I'm half way through Tania Aebi's Maiden Voyage for the second time and enjoying it almost as much as the first. I'm wondering what to read next? I've been referring to “Sailing for Dummies” as my favorite reference book. I’ve found it to be loaded with good technical info. For those that might not be familiar, the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian give a real taste for 18th century naval action. Herb Payson’s “Blown Away” is another of my “wish I were cruising books”. Any good book suggestions out there?
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New England
If you are interested in the Southern New England area, one book that I enjoyed is "The Coast of Summer" bt Anthony Bailey (see link). It was a fun read.
If you are interested in the Southern New England area, one book that I enjoyed is "The Coast of Summer" bt Anthony Bailey (see link). It was a fun read.
The best cruising book I've read
"Travels With Charley" by John Steinbeck. Yes, I know he travelled the country in a truck but it's the same spirit. Excellent read! LaDonna
"Travels With Charley" by John Steinbeck. Yes, I know he travelled the country in a truck but it's the same spirit. Excellent read! LaDonna
Here a couple of my favorites
General Sailing: Flirting with Mermaids: The Unpredictable Life of a Sailboat Delivery Skipper by John Kretschmer. I really enjoyed reading about his travels as a delivery skipper. I now have a better appreciation for his boat reviews and stories in Sailing magazine. Encounters of a Wayward Sailor or any other book by Tristan Jones. You will not be disappointed; good story-teller. 500 Days: Around the World on a 12 Foot Yacht by Serge Testa. I wasn’t expecting much from this book but I found it hard to put down. A Single Wave: A story of Storms and Survival by Webb Chiles. What is it with this guy? Although he appears a bit mentally unbalanced (based on the exploits he lays out in his book), I do enjoy his articles in Sail magazine and this book was an enjoyable read. Before the Wind: True Stories about Sailing edited by David Gowdey. An assortment of stories (25) by the likes of Ann Davison, Buckminster Fuller, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joshua Slocum, Ernest K. Gann, Raymond Carver, Clare Francis, Jack London, Frank Mulville, Alec Waugh, and Ted Turner. Good for those times when you attention span is short. Here are a couple of sailing-related stories that I really like: First You Have to Row a Little Boat: Reflections on Life and Living by Richard Bode. This has become one of my favorite books . . . one man’s view of life filled with sailing metaphors based on his early introduction into sailing as an orphan. Each chapter represents a new lesson in life. You will find yourself reading this over and over. A Unit of Water, A Unit of Time: Joel White's Last Boat by Douglas Whynott. Very well written. A great snapshot of Joel White’s boatyard in Maine during his final years. Many flashbacks to his dad, E.B. White. After reading this book, I went out and bought E.B. White’s “One Man’s Meat”. If you want to study racing or tactics, regardless if you race or not, try these: Championship Tactics: How Anyone Can Sail Faster, Smarter, and Win Races by Gary Jobson, Tom Whidden, and Adam Loory Around the Buoys: A Manual of Sailboat Racing Tactics and Strategy by Michael V. Huck I own probably another 100 or so titles, many of which are mediocre . . many which are purely technical in nature. If you feel like hitting the books to learn a little about a lot of things (like celestial navigation or meteorology), try the "real" American Practical Navigator published by the U.S. government. It is hardback and the size of a large phone book. The last publish date that I know of was 1995.
General Sailing: Flirting with Mermaids: The Unpredictable Life of a Sailboat Delivery Skipper by John Kretschmer. I really enjoyed reading about his travels as a delivery skipper. I now have a better appreciation for his boat reviews and stories in Sailing magazine. Encounters of a Wayward Sailor or any other book by Tristan Jones. You will not be disappointed; good story-teller. 500 Days: Around the World on a 12 Foot Yacht by Serge Testa. I wasn’t expecting much from this book but I found it hard to put down. A Single Wave: A story of Storms and Survival by Webb Chiles. What is it with this guy? Although he appears a bit mentally unbalanced (based on the exploits he lays out in his book), I do enjoy his articles in Sail magazine and this book was an enjoyable read. Before the Wind: True Stories about Sailing edited by David Gowdey. An assortment of stories (25) by the likes of Ann Davison, Buckminster Fuller, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joshua Slocum, Ernest K. Gann, Raymond Carver, Clare Francis, Jack London, Frank Mulville, Alec Waugh, and Ted Turner. Good for those times when you attention span is short. Here are a couple of sailing-related stories that I really like: First You Have to Row a Little Boat: Reflections on Life and Living by Richard Bode. This has become one of my favorite books . . . one man’s view of life filled with sailing metaphors based on his early introduction into sailing as an orphan. Each chapter represents a new lesson in life. You will find yourself reading this over and over. A Unit of Water, A Unit of Time: Joel White's Last Boat by Douglas Whynott. Very well written. A great snapshot of Joel White’s boatyard in Maine during his final years. Many flashbacks to his dad, E.B. White. After reading this book, I went out and bought E.B. White’s “One Man’s Meat”. If you want to study racing or tactics, regardless if you race or not, try these: Championship Tactics: How Anyone Can Sail Faster, Smarter, and Win Races by Gary Jobson, Tom Whidden, and Adam Loory Around the Buoys: A Manual of Sailboat Racing Tactics and Strategy by Michael V. Huck I own probably another 100 or so titles, many of which are mediocre . . many which are purely technical in nature. If you feel like hitting the books to learn a little about a lot of things (like celestial navigation or meteorology), try the "real" American Practical Navigator published by the U.S. government. It is hardback and the size of a large phone book. The last publish date that I know of was 1995.
A couple more....
While I can't say I've been doing much reading lately since it is 75 degrees here in Maryland on Dec 5th and I'm heading to the boat right now, I'd like to add a couple of my favorites. Dove: the 16 yr old that sailed around the world Godforsaken Sea by Derek Lundy. A great book about the Vendee Gloge solo race Fatal Storm by Rob Mundle, a great book about the disatrous sydney-hobart race a few years back All good books and hard to put down! Maybe if it cools off soon I can check out some of the books others have mentioned...but for now I'm sailing! Chris
While I can't say I've been doing much reading lately since it is 75 degrees here in Maryland on Dec 5th and I'm heading to the boat right now, I'd like to add a couple of my favorites. Dove: the 16 yr old that sailed around the world Godforsaken Sea by Derek Lundy. A great book about the Vendee Gloge solo race Fatal Storm by Rob Mundle, a great book about the disatrous sydney-hobart race a few years back All good books and hard to put down! Maybe if it cools off soon I can check out some of the books others have mentioned...but for now I'm sailing! Chris
"The Proving Ground"
It's another book about the ill-fated Hobart race, but I thoroughly enjoyed it... Joe S/V Charis
It's another book about the ill-fated Hobart race, but I thoroughly enjoyed it... Joe S/V Charis
A good winter read
Don; All the previously mentioned titles are great, but let me flog my own efforts a bit. I've just published my first novel, a boating adventure/mystery of love and danger in the tropics, titled THE BANGKOK BLUES. Find it at amazon.com, bn.com, and to see the cover, read an excerpt and to order, see my website, www.seafiction.com. Check it out, you might like it. Larry W.
Don; All the previously mentioned titles are great, but let me flog my own efforts a bit. I've just published my first novel, a boating adventure/mystery of love and danger in the tropics, titled THE BANGKOK BLUES. Find it at amazon.com, bn.com, and to see the cover, read an excerpt and to order, see my website, www.seafiction.com. Check it out, you might like it. Larry W.
Blown Away
"Blown Away" by Herb Payson. Also, if you do any wood working try "Wooden Boats" by Michael Ruhlman. It can get a little boring if lofting and fairing frames does not fascinate you, but I enjoyed it.
"Blown Away" by Herb Payson. Also, if you do any wood working try "Wooden Boats" by Michael Ruhlman. It can get a little boring if lofting and fairing frames does not fascinate you, but I enjoyed it.
Herb Payson is great
I agree with David about Herb's book, Blow Away. I had dinner with Herb and Nancy this summer in Port Townsend and they are delightful people. Although "After 50,000 Miles" by Roth is a great book, Herb Payson's "Advice for the Sealorn," is also excellent and funny as well. Another book that I like to read from time to time is "The Curve of Time" by M. Wylie Blanchet This story is set in the 1930's and is about a woman and her children cruising in the Pacific Northwest. I highly recommend it. Women skippers may well enjoy this one. No one has mentioned Erskine Childers', "The Riddle of the Sands." Probably the only mystery by sailboat. I doubt if you can put it down after starting it.
I agree with David about Herb's book, Blow Away. I had dinner with Herb and Nancy this summer in Port Townsend and they are delightful people. Although "After 50,000 Miles" by Roth is a great book, Herb Payson's "Advice for the Sealorn," is also excellent and funny as well. Another book that I like to read from time to time is "The Curve of Time" by M. Wylie Blanchet This story is set in the 1930's and is about a woman and her children cruising in the Pacific Northwest. I highly recommend it. Women skippers may well enjoy this one. No one has mentioned Erskine Childers', "The Riddle of the Sands." Probably the only mystery by sailboat. I doubt if you can put it down after starting it.
Another thought...
For a fun read about the tropics... Try Herman Wouk's "Don't Stop the Carnival". If you know about, or have experienced life in the Caribbean, then this is a laugher. (What will go wrong, will go wrong. And naive, as well). It's a bit dated, but lots of fun. Now, we know who wrote the musical of this, but the book lets me paint a vivid picture in my mind as I listen to the music. Also, the character in the book named Tex? He's no relation to me.
For a fun read about the tropics... Try Herman Wouk's "Don't Stop the Carnival". If you know about, or have experienced life in the Caribbean, then this is a laugher. (What will go wrong, will go wrong. And naive, as well). It's a bit dated, but lots of fun. Now, we know who wrote the musical of this, but the book lets me paint a vivid picture in my mind as I listen to the music. Also, the character in the book named Tex? He's no relation to me.
Question for Joe Dickson:
Joe, I just finished reading a book about the ill-fated Hobart race a few months ago. I think the author was one Derek Lundy and the title was another one of these sensational "death in the Pacific" headlines (I forgot the real title). Although the author professes to be an experienced cruiser he completely focuses on all the mayhem, with vessels getting rolled and saylors dirfitng away to be never seen again, etc. etc. To my utter chagrin he only devoted one little paragraph to the fact that the 39 ft (?) yacht "Midnight Rambler" (?; another senior moment) won the whole darn race -- on corrected time-- by slowly jogging against the wind and waves rather than running off, streaming drogues or warps, heaving to, or lying ahull. Any chance that the book you mention would have a more detailed description of "tactics that work" rather than of how one goes about buying the farm out there? If so, I'll put it on my Xmas list for sure. Thanks! Flying Dutchman
Joe, I just finished reading a book about the ill-fated Hobart race a few months ago. I think the author was one Derek Lundy and the title was another one of these sensational "death in the Pacific" headlines (I forgot the real title). Although the author professes to be an experienced cruiser he completely focuses on all the mayhem, with vessels getting rolled and saylors dirfitng away to be never seen again, etc. etc. To my utter chagrin he only devoted one little paragraph to the fact that the 39 ft (?) yacht "Midnight Rambler" (?; another senior moment) won the whole darn race -- on corrected time-- by slowly jogging against the wind and waves rather than running off, streaming drogues or warps, heaving to, or lying ahull. Any chance that the book you mention would have a more detailed description of "tactics that work" rather than of how one goes about buying the farm out there? If so, I'll put it on my Xmas list for sure. Thanks! Flying Dutchman
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