Sailing books?

Benny · Dec 20, 2009

In a wintery mood? Read Ice Bird by David Lewis. A 1972 epic voyage of a single handled 32' sloop around Antartica.

Tim R. · Dec 21, 2009

Squadron said:
Hey!

We just got done watching "Deep Water", an interesting documentary about a round the world race in the late 60s. After getting my stuff together and subsequently being talked out of my own adventure by my better half, we decided that it would be better if we just read more sailing books over the holidays and cold months.

So, got any suggestions? When I was into backpacking I loved Colin Fletcher's Complete Walker because it was a story and helped explain gear. Anything out there like that for sailing?

Awhile back we also picked up a copy of Know Your Boat which was pretty interesting.

Sean, the book that tells the story of the 1969 Goden Globe is called "A Voyage for Madmen" It is an excellent read and I highly recommend it. There are also quite a few books written about this race by some of the participants including Robin Knox Johnson and Bernard Moitessier.

Another good read is "Fastnet Force 10" about the 1979 Fastnet race.

Search on this forums for books as there have been a few previous threads that have great suggestions.

thisoldspouse · Dec 21, 2009

There are a couple of "best sailing book" lists out there on the internet. I've worked my way though them over the winter months, here in Wisconsin. The books covering the Fastnet 10 race are good.
My favorite book (sailing) of all time is Alfred Lansing's "Endurance". A must read. You won't be able to put it down.
Eric

Ross · Dec 21, 2009

If you haunt the used book stores you can often find long shelves full of sailing related books. I can sometimes get out of print books there that I can't find elsewhere.

Ross · Dec 21, 2009

Have you read any Tristan Jones novels? Joshua Slocum? Hal Roth? Francis Chichester? Jack London's Sea Wolf? Joseph Lincoln if you can find any.

caguy · Dec 21, 2009

Try this book, his books inspired me to name my boat after his. One of the stories is about the race. The others are about his circumnavigating the pacific in a 35 footer and rounding the Horn.
I loaned mine to a friend, his wife read it and won't let him return it until he finishes the book. She is ready to cruise the world. He will be when he finishes the book.
Check out the flaps, it really is a must read.

http://www.amazon.com/Hal-Roth-Seafaring-Trilogy-Adventure/dp/0071461337#reader_0071461337

Ross · Dec 21, 2009

I checked the price of media mail and for less than 4 dollars a book can ship in the US up to 5 pounds. This would make book exchange a reasonable option.

Roger Long · Dec 21, 2009

I'm reading "The Boy Me and the Cat". It's been called the best cruising story ever written and I'm not going to argue the point one bit. Sailing a 24 foot catboat from New England to Miami in 1912. Amazon is out right now but hopefully it will be available again. A real treasure.

caguy · Dec 21, 2009

Roger Long said:
I'm reading "The Boy Me and the Cat". It's been called the best cruising story ever written and I'm not going to argue the point one bit. Sailing a 24 foot catboat from New England to Miami in 1912. Amazon is out right now but hopefully it will be available again. A real treasure.

Hopefully they will Kindle it for $9.99. I have to wait for Santa.

BTW, would Kindle work for cruisers?

CalebD · Dec 21, 2009

I second "The Boy, Me and the Cat" by Henry Plummer.
I liked it so much that I am on my 2nd copy and 2nd read. The first copy I left for a friend on his boat.

wonkodsane · Dec 21, 2009

caguy said:
Hopefully they will Kindle it for $9.99. I have to wait for Santa.

BTW, would Kindle work for cruisers?

Kindle's whispernet works anywhere you can get Sprint EVDO, so any reasonably populated section of coast where you can pick up a cellphone signal, you're probably going to be able to access it.

http://www.showmycoverage.com/mycoverage.jsp?id=A921ZON

RichBone · Dec 21, 2009

I'll second "Endurance" and "Shackleton's Boat Journey" and any of
Tristan Jones' books. Then there's the old classic "Two Years Before The Mast". Another small boat story- "Men Against The Sea"- the second book in the "Mutiny On The Bounty" trilogy. "Riddle Of The Sands" is another gem.

Rich

LANCE ON CLOUD NINE · Dec 21, 2009

Check out "An Embarrassment Of Mangos"- a Caribbean Interlude. Cruising from the wife's perspective. This book has gotten many ladies off the fence and into the boat- including my own wife.

Deadhead · Dec 27, 2009

The Kindle is Awesome

Santa was very good and left a Kindle DX under the tree for me.

On Christmas I read that book Avalon that was talked about in a thread back in the fall. Quick read & worth the $7.99 Kindle download price. I am glad I didn't buy the hardcover though.

Today was I, Alex Cross by James Patterson. Another fast read - could have waited & gotten it at B&N for $5.98 in another month or so though.

I have just downloaded The Incredible Voyage by Tristan Jones. While shopping for this one I noticed that Joshua Slocum's Sailing Around the World Alone is available for a variety of prices. (From $0.00 to $4.74) Anyone know what is up with this?

Joe · Dec 28, 2009

because that book was written 100 years ago and has been published many times. You can find it in any used book store for under a dollar. But that doesn't mean it isn't a great book.