All Sail Set: A Romance of the Flying Cloud

Less plot and more sea narrative. I love Armstrong Sperry; he's an amazing writer, and he makes sea stories understandable and accessible. In this regard, while not an amazing novel, this is a terrific story for someone new to sea stories. Read it after Carry on Mr. Bowditch, and follow it up with Jack London's sea stories. Moby Dick will not be out of place, either.

This is a tough read because the subject matter is so unfamiliar. But it is worth the work to slog through it. The greatest of the clipper ships is built and makes its maiden voyage around Cape Horn to win a speed record. Sadly, the clipper was soon eclipsed by the steamer which was not dependent on wind. The glory days of the clipper are remembered in this story told from the point of view of an old salt.

When his father loses his fortune at sea, Enoch Thacher signs up with a famous shipbuilder and takes a record-breaking trip around Cape Horn on the famous Flying Cloud.

The Flying Cloud was a real ship and its maker was master shipbuilder, Donald McKay (1810-1880). The era depicted in this novel is a time when the windships were the queens of the ocean and sail was king. McKay's company, located in East Boston, launched many of the fastest clipper ships in history, with Flying Cloud being his most famous ship of all.

In "All Sail Set", McKay puts Enoch to work during the lofting, building, and rigging of the Flying Cloud, and then to ship out on her for her maiden, record-breaking trip around the Horn.

Accompanied by Sperry's wonderfully show more vigorous drawings, this is a realistic nautical yarn from the glory days of sail. show less

A boy gets a job with a shipbuilder and takes a trip on the maiden voyage of the Flying Cloud.

Meh. Vintage children's stories about sailing are not my favorite.

One of my earliest books leading to my love of the Sea. A boyhoods dream.