John Glasspool

[solent clown]

Two of the most influential books I ever read on sailing were by John Glasspool. One, "Solent Shores" inspired us to get out all over the Solent in a tiny 12 ft open boat, and the second "open boat cruising" gave us invaluable hints on setting up a dinghy for small voyages and camping.
To this day, I contend, having crewed on bigger yachts with some clueless chaps who have "done a course" that those explorations we did in small boats taught us so much.
I wish I had met the man, I am guessing he has passed away. So I can't thank him.
I tried googling him but found nothing much.
If any of you ever met him, it would be great to hear from you.

 

[Poignard]

I had a classmate at Rutlish Grammar called John Glasspool. I wonder if that's the same man.

 

[Marakei]

John Glasspool was the yachting correspondent of the Portsmouth News in the mid 1960s, and wrote a column under the pseudonym 'Pointer', which was published on Wednesdays.

I think perhaps that was the origin of the books you mention; he was very proud to be an open boat sailor, and could be quite caustic about sailors in much bigger boats calling out the lifeboat because of simple problems he felt they should have been able to deal with.

I don't know anything further about his life or writing.

 

[solent clown]

John Glasspool was the yachting correspondent of the Portsmouth News in the mid 1960s, and wrote a column under the pseudonym 'Pointer', which was published on Wednesdays.

I think perhaps that was the origin of the books you mention; he was very proud to be an open boat sailor, and could be quite caustic about sailors in much bigger boats calling out the lifeboat because of simple problems he felt they should have been able to deal with.

I don't know anything further about his life or writing.

yes he was the author of those books,interesting to thik they may have been the coalescence of many articles, but it makes sense. I will dig about on your info about the Portsmouth news. And yes, we have seen many proper yachts in a panic from our little boats over the last few years. Quite often the same people who motored past - or through - us hours earlier already with their hands in the drinks cabinet.