Rounding The Horn
Ron Kavana & The Sherkin Crew Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Rounding The Horn' by these artists:

A.L. Lloyd Rounding the Horn The gallant frigate, Amphitrite, she lay …
Cliff Haslam It's of the frigate, Amphitrite, She lay in Plymouth Sound, …

We have lyrics for these tracks by Ron Kavana:

A Living Wage Sally is eleven, goes to St. Clements Back of the railway…
Reconciliation When summer time has come And autumn winds are threatening …
Young Ned Of The Hill Have you ever walked the lonesome hills or heard the…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS

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Comments from YouTube:

@fizawizz

3y↑1.6K

In all my 10 years of watching youtube, this is honestly the greatest video I have ever seen thank you so, so much

@aflaz171

2y↑33

How ironic that is that it should also be 90 years old!

@janezjonsa3165

2y↑28

Took words right out of my mouth. In my 18 years of youtube...

@jonathonjubb6626

2y↑12

@Janez Jonsa Hey JJ! Same here!

@janezjonsa3165

2y↑61

@Jonathon Jubb This is a precius jewel, of a true hardcore history. This is so rare, so very rare... and we're lucky to have seen it.

@twofishes8846

2y↑12

Ditto

47 More Replies...

@cal48koho

2y↑437

This is the first time I have heard Irving Johnson's voice in more than 60 years. I signed on as a crewman on his Yankee Brigantine(?) when he was taking kids around the world. He was a wonderful and charming and dynamic man, the likes of which hardly exist anymore. I knew he had been on the Peking but what a joy to see him as a young and very strong man. His voice sounds the same. My!!

@georged9615

2y↑24

You are very fortunate to have experienced that, my friend!

@SleekMinister

2y↑7

You sound like a rockin' story-teller when sober :P

@kingjames1586

2y↑15

Won’t find real men like him in todays entitled America…

@calsurflance5598

2y↑13

I attended a lecture Capt. Johnson gave back in the 1970s. I remember he showed this film and narrated as he did here. I remember he also talked about his several trips around the world . He also showed the Yankee lying on a reef somewhere in the South Pacific and mentioned it had been his vessel at one time.
I believe there were more than one Yankee’s.
You must have great memories from these adventures. Hope you still have pictures.
Cheers!⚓️

@davidtomasetti8520

2y↑8

his passion for sailing was very evident in this narration

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@calsurflance5598

2y↑52

I had a chance to see Capt. Johnson in Lowell Massachusetts in the 1970s. He gave a lecture about his many trips around the world, and showed this film as he narrated, just as he did here.
This was of particular interest to my Dad who had gone around Cape Horn on the USS Oriskany, in 1954. He had been nearly washed overboard when the carrier took a green wave over the flight deck while he was on deck watch. The Oriskany actually buckled a section of its keel on that trip. It was reported in the news that the ship was breaking up in high seas. Fortunately it didn’t. And fortunately my grand parents never saw the news report.
Cape Horn is serious business!

@tonyfondacaro1980

1y↑28

I’ve been in seas like that in modern vessels, and it’s unbelievable to me that men were able to sail in masted ships through these storms and survive. It’s really remarkable what humans can adapt to, even if the stress takes years off your life.

@robertcostanzo9378

2y↑34

Absolutely amazing!!! He called the captain superman a bunch of times and he was. Also the shot of captain Johnson when he was working on the sails, his arms were gigantic! What a film!!! This is an incredible piece of film, it boggles the mind to see these guys working in do or die situations throughout the film. People today need to see this and have a clue!!!! Thanks for posting this unbelievable piece of history!!!!!

@michaelmcdonald3057

2y↑172

A remarkable documentary. While serving aboard the U.S.S Cone DD866, I experienced two typhoons in the South China Sea. One would think that fear of death would be paralyzing, but it is almost always the opposite. The only thing between you and Davy Jones is keeping your vessel upright. Men will work in unbelievable conditions to ensure that outcome all the while seemingly unafraid. A tip of my white hat to these true sailors of our past!

@charlesmartell4484

2y↑5

Yeah, its like a shot in the arm, the excitement, the wind howling, its a fantastic experience.

@grandenauto3214

2y↑3

Too busy to worry about dying.

@robertburke6174

2y↑3

Absolutely. My experience of life threatening situations is almost a cliche as I never felt more alive. The edge.

@biggusbestus551

Keep the keel side down !

@georgepatuaka391

Exactly the greatest video and commentary I have ever seen amazingly absolutely awesomeness he ha Cape Horn crew

@hscollier

2y↑671

I never imagined anything like this phenomenal footage of an old sailing ship in a storm existed much less survived. This is the best historical footage I’ve ever seen on YouTube. Thank you for sharing it!!

@331SVTCobra

2y↑27

And the best narration I've ever heard too.

@johnleduc5276

2y↑15

He sounds so excited, like he's reliving the experience

@brucelarsen6650

2y↑18

Now I'm cold, I'm wet, and my pants and boots are full of salty water.
This has to be the earliest Virtual Reality Video ever made. Wow.

@greenwave819

2y↑4

Check out the footage from Franklins expedition!!

@CorePathway

2y↑5

Agreed. It’s almost like he was out here on earth just to capture that voyage. It was years in the making; all his prep. And to bring a movie camera! And it survived getting doused time and time again! Miraculous.

@Nick-cp8wf

2y↑26

Most amazing piece of narrated history I have ever seen. This man was extremely talented, strong in body and mind. Movies, media and literature build the image of a genius like its a superhero. There are countless variations but In reality the narrator of this video was certainly one of them. Very understandable and relatable ( a conscious effort on his part to communicate as quick and effectively as possible furthering his life experience and those around him). Extremely high IQ. Empathetic. He has mastered the physical world in many ways (very difficult), his insight and description was a piece of art in itself. This was one of those moments where I'm just bewildered by what I just experienced. Awestruck and at the end...happy. One of the finest gifts. He knew that people in the future would appreciate these moments he painstakingly filmed. It is a gift for all of us and I am sure he would find the greatest pleasure in knowing he made millions smile and take with them learning about a piece of history that should never be forgotten. Inspiring.

@peterdchamberlain

2y↑11

Hard to put into words what I witnessed in the film.Tremendous respect for all the crew members.You have to be incredibly tough to endure what they went through!

@franklinandlinda

2y↑88

This is the greatest and most amazing film ever made at sea. The conditions from total calm to the worst storms ever handled by a ship totally under the power of the sails and surviving. The sails top out at 17 stories high. WOW. What a courageous effort to not only sail on this ship but to film the journey. Really unbelievable and totally Awesome.

@AussieAnne55

2y↑12

My Danish grandfather was a Cape Horner, having successfully sailed around Cape Horn three times under sail in the early 1900s. Watching this video gave me a small glimpse into his experience. How brave he was and how brave all of the sailors who did that voyage.

@mdemed

2y↑64

Wow! The bravery of these sailors is incredible and to be filming out in those storms is unbelievable. And the narration is great! This video is truly a gem.

@den264

What with all the overhyped mainstream media constantly banging on about strong women , and how worn can do anything a man can do. You never see women going on such dangerous nerve wracking , body wracking adventures like this one. Two of the sailors were swept overboard and no one batted an eye. Women will never achieve what men have achieved regardless of how long they try. They are only as strong and brave as Hollywood paints them.

@AlaskaErik

2y↑432

Captain Jurs spent his entire career on sailing ships. He died on December 21, 1945, on the day the last ship he commanded, the Padua, was turned over to the Soviet Union as war compensation. The Padua was renamed Krusenstern and is still active to this day in Russia. The Peking, which was the ship in this film, is now a museum ship in Germany.

@desertblbuesman

2y↑22

The Peking was for a time tied up in New York. I saw it from a harbour touring boat around 2001 I figure. The masts were cut down.

@eddie1078

2y↑3

It's down by the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC, I believe?

@raman5329

2y↑24

@Eddie107 The Peking is back in Germany, restored as a proper museum....

@bfort2427

2y↑15

The ship now appears to be at the German Port Museum in Hamburg.

@maryjanefuller8952

2y↑28

I was born exactly 7 days before he died. Sailed a 51' ketch from Seattle and spent 5 years on the ocean exploring. Maybe he gifted me some karma.

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@acehandler1530

2y↑34

Amazing! I have long wanted to sail on the ocean - at 68 years old this may be closest I'll get! I might've been able to train for this when I was 14 but...that was many moons ago. Thanks so much for posting this gem - no words in any language would suffice 🙂

@mcsmith732

2y↑9

A beautiful, well-built ship; a wise, highly experienced and courageous captain; brave, strong, determined sailors; crazy weather- from boringly calm to desperately raging and murderous; a plucky, talented, skilled, articulate film-maker and storyteller; and a precious cargo to deliver!
What a story! What a magnificent, dramatic and riveting movie! I loved every second of this and this is one of the best hours I've ever spent watching a film.
Thank you so much for sharing this.

@insidepages4150

2y↑8

I was a journeyman shipwright in Seattle. My mentor for my apprenticeship spent his early years on a ship just like this one. He used to tell me stories of sailing the world as a young man. He even made trips to Antarctica on a sailing ship. I had no idea until I saw this video what his true experiences were. RIP Pete Herd you were the best mentor along with my Father Walter Taubeneck.

@kenwalker4386

2y↑10

Marvellous film. Captain Johnson's narration was coming straight from his memory and not at all scripted by the tone of it. The drama in his voice is so sincere and genuine and truly makes it worth watching.

@garnerjazz58

31w

He is quite a yarn spinner

@clivepeaple1331

2y↑30

Deeply moving. My great great was a sea captain who regularly 'rounded the Horn' (both ways) with his wife on occasion. This really brings it home. Just phenomenal.

@alannewman85

2y↑229

The passion in that mans voice, the respect he had for his Captain, the preparation he made and the longing you can hear when the voyage is all over - outstanding - remarkable - I can't find the right words.

@CorePathway

2y↑9

Our good narrator was a BEAST! 12:33

@garyfasso6223

2y↑1

And the respect he had for his audience: “You would do the same.” after some amazing feat.

@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars

2y↑3

@Paco Jastorius That's SOME sideline... the quality of those shots in incredible conditions is amazing, superb technical ability.

@captainahab3355

2y↑1

Misery he even said it himself

@TheMuddman74

It's interesting that I had a wildly different opinion in the beginning. My opinion was that the narrator could care less about the boat and info he was giving because he seemed to power through sentences as fast as possible, including mumbling or lazily combining words rather than taking care to enunciate and speak clearly.
I've watched long enough to feel his passion but wow was he hard to listen to....slurring, mumbling, fast cadence, poor volume control (up/down/up/down).
Example: ..."hertheyare pullinetondeck" instead of "here they are, pulling it onto the deck"

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@josephhuether1184

38w↑6

I now understand why, in almost every New England coastal port city, the largest and most grand home - nevertheless small by Gilded Age standards - built before the Civil War was owned by a “sailing captain”.
Phenomenal physical strength notwithstanding, these guys clearly had unbelievable grasp of thousands of critical details and the ability to manage large numbers of people around the clock for long periods of time.

@simonf8902

2y↑28

About the best of anything I’ve ever seen. This skill, bravery, dedication and passion can never be repeated.
Thank you.
Everyone under 35 should be made to watch this to see what real life is about.

@inventiveowl395

Being 23, I liked watching this. But I think it would be more beneficial and more fun to sail on those ships instead of watching them...

@bobwoods1302

1y↑5

That's not real life. That's extreme life. Thankfully most people don't have to work that hard or dangerous, even back then this would be considered extremely hard and brave.

@mamayama2

2y↑13

He'd be happy to know the Peking is still going strong! After many years at South Street Seaport, she was gifted to her home port of Hamburg for the German Port Museum

@whiskeymonk4085

39w↑12

As a retired Bering sea fisherman, i am absolutely in awe of these men. Wish I could have been right there with them on this grand adventure!

@keithwilliams1243

31w↑1

As an ex Royal Navy cook I feel just as you do, I am also in awe at the sheer craftmanship and complexity involved in the building of the wooden ships

@whiskeymonk4085

31w

@@keithwilliams1243 Ships cooks are underrated man. Everything hinges on them.

@andoreanesnomeo1706

32w↑2

“The sails are everything, they are our connection.” Lovely.

@johannesmarg6903

2y↑344

Captain Johnson’s commentary to his takes are priceless. Having seen this the first time 40 years ago, I am still amazed. Having sailed on schooners myself, I have at least an Idea of the life aboard. As a Hamburg residence living directly on the Riverside, I had the privilege to see the freshly renovated Peking coming back to Hamburg last year. Of course, this documentary was foremost in my mind. Thanks a lot, Happy New Year to all…

@timothywall1971

2y↑13

An awesome YouTube suggestion!
A few years ago I saw this ship in New York when it was in the South Street Seaport museum. I had no idea until today that this film existed but I immediately recognized the details about Chile and the nitrate trade, and the name of Irving Johnson from his articles published in National Geographic magazine decades ago.

@scatoutdebutter

2y↑7

What a video and narration....Happy New Year to you too!

@johndicus123

2y↑20

Deine Heimat ist das Meer,
Deine Freunde sind die Sterne
Über Rio und Shanghai
Über Bali und Hawaii
Deine Liebe ist dein Schiff
Deine Sehnsucht ist die Ferne
Und nur ihnen bist du treu
Ein Leben lang

@johnflorian6745

2y↑4

Not only was the commentary priceless I couldn't help but to hear the great Norm McDonald telling me this story. Both shared an endearing enthusiasm for telling their story.

@higgme1ster

2y↑13

@John Dicus Your home is the sea, your friends are the stars About Rio and Shanghai About Bali and Hawaii Your love is your ship Your longing is the distance And only to them are you loyal For a lifetime Very good, mate!

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@bradcameron1376

2y↑15

I remember meeting Captain Irving Johnson when he was traveling around showing this and doing lectures.
He was a very impressive individual. Thank you for posting this

@gordonshaffer5560

2y↑5

For 40 years this ship, The Peking, served as a museum ship for the South Street Seaport in Manhattan, NYC. In 2016 she was gifted to the German government and will be restored at the Stiftung Hamburg Maritim. She was originally built in Hamburg in 1911 by the German company F. Laeisz. Seeing her under full sail is a delight and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. I am so glad that we are fortunate enough to see these videos. Many New Yorkers will be delighted to see what was an icon on the East River for over 40 years come to life in her prime. Thank you for sharing this.

If you update the title of this video to include the name of the ship, The Peking, you will get many, many more views and the gratitude of untold thousands of viewers from the New York area. For 40 years she has been as much a part of the NYC skyline as any of the tall skyscrapers and much more exciting to visit.

@mrivucu

2y↑41

My grandfather was a sailor for 40 years, this gives me a new found respect for just how tough he was!

@billysunday7507

Did he ever get herpes?

@mrivucu

2y↑1

@Billy Sunday I have no idea, this I do know back in the 70s when he was in his 70s the USN reelisted him to splice the transcontinental cables because he was only one left alive who originally laid them.

@billysunday7507

@mrivucu so he laid some pipe

@mrivucu

@Billy Sunday I guess you could say that, he often told me that I had cousins in China and the Philippines

@travelinben1966

2y↑4

Fantastic filming under those hair raising conditions.Narration was also great.He makes you feel like you’re there yourself.The knowledge and skill required to sail this big ship is all but lost today,save for a handful of people who’ve kept it alive.Thank you for this exciting and educational presentation.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@MagickMusic1

2y↑10

Makes me want to be a sailor. What courage these men had and the dog was priceless.

@XRP747E

2y↑292

Astounding piece of nautical history. I feel humble witnessing this incredible feat. The narration was superb and really dragged you into feeling as though you were there. Entrancing.

@ed7474

2y↑6

I've been on this ship a bunch of times growing up. It was docked in NYC. I watched this whole video before I realized I've been on this ship. It was a big part of my childhood. Amazing film

@timtwinam9851

2y↑6

This is one of the most amazing recovered films I have ever seen. You can taste the brine and agreed, the hands of the Captain are extraordinary. This is History.

@billlincolnmd9159

2y↑18

Legendary sailors--a tall ship taking on the seas of the Horn--many crests rising to 90 or more feet.
Awesome footage. Great narration.

@dankress9529

31w↑1

I can’t imagine how strong these people must have been. It’s beyond insane what I just witnessed.

@robertcook9201

2y↑28

I recently read Eric Newby's book "The Last Grain Race" about his work on one of the last pre-war sailing ships like this. Great to see the films confirming what a tough world it was. "But men were men in these days" as my old headmaster used to say!

@haroldishoy2113

I have enjoyed “The Last Grain Race” and also found the book on tape too. I also love Eric Newby’s story “A short Walk in the Hindu Kush” it is more humorous but still a superb story.

@jgappy5643

True

@robertcook9201

@Pat Luxor Steward on a steamer, I bet. Climbing the rigging would have played havoc with his coiffure!

@sailingthevic3966

2y↑503

Holy shite this is beyond incredible! I’m 56, a lifelong Alaskan commercial fisherman, consider myself mighty salty, been through a lotta nasty “are we gonna live?” Situations (100mph blows, twice) BUT next to these guys, any of em, I’m a soft little fluffy petunia delicate as can be. These guys, wow. The YouTube algorithm is omnipotent, as I’m leaving port tomorrow, for a two day sail south and this was in my feed. Better practice my splicing…….

@andyp91

2y↑16

You're a poet! Much respect.

@waynefay8210

2y↑2

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@ccaissie113

2y↑12

i've been in green water over the deck in the Bering, but still, this is way beyond what my little life has done.

@sailingthevic3966

2y↑36

@Colin Caissie I hear you on that! Been washed across deck countless times, but watching these guys aloft on the “foot rope” thinking, one tiny mistake and they’re shark food. Yeah, comparatively, I’m sitting in a park on a sunny day feeding pigeons. Btw don’t do the Bering in winter anymore, that’s a young man’s game. I have a salmon gillnetter, fish in the summer. Sail the Vic in winter. On her in Mexico right now, cheers and have a fine new year!!

@TheRelger

2y↑5

Best of luck to you!

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@jrotondi

2y↑3

This historical film, and the accompanying narration by the filmmaker, are truly remarkable. This should be getting an Academy Award! Thank you for sharing this fantastic work.

@valkyrjavakre6439

2y↑27

I'm not even exaggerating, this is best video and commentary I've ever seen in my life, how I've never seen or heard of it before is beyond me. Right before this I watched the star of India sailing....what a joke. There will never be anything like this again, truly, the great generation.

@suebruce493

2y↑1

And he prayed for a really good storm before the voyage. Amazing.

@Ransomhandsome

2y↑1

@Sue Bruce
Well, he "wished" for a really good storm.
He got his wish.

@RoySATX

2y↑7

"A rare and wonderful part of history" is, in this case, an incredible understatement. For this to exist at all blows my mind. Even the history of how it came to be is amazing, that that journey started a hundred years ago in the dreams of a spirited young boy and now resides here, amongst the flotsam and jetsam that is the Internet, is astounding. I'm simply blown away.

@keepinganopenmind8216

2y↑4

I too find this amazing video and the strength of the sailors beyond words. I am not sure we have the men today that could do this.. If we do... it might take many years to put a crew such as this together.. not sure a captain such as this exist at all.. anywhere.. today ! Wow

@dananichols1816

2y↑8

Unique, priceless archive -- fantastic off you to maintain and provide such access to history!

@MarkBTomlinson

2y↑191

What a wonderful film and commentary the excitement in his voice after 50 years is palpable. Nothing but respect for sailors of that age.
Truly one of the best documentaries I have ever seen.

@nikjames2965

2y↑11

Absolutely. No bullshite here. incredible what these guys could do. I feel nauseous just looking at these shaky old movies.

@canyonroots

2y↑5

Respect for sailors of the ages, thousands of years.. Populating the Pacific was not by accident, having the sensitivity to feel the reflecting waves from the islands.

@shauny2285

2y↑9

Wooden ships, Iron men.

@charlesmartell4484

2y↑1

Yep, no soy boys around.

@andrewsturgess7072

2y↑4

I've been to Talcahuano on a ship but I almost feel guilty that it was steam powered and went through the Panama Canal. What an extraordinary look back in time this film is. I loved the droll commentary just as much as the visuals. Thanks to all concerned in posting this gem.

@martynb901

19w↑1

Amazing! The narrator is a natural storyteller. My dad was born in the year it was filmed, yet a sailor of wooden ships Nelson's day and earlier would probably have identified with everything he said about the handling of a square-rigger.

@FrontierMetals

2y↑7

Incredible. Had no idea the amount of work and risk involved in sailing these tall ships. Thank you!

@ivanolsen8596

2y↑5

What phenomenal photography, the best sailing vessel footage I have
ever seen. I now know what my father went through around the turn
of last century rounding the Horn and circumnavigating the world
many times under canvas.
Thank you Capt. Irving!

@danroy1511

2y↑8

Thank you for sharing this film! This is an amazing document of naval history. Incredible footage from the time when film cameras were still a novelty, never mind a camera being handled with skill on a rolling sailing ship in crashing seas. I feel honoured and very fortunate to have seen this film. Thank you Captain Irving Johnson.

@jimcraig9882

2y↑448

Without a doubt, the greatest piece of narrated historical film I've ever seen.

@markbass9402

2y↑16

I could not make a comment any better, so I wont!

@tcl5853

2y↑8

Mark Bass nailed it!

@willbarker1693

2y↑2

GRASS 'the forgotten people' 1926 Afghanistan

@alannewman85

Well said!

@unclerumple9287

2y↑15

Spent 5 years on a US NAVY warship in the Pacific & thought we had it rough. I see now where all he traditions embraced by sailors come from and why they are still embraced. Thanks so much for sharing this.

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@paulr2405

2y↑3

I sailed around Cape Horn after sailing around the world alone in Spirit of Pentax, a home-grown schooner. I suspect had I seen this amazing documentary beforehand, I might have found another ocean challenge. I wrote about the voyage in Loner (Hodder and Stoughton). I really recommend Captain Irving's astonishing documentary.

@kaminski911

2y↑2

Absolutely sensational, of course anyway because of the unique insight into the seamanship on one of the famous Hamburg P liners, but it is very special that such pictures were taken under these indescribable circumstances at that time. A unique document of historical seafaring!

@bobdinitto

2y↑1

What a fantastic voyage! Awesome video and brilliant narration make this a historical gem. The bravery of the seamen as they face the fury of these storms is absolutely amazing.

@ericfredrickson129

2y↑2

My God. What a legend this man is for filming and narrating this incredible piece of history.

@cratecruncher6687

2y↑8

What a treasure to posterity. Thank goodness for early camera enthusiasts and the narration was perfect. I'd heard the Horn was a treacherous sea but had no idea. As a wise-ass 18 year old I once was foolish enough to ride out a category 3 hurricane on a small sailing yacht tied to a pier, in a protected harbor - and it nearly scared the living crap out of me. I know the sandblasted feeling of 100 mph rain, the endless listing back and forth, the tortured wail of torn sails in the wind, and the chilling sound of panicked skippers begging for assistance over the radio that will never come. But being in the middle of an ocean with tons of water sweeping over the deck 10 feet deep is just crazy!

@KarelSeeuwen

2y↑38

As an old/ex-mountaineer I've spend many a day/night in freezing storms, but to add water to the mix sure kicks it up a notch. Many thanks to Captain Irving Johnston (R.I.P.) for documenting this voyage.

@joesagliani3778

2y↑2

What an amazing time and that's probably not the best word to use. The way he describes how the crew is connected to the ship and how the ship works in harmony with nature is, spectacular. Talk about a testament to the men of those times and how brave they were with war times and traveling around the globe , sometimes in uncharted areas.
Todays men, myself included are all softies compared to those times in the world. Outstanding video!

@maxthinksees

2y↑1

This is so awesome, real sailors... and how Capt. Johnson managed to actually film this is unbelievable! And such awesome narration too , I'm gobsmacked.

@tikitavi7120

2y↑5

Fascinating. I imagine sailors of that era were some of the most conditioned people who ever lived.
I would not want to fight one.

@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars

2y↑2

I think of the experiences he had as that eager young man, the dedication even before he got aboard this ship and compare them to so many of today's young people. I don't blame them; I mourn for the loss of this kind of raw, physical interaction with the world that digital technology has caused despite the other wonders it has brought. I can't believe that I never saw this footage before... I've read and re-read 'Two Years Before The Mast' over the years and this is the visual equivalent (albeit in different oceans). What a machine, what men... what a world we live in. Sharing this!

@user-vm1cx9rj1j

1y↑2

This is part of a fantastic National Geographic documentary I used to have in the 80's that told of the legendary life of Irving Johnson. Him and his wife went on to sail around the world 7 times with a crew of young people and cruise the canals of Europe,etc. Would love to locate that documentary if you know how to find it. Thanks for showing this. He was definitely one of the greatest captains ever.

@nomates3204

2y↑28

My grandad was born in 1883 and his favourite saying when he disagreed with someone was ''I was in Val Paraiso when I was 15 ,I sailed round the world when I was 20 ! .You've seen nothing ! You've been nowhere ." After watching this video I understand why he was such a proud man . He also served in France all through world war 1 as a sergeant major in the Royal Artillery. He lived a full healthy life till 1958 .Boy what a life

@jeffsmith2022

2y↑2

God Bless him...

@Yeoldelole

Sounds like a fantastic set of experiences, the likes of which few will ever see, but an unintegrated personality with a superiority complex

@a.c.h.5795

2y↑1

Beautiful footage, just superb. I've been through a few pretty spectacular storms myself, sailing the North Atlantic many years ago, but nothing like rounding the horn, no sir! What adventure! Great narration, very inspiring! Thank you Andre AquaRed for getting this up on YouTube.

@IIVVBlues

2y↑1

I visit this video every year since I discovered it, and I marvel at the tenacity and bravery of these seamen giving life to this marvel of maritime engineering. I am astonished with every viewing that such men existed. What a race is man!

@SandDancing

2y↑1

Really brings to life what it must have been like - and what the sailers were like in Eric Newby's The Last Grain Race. What a treasure.

@rickbarclay7892

2y↑1

I'm a land lubber and thoroughly amazed and appreciative at this on-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime video. Hats off to seamen everywhere! Melville could not have described what it was like on the Peking and other vessels of her time.

@ericswild

2y↑5

This is awesome!!! The Captain jumping overboard was incredible!!! Can you imagine the stored decades of wealth sunk at the bottom of the Horn?

@tomhaskett5161

2y↑146

Wonderful, moving piece of real history. A film like this is genuinely priceless.

@mrt376

2y↑1

I agree,one of the best presentations i have ever seen. I could never have signed on to this trip. what a great sailing ship and crew.

@maync1

Absolutely terrific! Had no real idea of what would be involved. 3 steps up a ladder in a perfectly still place, I get dizzy. These guys actually work at those incredible heights to keep themselves and the ship going. And all the incidents and accidents and risks, the unknowns along the way! There was something special about the seafaring folk in those days and also a fair bit of craziness. Compare that with all the safety features we have now, the technology and so on. A lot has been gained but something's also been lost. Thank you for this great production!

@garywallsbillhealy

2y↑2

I attended a lecture by Captain Johnson in the early 1970’s It was part of a series entitled The Last Of The Sea Dogs and it included the then aging ocean voyaging sailors from the 1930’s through the 1950’s. Captain Johnson had just begun to show his old films and he was as enthusiastic and as knowledgeable as though he had just come in from a passage. Same with the other “old sea dogs” who appeared. They all were a big part of my planning over the next five years and then leaving job and home to spend the next 27 years circumnavigating/meandering around the world on my 40 foot sailboat. I never forgot that evening with Captain Johnson.

@Catamariner

2y↑1

AWESOME that it even has a soundtrack from the original videographer! I remember waking up for watch to a baritone humming, knowing how much louder and higher it was going to get as the rigging gave us the weather forecast... :-) So when he talks about how the screaming would have driven people from the room if he had been able to reproduce it, yeah, I totally get that. Amazing. Thank you, Andre, and you are so right about "they should have a YT channel for these" -- can you set them up? Mystic History!

@whammond511

2y↑1

What a terrific video!! Every person who has ever thought of sailing on the 7 Seas should see it!! This is an incredible archive of knowledge!! Thank you so much for sharing!

@laserbeam002

3y↑228

That has to be one of the best films I have ever seen on Youtube. 98% of Youtube is silly, stupid fluff but once in a blue moon you run across something like this. Fantastic. Thank you for posting.

@aquaredable

3y↑17

I'm pleased you liked the film, it is amazing and would have been great to see them in action.

@oktonkel

3y↑26

Imagine the young able men and women of today....on a ship like that they would learn a thing or two about life. Influencers...God have mercy....The world is made of sugar and glass now...Back then...Iron and fire. !

@hurri7720

3y↑13

@Arnt-Ragnar Arntsen , my two uncles sailed on such ships (Erikson) one lost his life falling from the mast, one become a colonel in the Finnish air force.
Jouth of to day would do as well under the same conditions if demanded.

@paulmurphy8549

3y↑3

@Arnt-Ragnar Arntsen fire wouldnt be great on that ship though

@mboyer68

3y↑24

@Arnt-Ragnar Arntsen I totally agree. Young people these days would be on board the ship blankly staring at their phones, and other times arguing about their gender and pronouns, requiring counseling because the captain raised his voice at them. Those men were men, and the trade they engaged in is what helped create the prosperous world we live in today. Much respect.

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@ericknapp7856

2y↑3

Absolutely fabulous. What wonderful men there were in the early history of the world. Wow, just wow.

@jamescook6794

2y↑1

Wow! What an adventure, I know these men are long gone but they are still bringing a view of days gone by, superb.

@rikijett310

2y↑1

Absolutely phenomenal film!!!! This is such an amazing blessing to have because nobody will ever do this again. Not unless it's for nostalgia and even then it won't be the same. No club sailors will be willing to risk losing their ship just sailing for the experience.
Thank you endlessly for making this film and for sharing it!!!!

@jackmarks2176

2y↑1

What a great video, I lived on my 34 foot for four years and done a lot of sailing but can't imagine sailing a ship like that. That Capt. was really a man among men.

@jarniwoop

2y↑2

Capt. Johnson's narration is excellent. His anecdotes and really flesh out the film. He mentions this ship was in the Nitrate Trade, which was hauling saltpeter to Europe.

@nzdobbs

2y↑130

Thank you so much for putting this up. I was shown this about 20 years ago by my now ex wife's uncle. He has now passed away, and I always remember sitting there with him, drinking to try and keep up with him, and watching his collection of videos like this, that no-one else there seemed to care how important and cool they were. Just me totally hooked on what I was seeing, and Gary over the moon to find someone who appreciated it. Miss those times, You were a top man, Gary Johnson, and I still think of you often, especially today when I finally got to see this for a second time. Having a drink for you!!!

@chriscoralAloha

2y↑7

Always good to drink with an old salt.

@thomasmckelvey8961

2y↑4

@ChrisCoral Ahola Indeed!

@cannabiscupjudge

2y↑8

Toasting Gary Johnson right now, with a fine old Canadian whiskey.

@glashoppah

2y↑5

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this story.

@TheRelger

2y↑2

Any chance you can post those videos?

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@biggusbestus551

2y↑1

Grateful you posted this. I love the ocean(s), boats and ships of all manner ... put simply this is a classic !

@peterfeltham5612

2y↑2

Incredible,simply incredible.These men were so tough, and danger, accidents and sudden death were constant companions.Wonderful film.

@torbenjensen6236

2y↑3

Awesome piece of history recorded by a sailor working onboard, many thanks for that.

Back then the the ships were made of wood & the sailors were made of iron (okay this ship had iron hull but still)

@sunrayrosin7181

34w

I was privileged to have been aboard the world famous Peking when she was docked in N.Y.C. . Walking her decks and being inside her lower decks is something I will never forget , although I was only on board in port. My younger brother was privileged to have been a deck hand while in port for a City as School program. Seeing her sailing crew and captain sailing the Horn is a window into her sailing career. What a delight to see these films and footage shot from the Peking of all ships that have ever sailed the Horn. I believe she is in her home port these days.

@artvandelay1099

2y↑1

Thank you for posting this wonderful video. I've been looking for it for years and years. My dad's friend was a sailing enthusiast and showed us this film a long time ago, more than 20 years ago, when I was a kid. It made an impression on me. My dad died years ago so I couldn't ask him about it. Been looking for it for years. I couldn't remember the name of the man narrating, the name of the ship, or where they were sailing. As soon as I heard him narrating and him mentioning Cape Horn, I knew I had found the right film. A lucky recommendation by YouTube. Thanks again for posting it.

@dawsonl

2y↑61

This is such a wonderful film. For thousands of years, boats have sailed the deep sea. To have the voice of someone who did it when sail was still a viable mode is incredible.

@raymondtonns2521

2y↑7

Dawson this film should be mandatory for every 15 year old whiner on the planet!

@redfungus999

2y↑3

It's going to take me a while to absorb this insane film. By far the most astonishing thing I have ever seen on YT.
Done a little sailing including a tall ship out of Oban, Scotland, in the summer, where we had to climb the rigging
and I was constantly thinking about what it would be like for the old seamen in a storm.. now I know..
Four hours sleep in wet clothes .. cargo comes first.. crew expendable.. 350 ropes.. OMG.
Thank you !!

@su5119

As a life long sailor and having encountered storms by the dozens, this is top drawer. A favorite film to watch is the original Shackleton's journey to the South Pole. Amazing footage of this long trip and the survival of the entire crew. Although, many many thanks for sharing your footage in your amazing trip. Plus your commentary is equally amazing with the descriptive ability made this viewing most rewarding and memorable. I'm sharing this with your sailing pals for their enjoyment as well.

@carolbell8008

This is fantastic! The Narrator speaking his own words and adding from personal experience is so good! What a blast it must have been on that Ship! Great Video!!

@timn-1

I was captured and in awe of the strength and fortitude of the crew. What a superb video. Thanks

@clarencebirdashaw8117

36w↑1

Wow, what a hall, you GUYS have a lot of courage and desire to collect history. Good job folks and thanks for taking us along. 😅😅

@billfish5847

2y↑23

What an amazing piece of film and commentary. This deserves millions of views. The Captain seems to have rounded the Horn more than any other person in history from what I have read on line. Extraordinary.

@earlyriser8998

1y↑2

i have a VHS tape of the video from 40 years ago. Captain Irving was an amazing person. The books are fantastic. He took the camera with him to film these scenes. So these scenes he filmed himself are remarkable. Iron Men and Wooden Ships

@terryhogan2971

Truly amazing! How their hands still worked in those cold conditions in the rigging - Wow! I'm aghast! 100 MPH winds! And the respect he had for the captain, calling him a 'superman' and he was. The exalting view he had of that captain is so very different than the common negative / critical view of modern media-influenced views of authority figures, reveals a different, more honorable time.

@guybashford8133

Marvelous historic footage.How did the camera last?Equally perfect commentary. Both the detail and the philosophical background on leadership and the drive of adventurous young sailors.All of us have either sailors amongst our ancestors or migrants to the new year world courtesy of seaman.This gives us a historic feel for what we owe them.Captain Irving thank you.

@OwlOfNivica

18w

Amazing footage and narration, a treasure if there ever was one. On a different note, at 12:46 the physique and muscle mass on Captain Irving Johnson in his youth is insane, man was built like a body builder in the 1920’s. I know it’s cliche but they really don’t make them like this anymore

@rolanddunk5054

2y↑4

I spent 40 years sailing in and working on trawlers and tugs and I have nothing but admiration for these brave men.SEAMEN to the core .there like will never be seen again..Roly 🇬🇧.

@michaeld9261

2y↑56

OMG. I have crossed oceans under sail, and I've been in storms, but nothing to hold a candle to this. What a great piece of histry. It is one thing to read about it, but seeing it and hearing the narration from someone who was there is a whole different experience. They were men in those days.

@cnobillbradley9673

2y↑8

Yes Iron men in wooden ships.

@ReafDraw

This is the most incredible documentary & vicarious experiences. Simply watching this is up there with the top 5 things I've done.
An age gone by; pedigree and seamanship like that of the Captain of Peking and its crew with NEVER be known again.

@colinwood2687

2y↑1

That was something special, those sailors are a rare breed and unbelievable to watch, RESPECT ✊

@mikelisacarb

Actually narrated by the person who shot the footage in 1928!!!! And he does such a fine job conveying the excitement and dedication that it took to work in this setting! Not only that, but the audio and video have been cleaned up so well! Astounding!

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