Under the mizzen mast: A voyage round the world

A seasoned sea captain recounts a restorative journey undertaken after a bout of illness, inviting listeners to share his curiosity‑driven quest for health and adventure. Boarding the well‑equipped merchant ship Golden Fleece, he and a small family party set out from New York in late October, eager to escape the familiar storms of home for the promise of distant horizons.

The narrative weaves vivid port‑of‑call sketches with candid observations of weather, shipboard life, and the gentle rhythm of the ocean under a mizzen mast. As the vessel heads toward the bustling harbors of San Francisco, Hong Kong, and Manila, the traveler balances personal reflection with practical insights, offering a window into mid‑nineteenth‑century seafaring and the healing power of wide‑open water.