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"Ships are the nearest thing to dreams that hands have ever made." - Robert N. Rose. When the sun is setting over the anchorage, there is nothing more comforting than settling down with a good nautical yarn and your favourite flavour of beverage. We both love a good tale of adventure on the high seas, from the older classics to the more contemporary cruising narratives. Therefore, this section is dedicated to this particular genre of literature and sharing our passion for it. Most of the books featured, we either have aboard or have at the very least read. We've also included a selection of 'how-to' sailing books, pilots, cruising guides and other technical publications we use aboard. If any of these books capture your interest and you wish to own your own copy, we have added (where available) a link to Amazon.co.uk for that published work. If you do wish to purchase and have found this site useful or interesting, then please support us by using the Amazon links from this site, as we get a small referral fee which helps with the running costs of the site - Many thanks in advance. Some of these books are available for FREE download on various websites online. If we have the link, we will also include it. We will keep adding to the selection, so please do check for updates. If you would like to recommend a book you feel should be included, please feel free to email us the details with a short synopsis/review. |
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| Nautical Narratives | |||||
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When John Beattie set sail, with his Warrior 35, on a planned two-year circumnavigation of the world he was fulfilling a childhood dream. However, he hadn't planned for relentless bad weather, bad luck and an ever changing crew. This is the story of his voyage of discovery - about his boat, his crew and himself. This is one of our 'all time' favourites - we've both read it several times - not only because the author is sailing a Warrior 35, but the narrative is very well constructed, comfortable to read and has an amazing true story, life-or-death, twist - a must read!
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When 65-year-old Francis Chichester set sail on his solitary eastward journey around the world in 1966, many believed he wouldn't return alive. But when the old man returned nine months later, he had made history's fastest circumnavigation. Francis Chichester's 1967 singlehanded circumnavigation set a blazing record for speed. He completed the voyage with just one stop and 226 days at sea. It was an amazing performance; that he was sixty-five years old made it the more so. Chichester then sat down to write one of the great narratives of modern voyaging. "Chichester's voyage was a classic of its kind. His book is a classic document of self-punishing endurance. Chichester was in his own way an explorer in the tradition of Scott and Shackleton. Unlike Scott and Shackleton, in these pages he bares himself and his mood-swings to the reader's gaze, and one is privileged to be his intimate on this loneliest and most harrowing of voyages." Jonathan Raban
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At the age of 18 and with a taste for adventure, Francis Chichester emigrated to New Zealand with only ten pounds in his pocket. By the age of 26 he had been a farmhand, a boxer, a shepherd, a lumberjack, a member of three trade unions - the Firemen's, the Miners' and the Timber Workers' - a railway worker, a gold prospector, a coal miner, a door-to-door salesman, and a land agent. And it was only then that his real adventures began. With a fellow risk-taker, he helped to establish an early aviation company and began to fly the planes. Enthusiasm and experience made him a leader of the field, and in 1929 he embarked on his most famous flight: a solo enterprise in the "Gipsy Moth" from England to Australia. He was the second person ever to accomplish that feat. He was a great sailor as well as aviator, and he won a trans-Atlantic race in the yacht "Gipsy Moth III", and in 1967 he was knighted. This is Sir Francis Chichester's autobiography - a tale of ardour and adventure, of intrepid endeavours on land, on the sea and in the air, and of the physical and mental challenges he faced. Although the majority of the book concentrates on his aviation feats, its a good primer on Chichester - the man - and we would recommend reading before enjoying his classic, "Gipsy Moth" Circles the World.
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In 1967 nine men set out in small boats to race each around the World. After Sir Francis Chichester completed his famous single-handed circumnavigation, with Gipsy Moth IV, taking only one stop in Australia, the race was on to become the first to sail singlehanded non-stop around the World. This book sets out to tell the complete story of the first Golden Globe race. Of the nine who set out only one finished; one continued for another half again; one didn't know how to sail; one created a spectacular hoax before finally going mad and committing suicide! These boats were primitive compared to the modern racing yachts competing in the solo round-the-world races we see today - they didn't even know if it could be done, let alone who would be first. This is an amazing tale, that every yachtsperson should read. We find the Golden Globe Race of 1967 fascinating and have read most of the books written by or about the individual competitors (also listed on this site), but Paul Nichols book is by far the best book to read for the complete story of the race. Excellent. "A Voyage For Madmen" was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, 2001.
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On Friday 14 June 1968 Suhaili, a tiny ketch, slipped almost unnoticed out of Falmouth harbour, steered by the solitary figure at her helm, Robin Knox-Johnston. Ten and half months later Suhaili, paintwork peeling and rust-streaked, her once white sails weathered and brown, her self-steering gone, her tiller arm jury-rigged to the rudder head, came romping joyously back to Falmouth to a fantastic reception for Robin, who had become the first man to sail round the world non-stop single-handed. By every standard it was an incredible adventure, perhaps the last great uncomputerized journey left to man. "A World of My Own" is Robin's uninhibited account of his participation in the first Golden Globe Race, one of the greatest sea adventures of our time. Every nautical library should have a copy.
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In the autumn of 1968, Donald Crowhurst set out from England in his untested trimaran, a competitor in the Golden Globe - the first singlehanded nonstop around-the-world yacht race. Eight months later, the boat was found in a calm mid-Atlantic, structurally intact with no one on board. Through Crowhurst's logs and diaries the world learned that, although he had radioed messages from his supposed round-the-world course, he had in fact never left the Atlantic. In this journalistic masterpiece, Nicholas Tomalin and Ron Hall reconstruct what happened. The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst is both a suspenseful narrative and a psychological casebook of human zeal and anguish. Finally, it takes us to the heart of darkness. The Crowhurst story has a haunting life of its own, and Crowhurst lives on, perversely, as a mythic hero, inspiring the Robert Stone bestseller Outerbridge Reach, a one-man opera called "Ravenshead," a string of radio and TV programs, and now a new film called 'Deep Water'.
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This is the legendary French yachtsman Bernard Moitessier's story, in his own words, of his participation in the first Golden Globe Race. While he and Robin Knox Johnston where battling for the lead, he inexplicably pulled out of the race, having battled storms, gear failure, knockdowns and overwhelming fatigue and loneliness. It is still debated today, who would have made it first - Moitessier or RKJ - had Moitessier continued to the finish. He sailed on to Tahiti, where he subsequently became a mystic. Moitessier is a very philosophical writer and can get a bit heavy - not to everyone's taste. This book is probably one of his most 'philosophical', but worth the effort, if you can get past the many pages devoted to describing seagulls! Moitessier is a legendary yachtsman and if you've not read any of his work, you should give him a go.
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Joshua Slocum's epic solo voyage around the world in 1895 in the 37 foot sloop Spray stands as one of the classic sea adventures. It remains one of the major feats of singlehanded voyaging, and has since been the inspiration for the many who have gone to sea in small boats. Starting from Boston in 1895, by the time he dropped anchor in Newport, Rhode Island over three years after his journey began, he had cruised some 46,000 miles entirely by sail and entirely alone. Slocum's account of his epic voyage is a classic of sailing literature. This is also available to read FREE online HERE
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One of the first great spy novels, The Riddle of the Sands is set during the long suspicious years leading up to the First World War. The story builds in excitement as two young men on a sailing holiday discover a German plot. In spite of good prospects in the Foreign Office, sardonic civil servant, Carruthers, is finding it hard to endure the emptiness and boredom of his life in London. He accepts an invitation to join a friend on a sailing holiday in the Baltic, where they discover a German plot to invade England. This is also available to read FREE online HERE
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We personally don't subscribe to the ideas set forth in the Pardys' range of bluewater cruising manuals, although we have read most of them; we think their ideas are out-dated, biased toward their own unusual 'flavour' of cruising and have little relevance to modern bluewater cruising styles. BUT we do enjoy their cruising narratives and this is one of our favourites. Seraffyn's Mediterranean Adventure is the Pardys' account of their three years cruising around the Mediterranean aboard their 24-foot cutter 'Seraffyn' during the 1970's.
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I enjoyed this book and it appealed to my sense of humour - not sure Angie was too keen though? In the summer of 2002, two profoundly amateur sailors, Griff and Bob, set off in an elderly yacht for Russia, because, on the map, it looked easier than sailing to Cornwall. They took Baines with them, as he knew how to mend the engine. And this is their story. Over four long months of applied bickering in a vessel no bigger than a London taxi, they visited most of the geographically interesting restaurants on the Baltic seaboard. They sailed, over, and, even at one point, onto the mysterious heart of the Nordic world. They pushed themselves to the very limits of human endurance, before finally agreeing to wash their sleeping bags on a cool cycle at number six. To the Baltic with Bob is the full account of their stirring journey through the longest heat wave the frozen north has ever suffered; of three men in search of the answer to a troubling question: can you really outmanoeuvre a mid-life crisis by running away to sea?
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When his marriage ended, Peter Nichols had to sell the only thing he and his wife owned - their yacht 'Toad'. With only his sextant, his instincts as a seasoned sailor and his memories of a floundering marriage, he set out from England to sail to America to sell his beloved 'Toad'. But halfway across the Atlantic, 'Toad' springs a leak... This is a very powerfully sad true story by the author of 'The Voyage for Madmen'. We enjoyed ever page, and keep our copy aboard - I'd highly recommend it. |
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| Cruising Manuals and Technical Books | |||||
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The classic reference book on heavy weather sailing - every bluewater sailor should at least read, if not own. This is the book for crews of any size contemplating voyages out of sight of land anywhere in the world, whether racing or cruising. It gives a clear message of the sort of preparations required, and the tactics which should be considered when it comes on to blow.
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This is the first place people look when thinking about selling-up and going cruising - It was the first book of this type we bought and its a good starting point. Since it was first published, Sell Up and Sail has become the bible for those thinking of cruising as a way of life, whether short or long term. It asks all the right questions, and provides the answers from first-hand experience. Whether choosing a boat, deciding what to take and what to leave behind, avoiding mistakes and pitfalls, preventing ill health afloat, or provisioning in far flung places, this book will help ensure your chosen life is as relaxed, enjoyable and stress-free as possible. This fifth edition has been updated and revised to include changes in navigation, electronics and communications as well as bureaucracy and other recent developments that may affect the long term cruising sailor's life afloat.
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We love this book, and is the book we constantly keep dragging off the shelf to refer back to. In our opinion, the Shards maintain a good balance between a 'keeping it simple' philosophy and the use of a more modern approach when preparing a boat for bluewater cruising. Sail Away includes cruising anecdotes about the Shards many years of bluewater cruising, combined with practical tips for enjoyable and affordable cruising. There are recommendations for selecting a boat and equipment, plus suggested maintenance routines, sample provisions lists, templates for setting up an inventory manual and sections on researching destinations and determining expenses. Paul and Sheryl Shard also produce and present the cruising TV show 'Distant Shores'.
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This is probably the most comprehensive manual on bluewater World cruising we've ever read. So much information, it can be a bit intimidating at first and , in our opinion, a little 'US Cruising boat' baised. If I were to read only one 'how-to' bluewater cruising manual, this would probably be it! A handbook for anyone contemplating an extended cruise - whether for a few months or a year. It includes information on equipping the boat, moving aboard, staying healthy, staying sane, liveaboard maintenance, short-handed voyaging skills, and preparing for passage. It gives up-to-date information on the latest techniques and gear; covers the most important topics of expectations, mental preparation, relationship and personalities. This expanded edition of the highly praised guide for cruising sailors is bursting with new information. Numerous examples of life at sea demonstrate a range of approaches to cost, gear, and more, while Leonard's clear writing, copious graphs and tables, and inclusion of other sailors' viewpoints shine.
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This book was helpful to Angie when we were preparing to go cruising. It answered some of the more female aspects, or worries, about cruising that are not touched upon in other cruising manuals. There is no lack of cruising books, but most of the few books written specifically for women have been pretty much limited to "how to be a good first mate." This book, the first to thoughtfully and honestly address women's real concerns about the cruising life, was written for every woman who wants to cultivate her own enthusiasm for cruising - as well as for the man who wants his female partner to share his dream. Addressing the nuts and bolts of cruising as well as the psychology of cruising relationships, Jessie answers questions such as: how do you live in such a confined space; what are the real dangers; what do I do about seasickness; how do you communicate with family back home; how do you provision in foreign countries; if my partner falls overboard, how do I rescue him (or her); can you combine work with danger; how do you handle children aboard while cruising; how do you schedule your time, and will I be bored; how do I deal with feminine-hygiene concerns; and pregnancy. Diana Jessie draws on her own experiences, having sailed almost 100,000 miles with her husband, as well as on extensive interviews with 22 prominent women cruisers. With the help of this book's down-to-earth advice and wisdom, women will discover how to enjoy cruising - whether short term or long distance - to the fullest.
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No cruising boat should be without this book aboard. Hitrapia would be in a worse state, not to mention my nerves, without it! This manual takes both novice and experienced boatowner through minor to major repairs of electrical systems, engines, electronics, steering systems, generators, pumps, cookers, spars and rigging. When it was first published in 1990, the Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual broke new ground. It was hailed as the first truly DIY manual for boatowners and has sold in its thousands ever since. There have been significant changes in boat systems since then, particularly electrical systems, and this third edition has been fully updated to reflect these developments and expand its predecessor's worldwide popularity. 'Probably the best technical reference and troubleshooting book in the world' Yachting Monthly 'It deserves to come standard with every boat' Yachting World
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This is a good supplement to Calder's Mechanical and Electrical Manual - A good reference book we keep aboard. This book is a comprehensive, helpful and up to date guide on selecting, equipping and sailing a cruising yacht. Destined to become the bible for prospective boat buyers and cruisers, whether coastal or world-girdling, it successfully covers all the technical and practical aspects of cruising yachts and systems in one unique book. Written by Nigel Calder, one of the most respected nautical how-to authors with extensive cruising experience and a rare ability to reduce complexities to simple explanations, this book shows the reader not only how to select and equip a yacht for coastal or offshore cruising, but also how to sail and navigate it, addressing the concerns of beginners and experienced owners alike.
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There aren't too many cruising books dedicated solely to the Med and we found the budgeting and financial section in 'Sail for the Mediterranean' of particular use. A planning guide for would-be long-term cruisers, particularly those who prefer to keep a "pied-a-terre" rather than cut all ties with home. It includes: routes to and from the Mediterranean; boat modifications; necessary documentation; good cruising grounds; managing house/garden/car/mail whilst away; over-wintering and visits home; and likely costs.
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Not a huge 'tome' of information, but a worth while guide for those planning a Med cruise from probably the best authority on Med cruising - Rod Heikell. The huge inland sea of the Mediterranean presents wonderfully diverse cruising opportunities, but far from being a calm lake it can also deliver a few surprises to the unwary. In the "RYA Book of Mediterranean Cruising", Rod Heikell provides first-hand advice on sailing these enticing waters. From tips on anchoring, berthing bow or stern-to, what weather to expect, facilities and the costs of keeping a boat there, to advice on navigation, popular routes, formalities and what to expect ashore, each country around the Med is covered - including a section on show-string cruising for those on a tight budget.
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A compendium of Almanac information for the Mediterranean Basin. It can also be purchased in a pack which includes Heikell's useful 'Mediterranean Cruising Handbook' which is a handbook for cruising yachtsmen in the Mediterranean.
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