Cover notes:
john Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking…
Like the poet John Masefield, Albert Einstein was a teenager when he fell in love with sailing. Masefield was inspired by his maritime adventures, as was Einstein, although he failed to master the task; by the end of his days barely able to make headway in his little boat Tinef, Yiddish for ‘little bit of junk’. Conversely, Ross Johnson learned to be quite a good sailor over his decades on the water and claims no major contributions to literature or science. Essays are always personal and this is no exception. To quote another writer, E.M. Forster, ‘How do I know what I think until I see what I say?’ We hope you enjoy Ross’s recollections from his on (and sometimes in) the water.
AJ (Ed.)
RG Johnson 