This book pays tribute to the tenacity and sailing skills of four young New Zealanders who sailed an epic voyage in their Chinese junk Golden Lotus in 1962. On their 8,500 mile journey from Hong Kong to New Zealand they confronted violent storms in the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and Tasman Sea. They challenged poisonous and powerful Komodo dragons on an uninhabited Indonesian island; encountered mid-ocean sharks of mean proportions; overcame the many navigational hazards of the Barrier Reef Coast of Australia. Brian Clifford, master Navigator at age 23, orchestrated every aspect of this classic adventure. Skillful celestial navigation, adventurous spirits and the raw energy of a youthful crew combined with total self reliance to win the day.

A two-part book of 34 fishing and seascape related stories plus 5 ocean adventures gleaned from the author's 44-year career at sea as a Bay of Islands fishing and cruising skipper.

This encyclopaedic volume synthesises 25 years of research and development of this unique rig as adapted to western craft. It is a work which has been welcomed by the growing number of yachtsmen and designers throughout the world who already enjoy the benefits of junk rig or who wish to do so. Now available as an ebook for the first time, Practical Junk Rig examines the design and aerodynamic theory behind junk rigs and discusses how best to sail them. It outlines the rig in detail, the principles that underlie it, considers possible alternative shapes and arrangements and analyses performance, all assisted by a wealth of detailed line illustrations.

In December 1846, the Keying, a Chinese junk purchased by British investors, set sail from Hong Kong for London. Named after the Chinese Imperial Commissioner who had signed away Hong Kong to the British, manned by a Chinese and European crew, and carrying a travelling exhibition of Chinese items, theKeying had a troubled voyage. After quarrels on the way and a diversion to New York, culminating in a legal dispute over arrears of wages for Chinese members of the crew, it finally reached London in 1848, where it went on exhibition on the River Thames until 1853. It was then auctioned off, towed to Liverpool, and finally broken up. In this account of the ship, the crew and the voyage, Stephen Davies tells a story of missed opportunities, with an erratic course, overambitious aims, and achievements born of lucky breaks—a microcosm, in fact, of early Hong Kong and of the relations between China and the West.

A sequel to the Chinese novel Chin P'ing Mei, this book details the lives, fates and after-fates of the wealthy businessman Hsi Men and his six wives. A brilliant story coupled with the dramatic historical background of twelfth century China make this a unique work of tremendous scholarly and humanistic value. Intriguing chapter headings include : 'Frightened by a Bad Dream', Moon Lady Sacrifices her Pearls and 'A White Eyeball looks down upon the Forlorn Little Boy; No one takes Pity on Him.