The Story of the Snark and the Cruise of the Shindig

WHEN:

Saturday, September 28, 2024

WHERE:

Jack London State Historic Park
2400 London Ranch Road
Glen Ellen, CA 95442

Park in the museum lot on the left as you enter the park.

Have you ever been lured by the siren song to set sail for the South Pacific? For Jack and Charmian London living and owning land near Glen Ellen was a way of escaping Oakland, from the city way of life he called “the man trap.” But, restless and eager for foreign travel and adventure, he and his wife, Charmian London, decided to build a ship, the Snark, and sail around the world, serializing his adventure.

Nancy and Rob Novak, Sonoma County residents and real-life sailors left on their cruise of a lifetime in 2012.

“Our goal was to go on our own sailing adventure. We had been sailing in the SF Bay for many years, and our sailboat Shindig was bought specifically for an offshore adventure. We resigned from our jobs, and spent a year downsizing our belongings and putting the rest into storage. Our initial plan was to take 1-2 years off of work, and see where the winds would take us. We thought we’d stay in Mexico for a year, and then possibly go across the Pacific Ocean to the South Pacific. When we finished our adventure, we had sailed over 14 years and covered 15,000 nautical miles. “

During that time, unknowingly, they visited some of the London’s South Seas destinations like the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora and Raiatea) 105 years after the Snark.

Join Nancy and Rob Novak for an enchanting afternoon as they recount their amazing voyage. They will set the stage with a summary of Jack and Charmian’s South Seas sailing adventures before sharing their personal story of sailing their own 48 ft sailboat, “Shindig” in the Mexican and South Pacific waters for over a decade.

Note: Limited seating is available. Performance space can be reached by stairway only; for more information about access, please call (707) 938-5216

WHEN: Saturday, September 28, 2024, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm

WHERE: Jack London State Historic Park, upstairs in the House of Happy Walls museum. Park in the museum lot on the left as you enter the park.

ADMISSION: $15 (parking is extra)

Price: $15.00

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