a fishing boat with five other people to sail, and then live at the edge of the world- it's almost beyond belief.
Truly, a wooden ships and iron men.
This is a book that I have never even heard of before I found it here on the shelves of the Mariner's library, and yet within just a few pages I have found Captain du Baty to be a kindred spirit who is able to capture effortlessly the thoughts and emotions of those who venture out on surface of the deep.
If you are enjoying these stories and would like to support the creation of more great free content, please support the podcast by heading over to my Patreon site and joining the community there.
Click here to support the show for $5 a month
If you have any sailing books that you think would be an interesting read for modern sailors please contact me at csmthemariner@gmail.com and we will see if we can bring them and their forgotten voyages back to life here on Rare Nautical Reads.
Nov 15, 2022
34 min

Nov 14, 2022
Nov 14, 2022
28 min
Although only a young man of 25 when he set out on this fabulous expedition in 1907, salt water clearly flowed in his veins and it is a real pleasure to be learning, 115 years later of the unique adventure he and his small crew embarked upon in a world that had yet to journey to the South Pole.
I would like the listener to keep in mind when enjoying this book that at that time in the early part of the twentieth century, the Kerguelen Islands far to the South of Australia, to which Capt du Baty was heading; were known as the 'Islands of Desolation'. To be frank, that was as good a name as any, lying as they did at the edge of the known world- just imagine setting out now in a fishing boat with five other people to sail, and then live at the edge of the world- it's almost beyond belief.
Truly, a wooden ships and iron men.
This is a book that I have never even heard of before I found it here on the shelves of the Mariner's library, and yet within just a few pages I have found Captain du Baty to be a kindred spirit who is able to capture effortlessly the thoughts and emotions of those who venture out on surface of the deep.
If you are enjoying these stories and would like to support the creation of more great free content, please support the podcast by heading over to my Patreon site and joining the community there.
Click here to support the show for $5 a month
If you have any sailing books that you think would be an interesting read for modern sailors please contact me at csmthemariner@gmail.com and we will see if we can bring them and their forgotten voyages back to life here on Rare Nautical Reads.
Nov 14, 2022
28 min

Nov 12, 2022
Nov 12, 2022
20 min
A dusty, somewhat diminutive tome at the end of a high bookshelf here in the Mariner Library, 'Strange, But True' by Capt. Thomas Crapo is just the sort of book this podcast is all about, it's rare to see a copy, it's all about the sea and it is a veritable treasure-trove of authentic, historically accurate, seamanship information that is still absolutely relevant to modern sailors.
A note of caution if you are sensitive to the deplorable act of whaling, as the opening chapters do deal with Capt. Crapo's earlier days working on a whaling ship on a four year voyage to the Pacific. If you are able to get past factually reported information about an activity which was moral to those depicted here at the end of the 17th century (and not to be confused with the questionable morality of those still pursuing this type of hunting in the 21st Century); you will discover a delightfully observant yet dry authorial style, that depicts not only the incredible circumstances Thomas Crapo and his wife lived through, but also their mental and emotional journey as a couple facing an enormous challenge.
If you are enjoying these stories and would like to support the creation of more great free content, please support the podcast by heading over to my Patreon site and joining the community there.
Click here to support the show for $5 a month
If you have any sailing books that you think would be an interesting read for modern sailors please contact me at csmthemariner@gmail.com and we will see if we can bring them and their forgotten voyages back to life here on Rare Nautical Reads.
Nov 12, 2022
20 min

Nov 10, 2022
Nov 10, 2022
24 min
A dusty, somewhat diminutive tome at the end of a high bookshelf here in the Mariner Library, 'Strange, But True' by Capt. Thomas Crapo is just the sort of book this podcast is all about, it's rare to see a copy, it's all about the sea and it is a veritable treasure-trove of authentic, historically accurate, seamanship information that is still absolutely relevant to modern sailors.
A note of caution if you are sensitive to the deplorable act of whaling, as the opening chapters do deal with Capt. Crapo's earlier days working on a whaling ship on a four year voyage to the Pacific. If you are able to get past factually reported information about an activity which was moral to those depicted here at the end of the 17th century (and not to be confused with the questionable morality of those still pursuing this type of hunting in the 21st Century); you will discover a delightfully observant yet dry authorial style, that depicts not only the incredible circumstances Thomas Crapo and his wife lived through, but also their mental and emotional journey as a couple facing an enormous challenge.
If you are enjoying these stories and would like to support the creation of more great free content, please support the podcast by heading over to my Patreon site and joining the community there.
Click here to support the show for $5 a month
If you have any sailing books that you think would be an interesting read for modern sailors please contact me at csmthemariner@gmail.com and we will see if we can bring them and their forgotten voyages back to life here on Rare Nautical Reads.
Nov 10, 2022
24 min

Nov 9, 2022
Nov 9, 2022
22 min
A dusty, somewhat diminutive tome at the end of a high bookshelf here in the Mariner Library, 'Strange, But True' by Capt. Thomas Crapo is just the sort of book this podcast is all about, it's rare to see a copy, it's all about the sea and it is a veritable treasure-trove of authentic, historically accurate, seamanship information that is still absolutely relevant to modern sailors.
A note of caution if you are sensitive to the deplorable act of whaling, as the opening chapters do deal with Capt. Crapo's earlier days working on a whaling ship on a four year voyage to the Pacific. If you are able to get past factually reported information about an activity which was moral to those depicted here at the end of the 17th century (and not to be confused with the questionable morality of those still pursuing this type of hunting in the 21st Century); you will discover a delightfully observant yet dry authorial style, that depicts not only the incredible circumstances Thomas Crapo and his wife lived through, but also their mental and emotional journey as a couple facing an enormous challenge.
If you are enjoying these stories and would like to support the creation of more great free content, please support the podcast by heading over to my Patreon site and joining the community there.
Click here to support the show for $5 a month
If you have any sailing books that you think would be an interesting read for modern sailors please contact me at csmthemariner@gmail.com and we will see if we can bring them and their forgotten voyages back to life here on Rare Nautical Reads.
Nov 9, 2022
22 min

Nov 8, 2022
Nov 8, 2022
26 min
A dusty, somewhat diminutive tome at the end of a high bookshelf here in the Mariner Library, 'Strange, But True' by Capt. Thomas Crapo is just the sort of book this podcast is all about, it's rare to see a copy, it's all about the sea and it is a veritable treasure-trove of authentic, historically accurate, seamanship information that is still absolutely relevant to modern sailors.
A note of caution if you are sensitive to the deplorable act of whaling, as the opening chapters do deal with Capt. Crapo's earlier days working on a whaling ship on a four year voyage to the Pacific. If you are able to get past factually reported information about an activity which was moral to those depicted here at the end of the 17th century (and not to be confused with the questionable morality of those still pursuing this type of hunting in the 21st Century); you will discover a delightfully observant yet dry authorial style, that depicts not only the incredible circumstances Thomas Crapo and his wife lived through, but also their mental and emotional journey as a couple facing an enormous challenge.
If you are enjoying these stories and would like to support the creation of more great free content, please support the podcast by heading over to my Patreon site and joining the community there.
Click here to support the show for $5 a month
If you have any sailing books that you think would be an interesting read for modern sailors please contact me at csmthemariner@gmail.com and we will see if we can bring them and their forgotten voyages back to life here on Rare Nautical Reads.
Nov 8, 2022
26 min

Nov 7, 2022
Nov 7, 2022
27 min
A dusty, somewhat diminutive tome at the end of a high bookshelf here in the Mariner Library, 'Strange, But True' by Capt. Thomas Crapo is just the sort of book this podcast is all about, it's rare to see a copy, it's all about the sea and it is a veritable treasure-trove of authentic, historically accurate, seamanship information that is still absolutely relevant to modern sailors.
A note of caution if you are sensitive to the deplorable act of whaling, as the opening chapters do deal with Capt. Crapo's earlier days working on a whaling ship on a four year voyage to the Pacific. If you are able to get past factually reported information about an activity which was moral to those depicted here at the end of the 17th century (and not to be confused with the questionable morality of those still pursuing this type of hunting in the 21st Century); you will discover a delightfully observant yet dry authorial style, that depicts not only the incredible circumstances Thomas Crapo and his wife lived through, but also their mental and emotional journey as a couple facing an enormous challenge.
If you are enjoying these stories and would like to support the creation of more great free content, please support the podcast by heading over to my Patreon site and joining the community there.
Click here to support the show for $5 a month
If you have any sailing books that you think would be an interesting read for modern sailors please contact me at csmthemariner@gmail.com and we will see if we can bring them and their forgotten voyages back to life here on Rare Nautical Reads.
Nov 7, 2022
27 min

Nov 4, 2022
Nov 4, 2022
24 min
A dusty, somewhat diminutive tome at the end of a high bookshelf here in the Mariner Library, 'Strange, But True' by Capt. Thomas Crapo is just the sort of book this podcast is all about, it's rare to see a copy, it's all about the sea and it is a veritable treasure-trove of authentic, historically accurate, seamanship information that is still absolutely relevant to modern sailors.
A note of caution if you are sensitive to the deplorable act of whaling, as the opening chapters do deal with Capt. Crapo's earlier days working on a whaling ship on a four year voyage to the Pacific. If you are able to get past factually reported information about an activity which was moral to those depicted here at the end of the 17th century (and not to be confused with the questionable morality of those still pursuing this type of hunting in the 21st Century); you will discover a delightfully observant yet dry authorial style, that depicts not only the incredible circumstances Thomas Crapo and his wife lived through, but also their mental and emotional journey as a couple facing an enormous challenge.
If you are enjoying these stories and would like to support the creation of more great free content, please support the podcast by heading over to my Patreon site and joining the community there.
Click here to support the show for $5 a month
If you have any sailing books published before 1925 that you think would be an interesting read for modern sailors please contact me at csmthemariner@gmail.com and we will see if we can bring them and their forgotten voyages back to life here on Rare Nautical Reads.
Nov 4, 2022
24 min







