Under a yellow sky : a tale of the sea and a coming of age

Paints a vivid portait of life aboard a Merchant Navy ship in the 1970s. It is a brutal but uplifting story - a triumph over temptation and moral degredation. Simon Hall went to sea in search of a way of life that he believed was glamorous, adventurous and disciplined, a life where smartly-uniformed men ran ships in a tightly organised manner. At this time the British fleet was still one of the largest in the world and the Red Ensign a common sight in most large ports. In over three years as a Deck Cadet he explored this world and although he uncovered much of the magic of the sea, he also encountered brutality, exploitation, dizzying hard work and frightening bouts of violence. From the rigidity of naval college to the heat and sweat of working as a deck-hand in the South China Sea, the book charts Simon's progress from a naive and callow school-leaver to a strong young man Under a Yellow Sky paints a canvas of life aboard a Merchant Navy ship in the early 1970s. Simon, a dreamer who steps into this different world, uncovers much of the magic of the sea, although also encounters brutality, dizzying hard work and frightening bouts of violence. From the rigidity of naval college, to the debauchery of the East, this is a vivid portrait of a world now disappeared. A well-written book that will appeal to all who are interested in ships and shipping, modern and maritime history, and those who enjoy well-told traveler s tales of fascinating people and places." Contents 6 1 Seeds 8 2 Cold Showers in Hamburg 13 3 School for Tramps 39 4 Ape 64 5 Drink 82 6 Sailing By 100 7 All the Girls in the World 119 8 Return of the Tramp 134 9 My Father's Dream 157 Epilogue 174 Paints a canvas of life aboard a Merchant Navy ship in the early 1970s. A vivid portrait of a world now disappeared. A brutal but ultimately uplifting story - a triumph over temptation and moral degradation.