I know this question was asked a couple of years ago, but I’m asking again to hopefully get a more thorough answer.

I just finished a biography of Captain Cook. During his multi-year voyages, much of his crew, including Cook himself, could not swim. I know that in those times maybe people weren’t “professional” sailors and may have just picked up work on a boat, but in the case of these big naval expeditions the crew was carefully selected of experienced men. You’d think if you were making a career in the Navy you might think about learning some basic strokes. These guys were going to be out for years on a boat, and yet couldn’t swim!

This is just speculation, but I do wonder that if had Cook been able to swim, he may have avoided his death in Hawaii. He was stuck on shore as he situation escalated with the men in the pinnace too afraid to swing back in and retrieve him. Had he been able to swim, he could have made a last ditch effort to get off the beach and back to the pinnace.

I know in the open seas swimming doesn’t do sailors much good, but they would spend a considerable amount of time in protected harbors. Being able to swim seems like it should just come with the territory. What gives?