Bligh-ted reputation

Making the case for the mutiny on the Bounty's much maligned Captain Bligh

- Dave Selby

Who are your all-time nautical heroes? Well, I never thought I'd say it, but I'm going to have to put a word in for William Bligh, and not just because he had a bit of crew trouble, which is something I can relate to, as everyone who steps aboard my boat instantly turns mutinous and reveals a catalogue of character flaws, such as eating all the custard creams.

There's also Joshua Slocum, of course, who, between 1895 and 1898, became the first person to sail round the world single-handed in his 36ft 9in Spray, a derelict hulk he rebuilt with his own hands. I'm just reading his book, Sailing Alone Around The World, for the third time, and what amazes me is his modern outlook that has none of the bigotry you'd expect of the time.