This is a classic real-life story of derring do on the high seas, complete with extreme risk, last-minute ingenuity and many near-misses.Beginning in the 1960s, this book tells of the real life adventures of the author as a boy – a time of boarding schools, long holidays and an unbelievable (to today's parents) amount of freedom and danger. Encouraged by his parents (who lived abroad) to become more independent and self-sufficient, Peter decided to see how far he could get in his f...

Beginning in the 1960s, this book tells of the real life adventures of the author as a boy. Encouraged by his parents to become more independent, Peter decided to see how far he could get in his family's small open dinghy Calypso. Calypso was a wayfarer, a small and very popular class of open dinghy; a boat designed for pottering around coastlines. But along with the occasional brave crewmate, Peter managed to sail her across the Channel, through the Bay of Biscay, down the French canals a...

Transform basic sailing skills into true masteryNo other sport is as complex or as gear- and technique-intensive as sailing. The details and nuances are vast, but beneath the surface are 22 elements, or core areas of knowledge. By understanding these principles you can attain true mastery: tie any knot, shape any sail, take the helm of any boat, no matter how large or unfamiliar.

“Belongs in the bookshelf of every cruising vessel.”—Blue Water Sailing“If you are serious about that extended voyage, read The Voyager’s Handbook.”—Sailing“Every now and then a new voice emerges in the world of sailing literature that stands out, a voice that is both clear and of lasting quality. The appearance of such a new voice is something of an event, and that’s what we’d call the publication of The Voyager’s Handbook.”—Blue Wat...

Don't Be Baffled by Your Electrical System--Handle Repairs and Improvements with EaseWith clear illustrations and simple explanations, Don Casey shows you exactly how to install wiring . . . make good, safe connections . . . match your battery bank and alternator to your needs . . . troubleshoot problems quickly . . . avoid shore power problems . . . and more--all without a lot of technical jargon."Don Casey's book provides clear guidance on how to create and maintain a rob...

The romantic dream of downsizing, giving up the ratrace, and living life at 4mph on the inland waterways is proving more and more attractive. But for tens of thousands of people it is not just a romantic dream but an actual lifestyle.Tony Jones is one of those people. He has lived aboard his 50ft narrowboat for over 7 years and in this very practical book he documents what the liveaboard lifestyle is really like, focusing on the practical issues of day to day living for those who w...

Competent Crew covers both the shorebased and the practical aspects of the RYA Competent Crew course. It will prepare newcomers for the first time afloat by explaining basic skills and boat handling including: sail trimming and sail handling; understanding the compass; sailing a course; anchoring and mooring; ropework; handling safety equipment; emergency procedures; simple collision rules; elementary meteorology.Ideal for the beginner, Competent Crew also include...

'Monumental!' - Bob Ross, Australian SailingHigh Performance Sailing isnow regarded as the bible of racing sailors and carries a string ofendorsements from high achievers. Since its publication in 1984, racingyachts and dinghies have developed out of all recognition - a newhigh-tech breed of 'apparent wind' fast racers has claimed the waterand so far no-one has applied themselves seriously to analysing whatmakes these boat...

"Indispensable . . . Don’t do the ICW without it."-- Powerboat ReportsSince 1979, this book has been the piloting guide of choice for the tens of thousands of boaters traversing the 1,094-mile Intracoastal Waterway between Virginia and Florida each year. This sixth edition is double the size of its predecessor and includes greatly enhanced coverage of anchorages, pilotage, and facilities. With the addition of John Kettlewell, editor of The Intra...

"This work is significant. It is the first to include a method of assessing structural strength in the context of the modern marine environment."--Commander M. C. Cruder, U.S. Coast GuardAcclaimed author and naval architect Dave Gerr created this unique system of easy-to-use scantling rules and rules-of-thumb for calculating the necessary dimensions, or scantlings, of hulls, decks, and other boat parts, whether built of fiberglass, wood, wood-epoxy composite, steel, or aluminum. In...

Written by an accomplished naval architect, this book shows the average boater how to safely weather the fiercest storm. Rough Weather Seamanship for Sail and Power arms readers with the knowledge they need to select and modify a boat for heavy weather; understand, track, and evade storm systems; and prepare for a storm in harbor, coastal waters, and offshore. It offers ocean-tested heavy-weather techniques for both sailboats and powerboats, practical advice on surviving worst-cas...

How did a big-game fishing trip rudely interrupted by sharks inspire one of the key scenes in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea? How did Robert Louis Stevenson's cruise to the cannibal-infested South Sea islands prove instrumental in his writing of The Beach of Falesa and The Ebb Tide? How did Masefield survive Cape Horn and a near-nervous breakdown to write Sea Fever?The waters of this world have swirled through storytelling ever since the Cel...