Dick Durham reminisces about Don Street, the talented sailor and author who unfortunately passed away earlier this year at 93 years old.
There is a memorable scene in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, in which outlaws Paul Newman and Robert Redford observe from a cliff as a distant posse pursues them. To their dismay, they recognize a relentless tracker, distinguished by his white hat, whose stubbornness typically leads to captures.
In his later years, when Don Street appeared at the boat show, I was reminded of this iconic moment, as his presence was signaled by the well-worn canvas Tilly hat he consistently wore both ashore and afloat. The sight of that hat bobbing through the crowd often prompted editors to duck behind display panels, preferring to avoid confronting a stream of ungrammatical writing as the bearded sailor relentlessly sought out another assignment.
The announcement of his passing last month at 93 years old caused me to sift through an old logbook documenting the night and day I shared with Don and his Irish wife, Trish, for a YM profile. It was July 2005 when I boarded his boat, Iolaire, an engineless Bermudian cutter crafted in 1905, which was moored among many others along Cowes Road.
Iolaire was a stunning vessel, sporting a flush deck, low freeboard, and a graceful spoon bow with an enchanting counter stern. Below deck, the accommodations resembled a Middle-Eastern bazaar, with various compartments separated by dingy curtains hung from rusty wires.
Cuddled up with her legs tucked underneath was the unbelievably chic Trish, alongside the weathered old skipper, whose thoughtful blue eyes conveyed intelligence but lacked a smile. Like every old wooden boat that sees regular use rather than being merely displayed, Iolaire appeared shabby and worn. Rust wept from the fastenings down the frames; the cabin sole was dark from deep-set grime, while mildew found its way to unreachable areas of the overhead.
Yet a delightful aroma wafted from the solid-fuel oven: roast chicken cooked in bacon. Later, this was served alongside baked potatoes and Isle of Wight green beans as Don recounted the tales of his long life at sea.
He began sailing at 12 on the east coast of his native North America, eventually becoming a professional skipper and gaining respect within the yachting community as a “hot little sailor,” as he candidly claimed. Before long, Don was penning his own pilot guides and creating charts for the then lesser-known Caribbean. His transatlantic adventures transformed into articles—many published in YM—focused on ocean sailing.
The following morning brought light easterly winds, and I was astounded by Don’s ability to maneuver Iolaire stern-first under a backed mizzen alone, deftly skirting an approaching Red Funnel ferry and maintaining a perfectly straight course through the moorings until we found clear waters in The Solent.
We spent the day experimenting with different sail setups to adapt to the light breeze. I noted she had a fair bit of weather helm as Don quietly instructed: “Keep a bubble in the main, keep her up a bit, and the helm will ease…” And, indeed it did.
Don was an Honorary Member of the Cruising Association, and I chuckled at a comment from Camilla Herrmann, the editor of the CA’s magazine, who remarked, “One of my predecessors said of Don, ‘The man is a legend, but his copy is a disaster.’”
When I expressed regret for editing Don’s writing, he said: “My writing career began after two dinners with John Steinbeck, who declared, ‘Forget talent. Being a writer means sitting on a hard wooden chair six days a week for six hours a day and writing.’ Then he turned to me, saying, ‘Kid, you tell a good story; why not give writing a shot?’ I answered, ‘I can’t spell or punctuate.’ To which Steinbeck replied, ‘What do you think secretaries and editors are for? Just write!’”
Everyone will miss Don, but his writing may not be as mourned! In 2021, Don was named an Honorary Member of the CA. He had been a regular member since 1999 but decided to cease cruising in his 90s, though he did sail his vintage Dragon at home in Ireland.
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