The Wide Wide Sea: Capt. Cook Sets Sail

       Capt. Cook spent time in preparation for this voyage: he knew the drill: know the mission; supply needs to accomplish same; fill out the crew and give special attention to specialists/scientists and their equipment; identify ports of call for resupply. Now the ship had to be readied which included the inventory of parts as these long voyages required countless repairs while underway: ropes break, sails rip, yards crack, blocks crack, food is eaten, water drunk. As a lifelong sailor, Capt. Cook was more than up to the task at age 47. King George of England had a few other items on his agenda: the Colonies, those in "New" England, were unhappy with the Crown and its taxes. Now in open revolt and they had declared their independence on July 4, 1776. So, As King George confronted his next royal problem, Capt. Cook left Plymouth on the south coast and pointed toward the west coast of Africa and the Cape of Good Hope. 

      He would set a course he knew- round the Cape of Good Hope, cross the Indian Ocean, skirt the Dutch Indies and enter the Pacific Ocean and sail on to the Society Islands. This he would do without difficulty; this he would do as before. But this time, the next phase was different: he would proceed north but at an angle to visit the coast of North America, such as it was known then. He had no idea what he would encounter enroute; Hawaii. What a discovery. Imagine: Cook and his crew thought that nothing could improve on the Society Islands, but here they did find another "paradise". Beautiful landscapes, ideal weather, handsome and amiable peoples, a bountiful environment, and its location in the middle of the "Wide, Wide Sea".

      But things didn't go as planned and author Hampton Sides was able to recreate events that led to the death of CApt. Cook at the hands of local residents on the Big Island of Hawaii during a skirmish with Cook and a few crew members. He died at age 50, along with 4 Marines. His remains were eventually recovered days later and he was buried at sea. The new, replacement captain decided that a new attempt would be made to find the Northwest PAssage to Europe, but again, the ship was faced with the polar icecap. On the return south, the ship pulled into the Russyan port of Petropavst where the governor was cordial and willing to help. THe captain gave the ship's log and Cook's journals to the governor who declared he would ensure the safe delivery of same to London. The journals arrived in London intact and delivered the shocking news of Cook's death to the Admiralty long before the ship arrived home. It would be many months later that the 3rd voyage ended in London without its heralded guide, Captain James Cook. The voyage ended in 1780, almost 4 years after the start.