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Library > New Acquisitions > Book Review
Sail the Cinque Ports; Robert Crane; Robert Crane, 2005; £12.50; CA 16633
The soft-backed book of some 160 pages “provides an unusual combination of bunkside material and sailing directions”. With the tight focus of these ancient ports, Robert Crane embues the descriptions and accounts of his cruising from Eastbourne to Brightlingsea with contagious enthusiasm.
He suggests an itinerary to take in the half dozen ports that are still navigable by craft able to take the mud up to, say, 10 metres and gives us useful pilotage tips, advice on mooring and a wealth of background history, recommendations for eating, drinking and excursions for the one day visitor. This service is also provided for another seven “landing places”. I had not realised the significance of the original 30 ports, including the five main ones that gave the group their name, that did so much to shape the development of our country from medieval times.
After an initial chapter that summarises the broader historical background, each of the main ports is given significant coverage with briefer notes on those less likely to be visited, at least by sea. Suggested tours through the town and around, with beneficial lists of telephone numbers and facilities form the hub of the book together with appendices that suggest a 15 day cruise to cover the main ports and an interesting bibliography. – BJS
Page prepared 11 January 2006