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Under Eight Flags: 3rd Book of Memoirs 1959-1991 - The Last 33 Years at Sea

by Anthony F. (Tony) Winstanley; co-published with Pictorial Press

245 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #00-0055; ISBN 0-9699920-2-5; US$20.00, C$22.50, EUR16.50, £11.50

The third volume of the fascinating life-at-sea trilogy that was dedicated to Anthony F. Winstanley's long and illustrious maritime career.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book This is the third volume of Tony Winstanley's remarkable and challenging life as a seafarer. Each chapter conveys the true adventure of life at sea in forceful detail. The fascinating characters that the writer meets are described in his own unique way. The reader quickly becomes familiar with their frequently funny, but often startling, personalities and eccentricities. This real life story is filled with excitement and humour, although sometimes tinged with sadness. Winstanley arrived back in Canada in 1958 aboard the 'Empress of England'. He then proceeded to sail on an amazing variety of ships for the next 33 years. Some were splendid and luxurious - others dilapidated rust buckets. A truly great read, these pages hold a splendid selection of exciting escapades from many parts of the world. They are brought vividly to life by their obvious authenticity and the writer's integrity. Letters to the author from Christopher Hodgkinson, Emeritus Professor of Leadership Studies, University of Victoria, Canada These are no ordinary memoirs and they defy the general rule of autobiography which seems to be that the writer must always indulge in self-justification and narcissism. There is self-deprecatory humour here, to be sure, but overall it is a catalogue of events in which the protagonist emerges not as hero but as Everyman. An heroic Everyman, I would say, although the author does not. He is too busy narrating embarrassments and failures to perceive any claim to fame or fortitude. The world as Tony Winstanley found it was a field (or rather, ocean) of massive struggle in which survival -- economic, philosophic, familial, societal -- was always precarious or elusive. The philosopher Wittgenstein once gave the illustration of observing through the window a man walking along the street outside. This might seem perfectly unremarkable were it not for the fact that, snugly insulated inside, the watcher did not know that a fierce gale was blowing outside. The pedestrian was actually struggling with all his might to remain upright. The parallel with this life history seems clear. As comfortable observers we do not sense the continuous effort to be upstanding. From seasick cadet to a long overdue but deserved captaincy the life of Winstanley is presented without apology in the unvarnished prose of a natural writer. How refreshing this is in a world where every celebrity demands of right a ghost-written account of their virtues, vanities and conceits. The chronicle which follows is not only intrinsically interesting as the account of an extraordinary life but also as a social history of the second half of the last century. From the pre-war 30s to the 90s the record of adventures and misadventures grants us insights into the way things were. And many of those things have vanished including the greatest merchant navy there ever was. Gone are the days then the Red Duster waved from one end to the other of an Empire on which the sun never set. The reader learns what it is like to be at war from the risks of fraternizing with the enemy in neutral Turkey, to sleeping on deck out of fear of the ever-imminent torpedo, to flying over the bombed-out ruins of the Ruhr. Yes, the life is not entirely maritime and perhaps the most amusing episodes occur as the protagonist determines to 'go ashore', an ambition ever frustrated. I cannot help but think of the author as Ulysses on an odyssey which takes us everywhere, from the idyllic islands of the South Seas to the extravagances of the marinas of Monaco. And ports of call along the way each with its hazards for the hero. One wonders too how our Ulysses managed, albeit for the most part in absentia, to father and nurture a large family of nine children. But this he does and when, beached at last, he takes laptop on lap to tell his tale, one thinks not so much of the Greeks as of that mariner of Coleridge who holds his audience captive with a glittering eye. I strongly recommend this tale to everyone, not just members of the seafaring fraternity to whom it will instantly appeal but the general landlocked citizenry who do not know what it is like to keep a watch or be tossed in the storm. His love of the sea and ships shines through and he presents an honest record of turbulent and dishonest times. Captain Winstanley has led a rich life and the reader who shares it wil not only be entertained but instructed. The richer for having been amused. Don't go on a cruise. Read this instead. from Peter Jackson, Master (Retired) of Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth II Dear Tony: Your third book arrived safely and I find myself completely absorbed in reading it. Thank-you so much for sending it and for including my own small contribution in the form of a foreword. As for the content of the book, I think you have done a wonderful job in producing such an account of a seafarer's life. At the moment, I have not finished it -- I use it as a bedtime reading, a couple of chapters each night... from S.E. Wilkinson, White Rock, B.C. Dear Tony: I must congratulate you on a fine effort with the third book of memoirs of your career of adventures and misadventures at sea. It was very good reading. I had a quiet chuckle at some of the decisions that you made that did not pan out too well (I've made a few myself). I also got roped in to deliver a sailing yacht that turned out to be a pile of junk --during the trip to Victoria I went forward to tighten the jib halyard, and this effort carried away the forestay, the jib and me over the side. I was interested too that you sailed on the Laymore: In the summer of 1968 I sailed as a navigator on a 35' sloop in the Victoria-Maui race, and the Laymore was the escort vessel. I had to supply all the gear, including charts, there was quite a discussion about the route, the owner wanted to sail down the coast to where the trade winds were supposed to blow and run down the latitude. I insisted that this was a mistake as there was no guarantee that the trades would be on that latitude. I won the day and we sailed the great circle, and we came in first in class and third overall. You are the first author ever to mention the Chernikief Log in books that I have read -- this was very interesting to me as I spent a year working for the company that made them -- the Improved Submerged Log Co. -- a five-minute walk from where I lived -- the problem you describe about the nuts happened a few times when we went on trials, the most common mishap was failure to retract it when coming alongside -- we used to get them sent in bent every which way... from the Orkney Islands Dear Tony... The wonderful aspect of the books is one can lift them up at anytime, read a few chapters and enjoy an experience. I have just read the one about the yachts and your encounter with the terrible Turk! from J. Riley, Chatham, NJ Dear Tony: Many thanks for Under Eight Flags: 3rd Book of Memoirs. I received it [two days ago] and I'm already 2/3 of the way through it. It is a great read. You certainly had some adventures on your trips. As I've said before you write very well and in great detail. The reader is right there alongside you as you tell the tale. I wish you luck in the sale of your book and I will do everything I can to spread the word.

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About the Author Tony Winstanley was born in London in 1920. He went to sea at 16 and served his apprenticeship with Paddy Henderson's of Glasgow. During World War II he served on both British and Dutch ships. In 1948 he emigrated to Canada where he worked on coastal and deep sea vessels. He gained his Masters Certificate in 1962. Over a period of 55 years Tony has sailed on over 50 ships under 8 national flags. He has 9 children and lives in Victoria, BC, Canada. Also by Anthony Winstanley: Under Eight Flags Volume I Under Eight Flags Volume II

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Excerpt

from Chapter 18: Man Overboard

Once clear of the ship's bow we felt the full force of rough seas and a heavy swell, and soon we were swept by a succession of sprays and some solid water over the bow. This forced me to reduce speed. All aboard were soaked, not that it mattered in warm weather but a heavy swell when viewed from a lifeboat is a daunting sight, as we were swept up the side of a steep wall of water. When we reached the life-ring and began scouring the water for the missing man, I glanced astern, the masts of the 20,000 ton General Gordon was all that was visible, the rest of her was hidden behind a big swell.

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Catalogue Information

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