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Irving and Electa Johnson brought the ketch Yankee to Alexandria in Egypt to sail her up the Nile before the new Aswan High Dam cut off traffic in the upper reaches of Nubia. Often during their seven world sailing cruises they had explored little-known bypaths of the sea. Now they were setting out on one of the world's most traveled waterways – and were among the last to make this storied trip.
Yankee sailed the fertile Nile Delta through Lower Egypt to Cairo, then began the 600-mile run up the river to Aswan and Nubia. The Nile, the Johnsons quickly learned, is the world's craziest as well as its longest river. Probably the chief problem facing those who sail it is the unbelievably heavy traffic. But, as an experienced riverman explained, Egyptian barge pilots are very helpful. They're always ready to pull you out of the water after they've accidentally stove a hole in your boat. Most Nile drawbridges open only at night and Egyptians regard lights as unnecessary frills. Low water levels forced Yankee to take the canal route to Cairo, sailing through the Delta Barrages that channel the river during its slack period. The 200-mile passage was an experience in weird and irrational navigation. Seasoned Nile pilots call it, with good reason, "the emotional route."
After Cairo, Yankee sailed to see the Pyramids, the golden temples of Karnak, the tremendous tombs of Abu Simnel, and all the glory of Ancient Egypt as it stretches along the river banks. This book is a record of a great river and her people and of an exciting and challenging sail on a route that will soon be closed forever..
Yankee Sails the Nile is illustrated with full color and black and white photos taken en route and with endpaper maps.
– From the dust jacket
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