/lit/ - Literature

“As I was once sailing,” said he, “in a fine stout ship across the banks
of Newfoundland, one of those heavy fogs which prevail in those parts
rendered it impossible for us to see far ahead even in the day time; but
at night the weather was so thick that we could not distinguish any
object at twice the length of the ship. I kept lights at the mast head and
a constant watch forward to look out for fishing smacks, which are
accustomed to lie at anchor on the banks. The wind was blowing a
smacking breeze and we were going at a great rate through the water.
Suddenly the watch gave the alarm of ‘a sail ahead!’—it was scarcely
uttered before we were upon her. She was a small schooner at anchor,
with the broad side toward us. The crew were all asleep and had
neglected to hoist a light. We struck her just a mid-ships. The force, the
size and weight of our vessel bore her down below the waves—we
passed over her and were hurried on our course. As the crashing wreck
was sinking beneath us I had a glimpse of two or three halfnaked
wretches, rushing from her cabin—they just started from their beds to be
swallowed shrieking by the waves. I heard their drowning cry mingling
with the wind. The blast that bore it to our ears swept us out of all
further hearing—I shall never forget that cry!—It was some time before
we could put the ship about; she was under such headway. We returned
as nearly as we could guess to the place where the smack had anchored.
We cruised about for several hours in the dense fog. We fired signal guns
and listened if we might hear the halloo of any survivors; but all was
silent—we never saw or heard any thing of them more!—”
I don't have any niche things to share, but this small tale of sailing spoken by a sea captain is something I can share.
the book is The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon if anyone's interested, but only the beginning short story is about sailing