My dad’s boat, the Sadie Noonan, did not have an engine. It was sail all the way.
The Ship’s Wheel of the Sadie Noonan now hangs on the wall of the Ship Chandler’s Office in Mystic Seaport, CT.
Dad was stunned to see the ship’s wheel on the wall when he took us kids to the living museum.
It wasn’t very romantic. Dad would scramble over the codfish that the guys were gutting on deck and collect the livers in a jar to sell to the pharmacy to make cod liver oil. Sometimes he would make more money that the fishermen on board, including his father.
One time he fell off the boat in the north Atlantic (George’s bank) The captain had to turn the entire boat around (by sail) to rescue him!
Rudyard Kipling beat me to it...his book was called “Captains Courageous” and was made into a movie starring Spencer Tracey and Freddie Bartholomew.
He had an amazing life! How in the world did he do all of that at 9 years old! He must have been tough as a boot!