Just a note to those who would like more background on the great "Wool Races", "Grain Races" and "Guano Runs" of the last commercial sailing ships.

My favorite currently available book is one by Eric Newby called "The Last Grain Race"; I love his sense of humor as he describes his grueling experience as an apprentice sailor; there's now a new follow-up edition of his photos called "Learning the Ropes." Another current favorite is Frank Brookesmith's "I Remember the Tall Ships" which includes vivid descriptions of one grain run and one run for lovely guano. Then there's also the new edition of Alan Villers' photographs of the grain ship races "The Last of the Windships" which pulls together photos from several of his books – a visual feast.