The Sindbad Voyage

Voyage #2

by Tim Severin

Perhaps the greatest fictional sailor of them all. But could his amazing voyages, recounted in the The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, be recreated in the modern world? Or were they just the stuff of legend? Tim Severin was determined to find out. After three years of research, he created a precise replica of an early Arab trading ship. Not a single nail was used in her construction - her planks were held together with 400 miles of coconut cord. With a crew of twenty, including eight Omani sailors, his ship Sohar (named after the town said to have been Sindbad’s birthplace) completed a 6,000 mile journey by way of India, Sri Lanka, and across the Indian Ocean to Sumatra and Singapore, and finally through the China Sea to a tumultuous welcome in Canton. Along the way, the crew had to swim among sharks while repairing the rudder, catch rainwater to drink while becalmed in the doldrums, and endure the battering of violent seas off the coast of Vietnam.

'The Sindbad Voyage' is the remarkable story of that amazing journey. An enthralling saga of the 7 ½ month voyage, it is one of the most memorable sailing stories of modern times.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, History, Adventure, Nautical, Maritime, Asia

239 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Tim Severin was a British explorer, historian and writer. Severin is noted for his work in retracing the legendary journeys of historical figures. Severin was awarded both the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society and the Livingstone Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He received the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award for his 1982 book The Sindbad Voyage.

He was born Timothy Severin in Assam, India in 1940. Severin attended Tonbridge School and studied geography and history at Keble College, Oxford.

Severin has also written historical fiction along with non fiction. The Viking Series, first published in 2005, concerns a young Viking adventurer who travels the world. In 2007 he published The Adventures of Hector Lynch series set in the late 17th century about a 17-year-old Corsair.

Reviews

[Hind H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

يحاول تيم سڤرن في هذا الكتاب اختبار أسطورة السندباد البحري من خلال قيامه برحلة السندباد في عام ١٩٨٠ مع عدد من البحارة العُمانيين والأفراد الأوروبيين بالسفينة "صحار" التي بُنيت على طريقة السفن العربية القديمة، وتكللت الرحلة التي دامت سبعة أشهر ونصف بالنجاح بوصولها إلى كانتون في الصين.

استمتعت بأسلوب سرد تيم سڤرن ووصفه للمَشاهد؛ حيث يأخذ القارئ من أول خطوة في المشروع والتي ابتدأت باقتراح الفكرة للسلطات العُمانية التي وافقت بدون تردد، وتكفّلت وزارة التراث القومي والثقافة بالمشروع، بعدها يأخذنا إلى مرحلة اختيار الأخشاب والعمال وبناء السفينة، ثم انطلاق السفينة من مسقط وتفاصيل الرحلة، سواءً حلوها ومرها، حتى وصولها إلى وجهتها الصين.


لطالما وجدت البحار والمحيطات عوالم عظيمة ومثيرة للاهتمام، ولكنها مخيفة في نفس الوقت، ولقد أثارت إعجابي همة من كانوا على متن صحار رغم المخاطر التي مرت بهم في رحلتهم، فمثل هذه الرحلات والمغامرات تتطلب شجاعة عالية وصبرًا غير محدود.

سعيدة أنني انتقيتُ هذا الكتاب من المكتبة الموجودة في مكان عملي، وعسى أن تسقط عيناي على عنوان كتابٍ آخر يشدّ انتباهي كهذا.

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Severin has a formula for these books of his, and it is pretty successful. Start the first chapter mid voyage, with some exciting event, then go back to the start with the why and then the how. Build the boat, set off, complete the journey. Simple.
Nicely written, but seemed a bit lighter than the Brendan Voyage. Technically he didn't seem to go into the same level of detail as he did in Brendan with the leather boat. Regardless a good read. Read Sindbad first, given the chance.

[Yigal Zur · Rating 4 out of 5]

i adore tim severin journeys, his courage, his writing. i read this book after my journey to Oman. i was intrigued by by the wooden boats i saw still made in the town of Sur. Severin manage to capture the magic of these journeys and omani sailors who went from india to africa. facinating

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this brilliant book the author plans and executes a most amazing voyage.

We have all heard of Sinbad the Sailor, if only as a children's cartoon (in fact, as I write this I have the very catchy song from the cartoon of my childhood playing in my head) but many people may not realise that these tales originate in the Arabian One Thousand and One Nights stories where 'Sinbad of the Sea' sailed the seven seas between the Arabian Peninsular and China.

Tim Severin is an amazing explorer, while I have enjoyed his fiction novels, his recreations of historical travels written in clear delightful prose always captivate me. The Sinbad Voyage details how in the 1980's with the enthusiastic assistance of the Omani Sultan he researches the stories of Sinbad, travels to Oman and builds a ship to recreate the voyage to China.

I won't go into the research too much, though for anyone who like me is interested in history, sailing or the two together it will be fascinating. In the end Tim decides to recreate the type of ship that Sinbad would have sailed in. The ships of that region at that time were built using no nails; they were 'woven' ships,where the planks are held together with ropes made from coconut fibers and it is a form of building that had become rare in 1980's and is probably completely vanished by now. The story of sourcing the materials, the skills and the tradesmen,of building the ship on the coast of Oman once known as a seafaring hub, this is a fascinating story in and of itself.

Then the voyage in Sohar starts; Tim as captain a base of eight experienced Omani sailors with a handful of European sceintists, volunteers and associates, all together on a tiny ship, powered by hand woven sails, sailing from Oman to China. I found this fascinating, awesome, inspiring.... I may run out of superlatives if I am not careful. Small details like being stuck in the doldrums, the Typhoons as they approach China, the barnacle researcher on board all go to making this a magical tale for me.

The author is experienced and he obviously knows his audience so the shipboard experiences are not overwhelming. The story of the voyage is told in a way that makes it accessible for all readers, with descriptions of the various characters aboard, the learning experiences of sailing a ship without modern conveniences and of source stories of the places they stop on the way. I would have loved to have more of this section, but I can see that more might be too much for some readers.

The voyage concludes successfully with the Sohar reaching China just ahead of the typhoon season. A great yarn told in such style that is was easy to forget this story took place nearly forty years ago.

[Dermo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stuff. Some lovely descriptions. It felt a bit rushed in the last chapter, although possibly because Severin doesn't want to dwell on the storms

[Joe White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review The Sinbad Voyage __ Tim Severin
0-399-12757-7
Started 9/27/13
Fin 9/30/13

4 star – personal preference

This book is an account of a historical ship building and expedition to sail it from Oman in the Arabian Gulf to Canton, China in 1980.

I think that the book is significant for at least 2 reasons: (1) It attempts to recreate the shipbuilding process for an Arabian Boom as authentically as possible in contemporary times, and sail it on a historical route in a fashion similar to what might have been experienced in 600 AD.
(2) The second reason for the book's significance is that I don't think that the experience of procuring materials, expertise, and labor with specialized skills could be duplicated today, 35 years later.

The expedition as designed was proposed to officials of Oman, who lent 100% support. In 1980 dollars this was a very expensive undertaking. The historical research which represented the foundation bases for performing the expedition were explained as the book progressed. Basically the objective was to recreate a trading voyage from Oman to Canton, China. The ship was to be an authentic type in use in 600 AD, which required a stitched hull using grooves, built hull first, framed secondly, with overlapping frame members. A Boom type vessel was selected as Tim Severin was able to find people who claimed that they had the knowledge to build the boat in the original manner, complete with proper stitching of choir coconut rope with coconut rope “caulking”. The timbers were selected from a standing forest in India of a type of teak, and in such an immense size that trees of that size form an old growth forest might not exist there today. A narrative of the expedition to choose the timber, which provided the material for both the hull and spars was included, along with problems in the negotiations, such as the bureaucratic red tape, bribery as a way of business, and substitution of material sizes, amounts, and quality as a standard of doing business in India at that time.

Details of the shipbuilding were provided which included the methods, tools, work area, and time frame for completion. The specs of the ship were detailed in its finished form including hull, spar sizes, and sail fabric and sail inventory. The hull protective “paint” was a type of lard, that was measured against raw wood for its resistance to the teredo worms common to most warm oceans.

The shipbuilding technique was the most interesting aspect of the book for my purposes. Historically, we may know that that type ship existed and was used extensively for trade, but details of the economy required to supply those ships is less certain. Commerce between shipping route points occurred can be proven, but how difficult the actual route was with a load, and what it cost in manpower and resources is often harder to guess.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sad to finish this book. I savoured every page from start to finish and have already started recommending it to friends who I think would like it. I had only read two Tim Severin books up to this stage (Robinson Crusoe and Marco Polo) and although I had enjoyed them both, this surpasses them. I have now started downloading other Tim Severin books to by Kindle and as I am going on holidays for a couple weeks will probably be in trouble for wanting to read, rather than shop or go to the beach, although I could read and sun bake. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fascinating account of a voyage from the past.

[Pavan Nayini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book that chronicles Tim Severin's retracing Sindbad voyage. Found it more interesting to read about the actual problems encountered during the voyage. Comparing the events in the arabian nights book to actual places was more intriguing. Read it after you read the seven voyages of Sindbad and be sure to learn about different parts of a ship before you read this as I had to google a lot of words including "Poop deck" :)

[James Horgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This enjoyable book recounts the Tim Severin's attempt to build an Arab trading ship in 1980 from the time of Sindbad the Sailor, in the Eighth Century, whose fabulous travels are recounted in the Arabian Nights.

As background for a journey the story of Sindbad is slim pickings. The Arabian Nights are a collection of tales from all over Asia but in them Severin sees Arab myths of the islands of South East Asia and of China, trading locations from which sailors would have brought back tall stories.

On a scouting visit to Oman Severin floats his plans with the Omani minister for National Heritage. Clearly this gets discussed with the new Sultan who decides to underwrite the entire project.

In order to be historically accurate the ship has to be sewn, rather than nailed. This method of construction had ceased in Oman, where Severin bases himself, so he goes to India and finds that inhabitants of the island of Mincoye have made boats in this way in the recent past, and he is able to persuade a number to sign on as ship builders.

Other materials, miles of twisted coconut rope, and timbers, need to be sourced in India and transported to Oman. The dodgy ship he charters leaves half the material behind in the hope of repeat voyage. Severin finds other means of transport!

India comes across as a chaotic, difficult, and corrupt country. Bribes are the norm. Indeed, after stopping in India part way through his voyage, all the local officials arrive by night, line up and expect to be paid off before the ship can leave port. I hope things have improved in the last fifty years.

The second half of the book focusses on the voyage of the ship named Sohar. The crew is a mix of Omanis and Europeans. The Omanis relish the opportunity to serve their country in this way, and show great ingenuity and tenacity. They do, though, quite literally live up to the stereotype that a sailor has a wife in every port...The Europeans mostly bring specialist skills, some being scientists, one an accident prone photographer. The only bad apple is a Pakistani cook who can only produce one inedible vegetable curry. He is dropped off in India as soon as possible and one of the Omanis has hidden culinary talents. The meals do seem to consist mostly of fish, rich and dates though!

Unsurprisingly there are challenges in learning to sail a ship of this type. The crew bonds and becomes highly efficient prior to the crises of broken spars, shredded sails and becalming doldrums.

I have always thought that trading long distances under sail was a difficult and dangerous activity, and the more primitive the boats, the more dangerous it is. A less motivated crew that did not work so well together could easily lead to crises escalating to disasters.

Severin clearly proves sewn ship construction was viable for lengthy sea voyages, and that essential anti-fouling mixtures of lime and mutton fat were enough to preserve timbers. He was able to navigate safely and take on sufficient food and water, fishing when possible, to maintain a healthy crew. He was a capable leader and the teamwork involved is key to his success.

If you want an enjoyable sailing yarn, with culture, history and geography thrown in, splice your mainbrace and read a copy of this book!

Sohar now resides back in Muscat, Oman, in the middle of a roundabout. It deserves better.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sail-ripping yarn of men being boys on the open oceans. Reading around the book itself, the two extra takeaways are that Severin started his writing career on a sort of Top Gear-meets-proto-Easy Rider motorbike tour with Boris Johnson's dad in the 1960s; and that Severin wasn't quite the capable seaman that this book suggests.

On the latter it was an obituary by Charles Doane that puts the record straight on Severin's claims to have fallen unlucky when planned monsoon winds failed to dispel the doldrums. Sat for 40 days slowly criss-crossing their own wake, it turns out, was not due to abnormal seasonality. Rather, Severin had got his dates wrong and needlessly imperilled his crew. Another time the crew threatened mutiny when suspicions grew over Severin's chart reading abilities.

This is another of those rich white man travelogues that drips with such privilege that Severin is only slightly surprised when the Sultan of Oman offers to build the boat and pay for the full journey. This isn't to say Severin doesn't throw himself with admirable elan into the quest. A previous book had charted his journey across the Atlantic in a tiny 11 foot leather-lined boat. In following Sinbad's mythological journey across the maritime spice route from Oman to China, efforts at fishing and catching rainwater suggest Severin earned his stripes. It's just that in a situation where National Geographic were also paying for filming and photography rights, this all feels a lot less perilous and a lot more performative.

Severin's own writing is questing and sufficiently open to allow the reader to judge the person. The inverted commas around "first cook" made me laugh when I first saw them, and more so when I got to Severin's description of the totally inept first hire for this position. It echoes with boarding school canteens just as much as it resonates with something that probably would really grate on a voyage.

Even in Severin's own writing there is the sense of the English amateur just flirting with buffoonery. It makes this book hugely enjoyable - I found it hard to put down - and only occasion with the grim fascination that might attach itself to one of Stanley Johnson's peergroup.

[Shefi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable. Sailors of all ranks will like it, as might armchair travellers and historians, as it combines some historical research into Arab sailing history.

The Arabs were sailing to China and trading there long before Europeans arrived on the scene, but not much historical record exists.

Tim Severin rounded up a motley crew for this ship journey, another like his Brendan Voyage: first build a boat as exactly like one that would have been used at the time of Caliph Haroun al Rashid (8th century), which requires a lot of research, ingenuity and funds. Fortunately, the entire project was funded by the Sultan of Oman. Still, Tim had to do a lot of searching for materials and negotiating with untrustworthy dealers of timber, sailcloth canvas and much more. This part takes up a lot of the story.

The boat was built on a beach near a city famous for boat-building.

After building, get your crew. There were two teams: Omanis and Europeans who eventually melded into one unit despite language differences.

The ebook version i read included some amazing but rather small colour photos at the back of the book. The photo of the arch squall was terrifying.

The ebook included a few odd spelling mistakes (e.g. “cudlasses” (old swords used by pirates), Palau Web island for pulau weh, etc. but these were only temporarily confusing.

Readers who liked Heyerdahl’s Kon-tiki expedition or The Brendan Voyage would probably like this.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Daren for recommending this book (and others by Tim Severin). I have to include myself among the 80% of readers who have given this book a four or five star rating. It's a flat-out interesting and enjoyable description of a late 1970s project by Severin that involved the building of a replica of an eighth century Arab sailing vessel, followed by a seven month journey by sea from Oman to China. Many unusual and unique experiences occurred throughout the project, none of them death defying but all quite edifying. For me, this was a very satisfying read, one that held my interest from beginning to end. For a complete review of the book I recommend the review by Deb Omnivorous Reader - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4...

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd book I've read by Tim Severin and 2nd 5 star book. These books are filled with with little known history and great stories about his time in foreign countries. Not to mention the events of the trip itself. I devoured this one. His narration of himself and thought process is very direct almost to a fault. He doesn't address his sailing prowess or how he decided to be captain. He is very much the captain, making emergency decisions. The books are filled The personalities of the crew really come through. I'm amazed how these books are never talked about. This would've been a great mini-series.

[Alexander Palmer Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I initially picked up this book by mistake, thinking it was the original Sinbad’s Journey, and I was hesitant to start reading. However, after just the first chapter, I was completely hooked. The author masterfully captures the immense effort and meticulous detail required to recreate Sinbad’s legendary voyage. From the challenges of sourcing the right materials—down to the struggle of acquiring suitable wood—to the harrowing experiences at sea, including a near shark attack, the journey is brought to life with vivid storytelling. What began as an accidental read turned out to be a fascinating and unexpectedly thrilling book.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recounting the tales of the legendary voyages of Sinbad from "Arabian Nights: 1001 nights", Author and sailor Tim Severin oversees the construction of an authentic Arabian ship from the period (that's sewn together) and sails the ship, retracing some of Sinbad's routes. A consummate storyteller, Tim Severin weaves a fascinating tale of travel, adventure, and some of the trials, challenges, and mishaps during the voyage. A real page turner!

[Michael W. McFarland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Mind boggling considering the logistics needed to obtain material, labor and location to build this ship. This was a daunting feet to build a ship of this design. I think this could have been proclaimed a success by just the successful construction. Now assemble a crew and successfully sail to China. Amazing! Wood, canvas, and men become as one. The story of sailors throughout history until present day.

[Wayne Jordaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

How much fact is there in the Thousand And One Nights? Did Arab sailors sail to China before the Western Europeans manage to circumnavigate around the South coast of Africa? In The Sindbad Voyage Tim Severin and a relatively small crew set out from Muscat (Oman) in a Boom (wooden sailing ship in which the planks are stitched together with coconut fibre).Yes, not a single nail was used. So is it just an old folks tale? I enjoyed finding out, who knows, so might you.

[Kanea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a fascinating true story! I think this is a book everyone should read, it really makes one appreciate the ingenuity of the ship makers of yore and the bravery of sailors! It is simultaneously a book of its time, written for its time and yet timeless in its standing. There is a plethora of information, any history, folklore, legend lover can appreciate this!

[Kyleigh Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Severin's books are always a delight, and The Sinbad Voyage did not disappoint. Compared with his Brendan and Ulysses voyages, there was less space given to the "original" Sinbad voyage and correspondence with places in their voyage, but it still came up on occasion, and Severin's voyage alone was still fascinating.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite the adventure. Well written. Interspersed
Photos.

[Kanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

İt was awsome

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stirring Tale

Very refreshing to read a narrative that doesn’t rely on sensationalism to retain the readers interest. I could not put it down.

[Paul Vann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book , didn't want to put it down , better than Sinbad

[Nawaf Almahdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in my final year of university. Very engaging storytelling style with lovely pictures of Severin's journey from Oman to China.

A good introduction to travel literature!

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and informative. Good read.

[Igenlode Wordsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember first reading this as a sequel to "The Brendan Voyage" (which Tim Severin had carried out a year or so before - evidently he got the bug for historical reenactment! - and which is referenced a couple of times in this book. Trondur shows up again as temporary crewman, for example). Back then I found it a bit disappointing in comparison; there is less detail on the research and building of the ship, on discoveries about how to sail it and on shipboard life, and fewer convincing links with the historical source material, probably because "Sindbad" was a collection of tall tales rather than a garbled account of mediaeval voyaging. And it comes as a bit of a blow when a large chunk of the building materials obtained with such care are simply abandoned due to dishonesty - a case of real life not making for satisfying storytelling!
But read in isolation it's still a good book, and back then this was my first real introduction to the history and culture of the Middle East, though I fear all too little of what is seen here can still cling on today after forty years of oil wealth - then a benign novelty - and of war. I don't suppose Beypore still constructs wooden sailing ships for the Indian 'country trade', either, or that fishing junks are an unremarkable sight off Canton...

As a piece of writing it's an excellent example of how to introduce and handle a vast cast of characters: all the boat builders plus all the (large) crew, plus various other individuals who feature in various parts of the story. The author manages to remind us who they are as and when it becomes necessary and to introduce them without its feeling like a forced list.

[Saleha Saqib · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book very much out of my comfort zone but such a pleasant surprise!! I started reading it for two classes I'm taking this semester: Modern Gulf History and Maritime History and Culture. Chapter 8, "The Doldrums" was one of my favorites with beautiful descriptions of life at sea around Sri Lanka. The way Severin writes about the entire crew makes it really hard not to fall in love with them and their little quirks.

[Buchdoktor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um die Erzählungen über Sindbad den Seefahrer nachzuerleben, plante Tim Severin den Nachbau einer arabischen Dhau aus jener Zeit für eine Reise von Oman nach China. Die früheste Erwähnung dieses Schiffstyps auf Chinareise findet sich bereits in chinesischen Urkunden des 8. Jahrhunderts. Die China-Route wurde von arabischen Kapitänen gefürchtet - und Severins Mannschaft wird am eigenen Leib die Gründe dafür erfahren. Wie in den Zeiten von Sindbads Seemansgarn soll das Boot ohne einen einzigen Nagel aus indischem Aini-Holz gebaut werden, zusammengehalten allein von Schnüren aus Kokosfasern. Der Schiffsbug wird nicht etwas gestrichen oder geölt, sondern mit erstaunlichem Erfolg durch eine Mischung aus Hammeltalg und Kalk vor Würmern geschützt. Die Sohar wird auf dieser Strecke wahrscheinlich das letzte Boot ihrer Art sein.

Als der Staat Oman das Projekt zur nationalen Aufgabe erklärt, nimmt Severins Plan ein Eigenleben an. Neben der finanziellen und logistischen Unterstützung durch den Sultan von Oman kann Sverin nun auch aus freiwilligen einheimischen Helfern mit exquisiten Kenntnissen im Bootsbau und in der Seefahrt auswählen. Der Bau des Segelschiffs wird an die begabtesten Bootsbauer der kleinen indischen Insel Minicoy vergeben, die alle schon Boote bauen, seit sie laufen und ein Wekzeug halten können. Severin kämpft gegen den indischen Schlendrian und wird so manches Mal beim Materialkauf übers Ohr gehauen. Später während der Reise durch die "Sieben Meere" wird sich Tim Severins Einschätzung Indiens relativieren, als es der Crew gelingt mit der Hilfe indischer Fischer in einer konkurrenzlosen Gewaltaktion während weniger Tage eine komplette Ersatz-Besegelung für die Sohar zu nähen. Überall sonst auf der Welt hätte dieser Auftrag vier Monate gedauert.

Während sich gläubige Omani mit Turban mit den Europäern an Bord zu einer Mannschaft zusammenraufen, rätselt man, wie die Araber damals wohl navigierten. Einzelne Etappen der Reise werden von Forschern begleitet, die z. B. die Dugongs in den Gewässern Ostasiens zählen wollen. Der Fotograf ist der einzige an Bord ohne jegliche Erfahrung im Segeln. Sein Talent wegen seiner abenteuerlichen Seilkonstruktionen für besondere Aufnahmestandorte mehrmals nur knapp dem Ertrinken zu entgehen, entwickelt sich an Bord zum Running Gag. Im Kontrast zu The Brendan Voyage in den sehr ruhigen Gewässern der Nordhalbkugel lauern für die Sohar auf ihrer Fahrt durch die Straße von Malakka Piraten, Taifune und Gefahren durch den starken Schiffsverkehr.

Tim Severin zeigte bei der Vorbereitung der siebeneinhalbmonatigen Fahrt wieder sein besonderes Geschick, eine Mannschaft mit vielseitigen Talenten zusammenzustellen, die jeder Herausforderung gewachsen ist und sich nur durch einen unfähigen Koch aus dem Gleichgewicht bringen lässt. Ein lesenwerter Abenteuerbericht.

[Boris · Rating 3 out of 5]

aangenaam en boeiend verslag, met weliswaar iets te weinig aandacht voor de literaire kant van de tocht.

[Cath Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do I read travel books? No. Am I very interested in sailing and/boats? No. The, which did I read this book and give it four stars?
A friend introduced us to Tim Severin's accounts of his reconstructions of historic and mythical voyages. I read The Jason Voyage and The Brendan Voyage and became a fan.
This book tells of Tim Severin's voyage from Oman to China in the 'footsteps' of Sinbad. The boat is constructed using traditional methods, in original materials sourced from traditional sources. Fascinatingly, an Arab Boom is constructed from wooden planks sewn together with coconut rope. The first chapters tell of the construction of the boat and then the remainder of the book describes the journey. Well written and very informative. A little out of date now.