(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) H H Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq al Said on Thursday launched a new book to honour Shabab Oman and her crew.
The Voyages of Shabab Oman with Captain Chris and her Crew published by Al Roya Press and Publishing records the success of one of the world's biggest and best wooden tall ships.
Commander Nigel 'Bernie' Bruen a former member of the Shabab Oman crew has edited and compiled the memoirs of Capt Chris Biggins describing in a detailed but fascinating account the overseas deployments of Shabab Oman between 1987 and 2009.
Capt Chris would have been 62 on May 21 and this day was chosen especially for the launch as another way to honour him. Several members of his family had travelled from the UK to be present at the launch held at Hormuz Grand hotel.
Capt Chris died at the age of 58 and used every one of those years to capacity doing a job he loved in a country he called home.
Under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Shabab Oman and her crew have served as goodwill ambassadors worldwide for 36 years.
She has trained and encouraged young men to continue and develop the strong maritime history for which Oman is famous. No other tall ship anywhere in the world has won the prestigious Cutty Sark Trophy now known as the Friendship Trophy so many times. Wherever she sailed and docked Shabab Oman was welcomed by thousands of well wishers the crew singing and dancing their way into people's hearts.
Omani hospitality sailed with Shabab Oman and the traditional waleema breakfast soon became a firm favourite of those visiting the ship many even requesting the recipes.
The story begins with the origins of Shabab Oman which was originally known as the Captain Scott. In common with Oman's Renaissance the Captain Scott was begun in 1970 when the Dulverton Trust commissioned the building of the ship but it was not until 1971 that she was launched. In 1977 she found her way to Oman and was renamed the Youth of Oman.
Thus began a story of love of country and the sea as proud Omani sailors and servicemen travelled the world from Australia to the US and all points in between. These deployments are written in such a way that the reader can feel the motion of the waves and share in the highs and lows of the voyages. Each chapter is illustrated with photographs from the voyages supplied by the photographic archives of the Royal Navy of Oman.
The biography of Capt Chris shows a man of humility and great strength dedicated to the task in hand and the development of his crew. The book will be available for sale at all leading bookstores or can be bought directly from Al Roya (books@alroya.net) for RO12.
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