With winter setting in (anticipating evenings by the fire with a good book) and Christmas coming, what are your favorite sailing books? Hint,Hint to first mates.
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Gary Wyngarden
Good Question!
Hi Dean, This is a good question and hopefully we'll all learn about some good books for winter reading. I'm currently reading a book by Alvah Simon called North to the Night. The author sailed his 36 foot steel sailboat north beyond the Arctic Circle and deliberately froze himself in for the winter. The sailing adventures with icebergs and polar bears are very entertaining. The book is really well written. A second book that is closer to home for both of us is Jonathan Raban's Passage to Juneau. The author singlehands his way from Seattle up the Inside Passage. Lots of history, introspection, neat stories. Also extremely well written. Please feel free to forward this to your first mate!
Hi Dean, This is a good question and hopefully we'll all learn about some good books for winter reading. I'm currently reading a book by Alvah Simon called North to the Night. The author sailed his 36 foot steel sailboat north beyond the Arctic Circle and deliberately froze himself in for the winter. The sailing adventures with icebergs and polar bears are very entertaining. The book is really well written. A second book that is closer to home for both of us is Jonathan Raban's Passage to Juneau. The author singlehands his way from Seattle up the Inside Passage. Lots of history, introspection, neat stories. Also extremely well written. Please feel free to forward this to your first mate!
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Trevor
Passage to Juneau
Hi Gary - I'm in the midst of reading Passage to Juneau as well. Helps me dream about my circumnavigation of Vancouver Island back in 1995 and makes me salivate about doing it again - maybe to the Charlottes this time. I've heard good things about Raban; have you read any of his other books? Trevor
Hi Gary - I'm in the midst of reading Passage to Juneau as well. Helps me dream about my circumnavigation of Vancouver Island back in 1995 and makes me salivate about doing it again - maybe to the Charlottes this time. I've heard good things about Raban; have you read any of his other books? Trevor
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Gary Wyngarden
Jonathan Raban
Hi Trevor, I've read some articles in the sailing magazines by JR, but not any of his other books. Having really enjoyed Passage to Juneau, I plan to get some of his others. Any suggestions? A circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, eh? How was the West Coast? Gary
Hi Trevor, I've read some articles in the sailing magazines by JR, but not any of his other books. Having really enjoyed Passage to Juneau, I plan to get some of his others. Any suggestions? A circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, eh? How was the West Coast? Gary
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Dean Smith
Coasting
JR wrote a good book about sailing around England and Scotland. It is called 'Coasting' and is available wherever goodsailing books are sold. I was in Langley, WA last weekend and found a lot of sailing books at the bokstore on Main Street.
JR wrote a good book about sailing around England and Scotland. It is called 'Coasting' and is available wherever goodsailing books are sold. I was in Langley, WA last weekend and found a lot of sailing books at the bokstore on Main Street.
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R.W. Landau
a list of cruising and racing books
These are some of the better books I have read. 1."My Old Man And The Sea" 2.All three of the "Cruising Seraffyn" books. Lin and Larry Pardey have many books out.I haven't hit a bad one yet. 3. If you are trying to get your mate to sail there are some good arguments in "Dragged Aboard" not to mention some good ideas. 4."Fastnet Force 10" 5."Fatal Storm" It doesn't hurt to read some of the tough stuff, you never know what will hit and knowing the good tactics may save you and the boat.
These are some of the better books I have read. 1."My Old Man And The Sea" 2.All three of the "Cruising Seraffyn" books. Lin and Larry Pardey have many books out.I haven't hit a bad one yet. 3. If you are trying to get your mate to sail there are some good arguments in "Dragged Aboard" not to mention some good ideas. 4."Fastnet Force 10" 5."Fatal Storm" It doesn't hurt to read some of the tough stuff, you never know what will hit and knowing the good tactics may save you and the boat.
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Les Murray
Some of my latest selections...
I have read a few that are a decent read. 1) The Water in Between by Kevin Patterson. Good writing and a bit odd of a story line. 2) Blown Away. Not new but a nice and funny cruising story. 3) Schooner Master. A biography of David Stephens, a Canadian wooden schooner builder. Les Murray
I have read a few that are a decent read. 1) The Water in Between by Kevin Patterson. Good writing and a bit odd of a story line. 2) Blown Away. Not new but a nice and funny cruising story. 3) Schooner Master. A biography of David Stephens, a Canadian wooden schooner builder. Les Murray
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Richard Owen
Several Good sailing reads
Rescue In The Pacific The Godforsaken Sea The Hungry Ocean The Perfect storm
Rescue In The Pacific The Godforsaken Sea The Hungry Ocean The Perfect storm
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Stephen Ostrander
going back a few years
"Gipsy Moth Circles the Earth" Sir Francis Chichester "Atlantic High" Wm. F. Buckley "Racing Through Paradise" Wm. F. Buckley "Steaming to Bamboola" Christopher Buckley
"Gipsy Moth Circles the Earth" Sir Francis Chichester "Atlantic High" Wm. F. Buckley "Racing Through Paradise" Wm. F. Buckley "Steaming to Bamboola" Christopher Buckley
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Dean Smith
Patrick O'Brian
Of course, there is that great series by Patrick O'Brian featuring the protagonists Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.
Of course, there is that great series by Patrick O'Brian featuring the protagonists Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.
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bill walton
another for O'Brian
Absolutely my all time favorite series of books are the Aubrey/Maturin chronicles by O'Brian, with the Hornblower series second. I was real sad to hear that Mr. O'Brian died before we could get to the end of Jack Aubrey's journey as a new Admiral.
Absolutely my all time favorite series of books are the Aubrey/Maturin chronicles by O'Brian, with the Hornblower series second. I was real sad to hear that Mr. O'Brian died before we could get to the end of Jack Aubrey's journey as a new Admiral.
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Ron Doescher
Joe Coomer
His book was "Sailing in a Spoonful of Water", a memoir about sailing the coast of Maine in a vintage wooden boat. Picador USA, NY ISBN 0-312-18697-5
His book was "Sailing in a Spoonful of Water", a memoir about sailing the coast of Maine in a vintage wooden boat. Picador USA, NY ISBN 0-312-18697-5
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Peter Clancy
James Dickey
If you like sheer survival and adventure stories, try James Dickey's "To The White Sea". Not a sailing story but a fictional account of a downed B29 pilot in Japan during WWII. Engrossing reading that will appeal to sailors who are drawn to man's quest to persevere and overcome impossible odds. For the ultimate survival tale, read Jack London's short story "To Build A Fire".
If you like sheer survival and adventure stories, try James Dickey's "To The White Sea". Not a sailing story but a fictional account of a downed B29 pilot in Japan during WWII. Engrossing reading that will appeal to sailors who are drawn to man's quest to persevere and overcome impossible odds. For the ultimate survival tale, read Jack London's short story "To Build A Fire".
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Dean Smith
Alexander Kent
I just finished the first book in a series by Alexander Kent. His protagonist is Mr. Bolitho who starts as a midshipman and works his way up through the British Navy during the time of the American Revolution. The first book was comparable with the Hornblower series -- a sort of James Bond of the 18th Century.
I just finished the first book in a series by Alexander Kent. His protagonist is Mr. Bolitho who starts as a midshipman and works his way up through the British Navy during the time of the American Revolution. The first book was comparable with the Hornblower series -- a sort of James Bond of the 18th Century.
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Alex
Some of my sailing books selection .
"The perfect storm" "Casting off" - by Libby Purves "Chasing the Dream"- by Val Haigh. forever funny and entertaining "Seagulls in my soup"- by Tristan Jones. ..and always fascinating 'young classics'...(the 'old classics' are too thick for 'rerun'..) "Maiden Voyage"- by Tania Aebi and.. "Out of the Blue"-by Anne Miller.
"The perfect storm" "Casting off" - by Libby Purves "Chasing the Dream"- by Val Haigh. forever funny and entertaining "Seagulls in my soup"- by Tristan Jones. ..and always fascinating 'young classics'...(the 'old classics' are too thick for 'rerun'..) "Maiden Voyage"- by Tania Aebi and.. "Out of the Blue"-by Anne Miller.
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Joe
Horatio Hornblower is a MUST read......
C.S. Forrester's classic series of the British Navy during the Napoleonic era is my choice. I've re-read the series every ten years or so since I was in Jr High.
C.S. Forrester's classic series of the British Navy during the Napoleonic era is my choice. I've re-read the series every ten years or so since I was in Jr High.
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Kurt
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Justin Wolfe
A few more
A few I didn't see mentioned that I enjoyed Trekka - John Guzzwell Wanderer books - Eric Hiscock Robin Knox Johnston's book about sailing around the world. Sorry I forget the name. Just Cruising & Still Cruising - Liza Copeland Swan & By Way of Wind - Jim Moore - Hilarious Two on a Big Ocean - Hal Roth The Log of the Mahina - John Neal Curve of Time - Wiley Blanchett - Wonderful Book Kowabunga - Author escapes me - Flicka in the SP. Can't think of any more at the moment. I'm going ask for the Passage to Juneau book...
A few I didn't see mentioned that I enjoyed Trekka - John Guzzwell Wanderer books - Eric Hiscock Robin Knox Johnston's book about sailing around the world. Sorry I forget the name. Just Cruising & Still Cruising - Liza Copeland Swan & By Way of Wind - Jim Moore - Hilarious Two on a Big Ocean - Hal Roth The Log of the Mahina - John Neal Curve of Time - Wiley Blanchett - Wonderful Book Kowabunga - Author escapes me - Flicka in the SP. Can't think of any more at the moment. I'm going ask for the Passage to Juneau book...
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Al Sandrik
Kurt...
do you have a copy of "Down Barnegat Bay: A Northeaster Midnght Reader". My copy is very, very worn but its a great local history of Barnegat Bay with lots of great sailing stories. I don't know if it's in print or not as my copy was given to me in the mid 80's, but if yu can find it its well worth it.
do you have a copy of "Down Barnegat Bay: A Northeaster Midnght Reader". My copy is very, very worn but its a great local history of Barnegat Bay with lots of great sailing stories. I don't know if it's in print or not as my copy was given to me in the mid 80's, but if yu can find it its well worth it.
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Kurt
Thanks for the tip Al
Al; Thanks for that tip. No, I don't have that bookyet but I'm going to look for it right now! Thanks! Kurt
Al; Thanks for that tip. No, I don't have that bookyet but I'm going to look for it right now! Thanks! Kurt
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