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Captain Bligh- a seaman's perspective

Captain Julian Blatchley SpeakerNet Sponsor


Regions:
North West, North East, Yorkshire & Humber, Glasgow and Strathclyde, Scotland South, Edinburgh and Lothians, Isle of Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, Anywhere
Notice Period:
Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
Type:
Propfessional speaker on Sailing, Professional Marine, modern Greek and Historical subjects
Fee:
Paid
Category:
History
Updated:
4th June 2026

William Bligh may be the most examined naval character of his age. Probably only Nelson, Cook and Cochrane, have had comparable scrutiny, with on-line searches suggesting that over 1,700 books, articles and essays about Bligh and the Bounty exist in English alone. And yet, to this day, controversy rages over Bligh's actions, motives, and character. Julian is a professional seaman with a lifelong interest in naval history. He also has experience of command, of navigation in the Pacific Islands, and in square rigged sailing ships. Join him for a vivid summary of Bligh's whole and remarkable career, and share the insights which a life at sea has made possible.

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About Captain Julian Blatchley

Julian is a professional seaman and latterly an author of humorous travelogues. Raised next to Windermere in the English Lake District, he has sailed recreationally and professionally for 5 decades. His career has included commanding and piloting supertankers, over a hundred and fifty thousand miles of ocean and offshore sailing, several years as a charter yacht skipper, oilfield management and a very short and alarming period fighting bush fires. He has lived in the Far East, Pacific Islands and, for 30 years, in the Greek Islands. In 2014 Julian moved back to England with his family, and is loving being home. He has also been manager and master of historic steam yacht 'Gondola' on beautiful Coniston Water.

Julian has recorded his early experiences in Greece in two humorous travelogue novels, 'Adjacent To The Argonauts' (Troubador, 2010) and 'The Trojan Walrus' (Troubador, 2015). These books have 4.5 star ratings on Amazon.

Julian has a fascination with history, and in particular with historical subjects that he feels have been misunderstood or misrepresented. He is a fan of Captain William Bligh, a deep sceptic about the evil portrayal of Richard III, has an unhealthy interest in Lake District Norsemen, and suffers almighty frustration at the myths that persist around the Titanic. Following on from these historical interests, he is shortly publishing his first novel, 'Ne'er Do Well', which is a humorous tale of a feckless young man's accidental involvement in the War of the French Revolution and the start of a trilogy.

Following on from talks given to expat groups when living abroad, Julian is now available to speak in the UK on subjects such as life at sea on large tankers, historical marine events, the life of a yacht charter skipper, Greek history, lifestyle and cuisine, the fact and fiction of famous shipwrecks, and Steam Yacht 'Gondola'.

Julian will cover emergency bookings at short notice if it possible to do so.


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