Customer Reviews

Seasoned by Salt: A Voyage in Search of the Caribbean

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have just finished the wonderfully wriltten book, Seasoned by Salt, by Jerry Mashaw and Anne McClintock. The flowing narrative will make you feel as though you are right in the cockpit with them, immersed in all the experiences that crossing on the open seas offers up. Though it is not a tutorial on cruising, this book is a must read for anyone who is contemplating sailing to the Caribbean. It is full of valuable information on what one could expect from bule water and island sailing. Sprinkled with humor, it is a fast read. But what was unexpeded was the depth of research done by Jerry Mashaw into the social economic and political history of the coastal towns along the Eastern Seaboard and islands they explored. The extent of his research is rarely found in books of travel. But Mr. Meshaw seems careful not to bog down this book of adventure with too much intellectualizing. Lastly, I found Seasoned by Salt an inspiring love story of two intelligent people finding new levels of understanding that will certainly carry them though many future voyages. I only hope they will put them to paper so we can share in their adventures once again.

The old adage, cruising is fixing your boat in exotic places, certainly applies here. The book is very well written, and the interplay of hearing two sides (husband and wife) about the same events adds depth. After reading the book, I think that flying to Grenada, chartering a boat for a month (ooh the hated charterer) and exploring that area was the highlight of their journey, would be better than all the time and discomfort they experiences getting from Connecticut to the Carribean.

I tended to skip the social commentary. Can't change what happened, can only address how to help improve what is there now.

I admit I am a resident of the South - Alabama to be exact. But when I purchased this book, I sincerely wanted to read a story about sailing for a year in the Bahamas. Sadly, this book is more about a spoiled couple that spends about 25% of the time telling you how scared they are about every aspect of the trip and 50% of the time criticizing the social conditions of the "South" as they travel down the ICW on the East Coast. The other 25% of the time is spent talking about random ideas with a few sentences of the sailing trip they are supposedly on. By page 70 I was tired of their liberal slant on a part of the US they claim to be "from". Message to the author, I live in Birmingham. Rosa Parks made her heroic stand against racial injustice in Montgomery. Simple facts like this seem to be trivial to the authors who are more concerned with expressing their overall disgust with a South that has seemingly not changed much since the days of slavery. Well, I certainly wouldn't say everything is perfect here, but as the authors admit, nowhere is perfect. The Southeast is one of the fastest growing regions for economical development and changes are taking place. Birmingham does boast to be the birth place for Civil Rights and we have an excellent Civil Rights museum that I have taken the time to actually visit to learn of the past injustices with the hope that I will be part of a better place for all. I resent being lectured to by the main author who evidently loves his teaching job. And if he does want to lecture this Southerner, I would expect him to take time to at least learn some of the more major details of the Civil Rights movement.

Very little sailing story. Lots of liberal opinions spewed forth as though they were facts when even his facts are wrong. If you want to read about a sailing story....buy Sailing the Dream. I am going to return my copy of this book to the author. I may even take a red pen and mark all of his errors. I would give him a grade of "F" if I were his professor.

Part escapist adventure and part historical journey to the Caribbean, Seasoned by Salt tells the tale of a couple who took a year off from their careers to sail the Caribbean. It's a well written yarn, and Mashaw does an excellent job of blending the history of the islands into the contemporary account of his voyage in a way that puts current events into historical perspective. A great added bonus are Anne MacClintock's Passage Notes. She provides a more personal view of the journey, and an occasional counter-point to Mashaw's narrative. - Joe

For those of us who have only played at sailing, a cruise from Connecticut to a southernmost point of Grenada aboard a 36 foot boat represents the zenith of sailing experience among us "regular sailors." But, in fact, the story shared by Mashaw and MacClintock is anything but "regular". That these two, even though sharing an educated view of the world and a love of the sea, are able to, not just endure the confines and discomfort of a small boat on the high seas or in crowded harbors, but to find the joy in them and in each other is a remarkable and revitalizing story of what life can be - and should be. The sailing story is exquisite; the life story is more than that!

I liked this book. It was fairly informative and gave some great tips. I like the different viewpoints of the two authors. I did think that some of the historical information tended to drag on a little and you can definitely pick up on the political views of the author but it was still a good read... It really reinforced my desire to go cruising!

Who among us has not dreamed about an idyllic life sailing in paradise: sun, snorkeling, azure blue waters, and tropical refreshments in hand? After sailing for years including frequent charters in the Caribbean, Jerry Mashew and Anne MacClintock set sail from Connecticut to Grenada on a 10-month adventure.

Chronicling a sabbatical cruise is not new; Joshua Slocum first published his story more than 100 years ago. Before that there was Homer's Odyssey. What sets the authors' story apart? Why take the time to read it?

For those contemplating a similar voyage, Seasoned by Salt presents a realistic portrayal of life at sea and anchor. Cruising is more than gorgeous sunsets viewed from a cockpit with an "umbrella drink" in hand. It is also about the people and cultures visited, broken boats, seasick crew, and unsettled weather. Other works often gloss over these unpleasantries. Anne and Jerry do not hide the raw truth about cruising on a small sailboat. It can be tough unpleasant work.

As their story unfolds, Anne and Jerry bring forth their experiences and place them in an historical context. Beyond the crescent beaches, swaying palm tree, and mangroves there is an unsettling history. As Mashew presents this history we get to understand and know him, his beliefs, and biases.

From time to time, Mashew's wife MacClintlock provides a counterpoint to his narrative. While Jerry's approach is often academic (he is a Yale Law Professor), Anne approaches the cruise from an artist's perspective, focusing on the emotional experience of cruising. Together a more complete picture of the lifestyle unfolds.

Will Seasoned by Salt convince you to go cruising? No, but reading it is time well spent if you are curious or contemplating a similar adventure.

Dave Lochner
Nauticalreads

This is a good read. The adventure is unpacked by the author, Jerry Mashaw in a very engaging way with a lot of information about the varous places they encounter along the way down the east coast of the US and into the Caribbean. A good deal of history and insight into the sorted history of the slave trade and economic struggles that are the reality of much of the caribbean. The story is further enhanced by Jerry's partner and crew, Anne MacClintoc with journal enteries interspersed throughout.

The authors capture the anticipation, excitement, and even fear very well and draw you into their world. I truly felt like I shared their adventure. I considered this along the lines of Ann Vanderhoof's "Embarrassement of Mangos' Anchor Canada, a division of Random House Publishers - which is a must read if you're into sailing adventures!

This book and story is not just for sailors, but for anyone who loves life and wants to live it to its fullest. What better way would there be to learn what life has to offer, and how to respond to its challenges and opportunities, than to set off in a sailboat, into strange waters (the ocean, no less), with only your spouse on board (yikes!). As the authors' adventure unfolds, you become completely engaged with them and their boat, the other cruisers they meet, their family, and the coves and ports and islands (and the bars, too) they pass through. Their yarns are laugh-out-loud, tears-down-the-cheeks, just-plain-funny. And also heart-warming, choke-you-up-with-tears, and totally-revealing-and-exposed. Along the way, you get insights into such topics as the legal profession, the history of slavery, the economics of the marine industry and the Caribbean, hurricanes and weather, family dynamics, spousal dynamics, emergency medicine, ocean and coastal navigation, marine life, and temperamental machinery. Then there is the glorious sailing and being completely one with your boat, the water and your partner. This is the Zen of ocean cruising. This is the Zen of life. You have to read this book. I will again, and soon.

Jerry Mashaw, a Sterling Professor at Yale, is a noted author and professor in the field of law. Had I known this fact it may have influenced my decision to purchase his book about sailing. If you're looking for a book about Caribbean history and opinions this one may interest you. Jerry's passion for the subject is overwhelmingly evident. If you're interested in a good sailing story there are better alternatives. Seasoned by Salt is the typical sailing story of a couple who to leave their hectic daily lives and responsibilities on land to pursue the lifestyle of the cruiser. Regrettably, the story often sits in the doldrums while Jerry elaborates on everything from racial injustices of the south to the colonial history of the Caribbean. The key word here is "elaborate". He provides a great historical background and then peppers the story with his opinion. The sailing adventure gets lost in the noise. Jerry's other disdain is the presence of charters and cruise ships. Apparently, all cruisers carry this disdain and feel both have trespassed what rightfully belongs to the cruiser. Irony strikes when one of these cruise ships comes to the couples's aid. Jerry still manages find something negative to interject. Anne's journal entries were always enjoyable and too brief. Two stars - there's a wonderful story in there if you can get past the distractions.