What’s that you’re reading?         Another person’s nose in a book makes your nose itch to get in for its own sniff. The casual pass, the sidelong look, the binocular stare: They’re techniques we’ve all tried to pick up a title.        The sight of another reader’s wordy intimacy with a story is an irresistible provocation.     In time for your summer reading, we’re...

When we last reported on The Volvo Ocean Race, 12 days of intense racing across the Atlantic from Miami had ended in one of Volvo’s closest finishes. Despite reaching Lisbon second by six minutes, Groupama gained the overall lead. Along the narrow Tagus River in front of the ancient, white-stoned city of Lisbon, hard-charging Groupama dominated an upwind-downwind in-port race. Telefónica recklessly fouled PUMA at the start, and the Spanish boat finished last yet again. PUMA’s wily...

The tall ships have sailed out of Baltimore, where for a week the harbor looked as if it were 1812. The 40-strong flotilla — including 25 tall ships representing a dozen nations — marked the anniversary of the declaration of war on Great Britain and the official start of the bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812.     A million people visited over a week.     For a less hectic but equally awe-inspiring sight, catch up this weekend with a ship as...

Casting up tight to the riprapped shoreline, I flipped the bail closed on the small spin reel and started my retrieve. I wanted to keep the Rooster Tail lure up and off the submerged rock below. My retrieve slowed as the lure came away from the stony structure and I let it settle, slow rolling it down, close to the bottom where I hoped some big blackbacks were holding.     My bait stopped. I suspected a snag at first, but with big perch you never know. I gave my rod a good tug...