Passage to Torres Strait: Four Centuries in the Wake of Great Navigators, Mutineers, Castaways and Beachcombers

by Miles Hordern (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2006

  $3.28

  In his early twenties Miles Hordern first crossed the oceans from the northern to the southern hemisphere, but the stretch between New Zealand and the Indian Ocean, guarded by the Torres Strait, eluded him for twelve more years. Past sailors attempting a passage through this mythical strait either drowned on the treacherous reefs or starved in open boats. Yet Miles Hordern was unable to resist its siren call. Passage to Torres Strait weaves together unravelled strands of history, and reveals that it was the castaways and beachcombers who left the most enduring legacies.

• Used

  Hardcover
  2005

  $4.27

  In his early twenties Miles Hordern first crossed the oceans from Northern to Southern Hemisphere, but one final leg of his round the world journey eluded him for twelve more years: the stretch between New Zealand and the Indian Ocean, guarded by the Torres Strait. Once thought to be mythical, so difficult was it to find and pass, the first authenticated passage took place in 1606; in 1768 it was charted by Captain Cook. In that age of sail, most sailors who attempted a passage through it still either drowned on the treacherous reefs or starved in open boats. But Hordern's 28-foot sloop took him more than 4000 nautical miles via the islands of Melanesia, the Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef to Australia. His cabin library included tales of individual, lingering histories that he wanted to trace for himself between the lines of the great chronicles. For it was the beachcomber -- the sailor who jumped ship, mutinied or was shipwrecked, and stayed - who had an even more enduring impact on island life.