Remembering Claiborne, 1951-2014
On June 14th the Cruisers Net team pauses to remember our founder and our friend, Claiborne Young, who was taken from us five years ago in a tragic accident. Because he is with us on every page of his website, it is still hard to believe that he is gone. We hope that you, too, will continue to see him in the work we are continuing.
Claiborne Sellars Young 1951-2014
Claiborne S. Young was considered one of the foremost authorities on cruising the waters of the Southeast, having written numerous cruising guides from North Carolina to Mobile, AL, as well as creating video guides along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway through the Carolinas. Claiborne was a larger than life man with a huge dream and a large family of cruising and boating friends that boated or cruised the coastal and near coastal waters from all over the south from Virginia to Alabama. He was a real people person, meeting and making new friends wherever he went. We remember and miss his tireless commitment to serving the cruising community concerning water access, clean water, navigational rights, safety, as well as providing information that would make every cruise most enjoyable. His ability to tell a story was unmatched and made him a very popular quest speaker. In his rich southern drawl, Claiborne’s ability to tell you where to anchor safely or visit a marina comfortably was matched equally by his yearn for a fine and enjoyable dining experience. In his own words, “a gastric-intestinal delight” or “cholesterol enriching experience.”
Since his tragic and untimely death in June four years ago, his Cruisers Net team of associates has worked to keep Claiborne’s dream alive by continuing to provide detailed, up-to-date cruising information free of charge to the boating and cruising community. This work, Claiborne’s dream, is supported by maritime business sponsors contributing to the growth and sustenance of our online services. The Cruisers Net team is constantly upgrading the site with easier to open and read graphics, new data formats and the latest technology such as bathymetry depth recordings available on all ChartView pages, as well as a powerful mobile app putting all the tools of Cruisers Net and more in the palm of your hand.
The members of the Cruisers Net team are most grateful to all our sponsors and to all the boaters and cruisers who continue to support, contribute, and participate with us. We are dedicated to keeping Claiborne’s life’s work alive. Sail on Captain Young and God’s Speed!
And we are ever so grateful for your continued participation: “CRUISERS HELPING CRUISERS!”
Kaye Adams
Larry Dorminy
Winston Fowler
Curtis Hoff
Comments from Cruisers (7)
Meeting Claiborne and reading that first version of Cruising Guide to North Carolina revealed the huge cruising potential of my home state. So many of us have ventured to new places because of him. His kind advice and answers to questions in person or via email showed what a truly gracious person he was.
Claiborne was a true icon of the east coast cruising community, and Judy and I came to know him well–and really appreciate him–during the 15 years we owned and managed Bluewater Books & Charts. A larger-than-life personality, he brought so much to our world, and we still miss him.
Whenever I pick up and read one of Claiborne's books, my mind hears his soft Carolina accent saying the words, because Claiborne wrote like he talked–or did he talk like he wrote? Either way, what he wrote was true vintage Claiborne Young and it came from his heart. He was a true gentleman, the consummate cruiser, and he was never more at home that leading a discussion at Trawlerfest or a yacht club or another of his many other venues and seminars. And, like the country traveling salesman he was, selling his books all along the way.
Knowing that he is now reunited with Karen, his "first-rate-first-mate", makes his loss a tiny bit easier to accept, but I'll miss his friendship, his charm, and his warm smile for years to come. In the best sense, he made a difference in so many lives. So sad to see his life end so early.
Milt and Judy Baker
It is hard to imagine that it has already been 5 years…but if he could look down at all the changes and challenges that technology has brought to the boating world and how his "crew" has kept his dream alive and thriving…he would feel proud this fathers day. Keep up the good work!
We still miss you and think of you often my friend. Chuck and Susan
Vic and I still miss Claiborne and think of him often. You are right, it’s still hard to believe that he is gone.
Thanks for continuing his work with such passion and commitment.
Best regards,
Barb
Barb Hansen
Southwest Florida Yachts, Inc.
Florida Sailing & Cruising School
He was a great personal friend and one I even “worked for” for a short time. He is very much missed. As stated above, ya’ll are doing a great job as well. Personally, I’d love to see you expand your efforts into the Chesapeake where many cruisers and liveaboards spend their summers.
We also think of Claiborne every time we view the website, which is at least twice a week when at the dock and many times a day when cruising. (He and my wife share the same hometown and graduated a couple of years apart from the same high school). There will certainly never be anyone to take his place. However, there should be a tremendous amount of praise for you who have carried on after his death and kept his dream alive. There is no way to overstate the value of the website to the cruising community, and we wish you continued success in the future.