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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Water sports & recreations > Boating

Reeds Nautical Almanac 2023 (Paperback): Perrin Towler, Mark Fishwick Reeds Nautical Almanac 2023 (Paperback)
Perrin Towler, Mark Fishwick
R1,309 Discovery Miles 13 090 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Reeds Nautical Almanac is the indispensable trusted annual compendium of navigational data for yachtsmen and motorboaters. Known as the Yachtsman's Bible, Reeds provides all the information required to navigate Atlantic coastal waters around the whole of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and the entire European coastline from the tip of Denmark right down to Gibraltar, Northern Morocco, the Azores and Madeira. Having celebrated its 90th anniversary last year, the 2023 Almanac continues the tradition of year on year improvement and meticulous presentation of all the data required for safe navigation. Now with an improved layout for easier reference and with over 45,000 annual changes, it is regarded as the bible of almanacs for anyone going to sea. The 2023 edition is updated throughout, containing over 45,000 changes, and includes: 700 harbour chartlets; tide tables and tidal streams; buoyage and lights; 7,500 waypoints; invaluable passage notes; distance tables; radio, weather and safety information; first aid section. Also: a free Marina Guide. Also available: free supplements of up-to-date navigation changes from January to June at: www.reedsnauticalalmanac.co.uk

Imray Chart Y6 2022 - Suffolk and Essex Coasts (Paperback, New edition): Imray Imray Chart Y6 2022 - Suffolk and Essex Coasts (Paperback, New edition)
Imray
R542 R495 Discovery Miles 4 950 Save R47 (9%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days
Stand Up Paddleboarding: A Beginner's Guide - Learn to Sup (Paperback): Simon Bassett Stand Up Paddleboarding: A Beginner's Guide - Learn to Sup (Paperback)
Simon Bassett
R330 R267 Discovery Miles 2 670 Save R63 (19%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Stand Up Paddleboarding is the fastest growing watersport worldwide. The comparatively low cost, the convenience of inflatable boards and the fact that you can just get on and go all add up to its appeal. But, as with everything, a little bit of knowledge and technique makes the experience so much more enjoyable! That is where this book - the first UK how-to book on paddleboarding - comes in. It provides a perfect introduction to the sport: how to paddleboard, what kit to use and where to go. The book guides you through launching, the correct stance, paddling in a straight line, the different types of turns and landing. It shows you how to choose your board and paddle, inflate and deflate an inflatable board, and talks about where to ride as well as weather, safety, maintenance and repair of your equipment. It covers the main types of paddleboarding: touring, racing, surfing and yoga / fitness. All aspects are heavily illustrated with colour photographs making it easy to understand and clear to follow.

Introduction to Racing Companion (Spiral bound): Fernhurst Books Introduction to Racing Companion (Spiral bound)
Fernhurst Books
R235 R213 Discovery Miles 2 130 Save R22 (9%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

A compact, handy summary of the key things you need to know to start racing or refresh your knowledge: the perfect quick reference guide to keep in your kit bag. The book covers all the racing essentials: courses, rules, the start, beat, reach, downwind, mark rounding, finish, protests and flags in a highly illustrated format making it easy to understand at a glance - ideal for those moments when you need an answer, and you need it fast! Splash-proof and spiral bound, this little companion stands up to frequent use and serves as a great aide-memoire that will fit into your pocket or kit bag.

Sailing For Dummies, 3rd Edition (Paperback, 3rd Edition): J. J. Fetter Sailing For Dummies, 3rd Edition (Paperback, 3rd Edition)
J. J. Fetter
R594 R428 Discovery Miles 4 280 Save R166 (28%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Buoy your sailing knowhow with advice from two US sailing champions Nothing can beat the feel of the warm sun on your back, the gentle wind in your hair, and a swaying deck under your feet. If you long to take to the open water and sail wherever the wind takes you, you'll find everything you need to know in Sailing For Dummies. This friendly guide offers information for beginning and intermediate captains. Discover everything you need to know to confidently navigate your vessel through whatever waters--rough or smooth--you may encounter. Whether your goal is to explore a nearby lake, sail down the Mighty Mississippi, or take to the open sea, Sailing For Dummies explains how to launch your vessel, tie knots, turn sails, read the water, and more. Figure out how to work with the wind using sails to reach your destination Find out how the latest technology makes sailing easier and more enjoyable Master the essential skills of docking, tying knots, and dropping anchor Learn how to read the wind, sea, and sky to know what the weather is up to Choose the boat that's right for you, complete with bells and whistles Discover the basics of windsurfing and kiteboarding Satisfy your need to go farther and faster in your craft Know how to sail safely in tricky situations Whether you're dipping your toe in the water or knee deep in your pursuit of sailing excellence, this reference will come in handy as you set your sights on sailing. After spending some time with Sailing For Dummies--and even more time on the water--you'll know the ropes!

A New History of Yachting (Hardcover): Mike Bender A New History of Yachting (Hardcover)
Mike Bender
R1,402 Discovery Miles 14 020 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

An overview of the history of yachting in its social, cultural, political and economic contexts. Shortlisted for the Maritime Foundation's Mountbatten Award 2018 This book, by a leading expert in the field, is the first major history of yachting for over a quarter of a century. Setting developments within political,social and economic changes, the book tells the story of yachting from Elizabethan times to the present day: the first uses of yachts, by monarchs, especially Charles II; yacht clubs and yacht racing in the eighteenth century; the early years of the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes and an analysis of the America Cup challenges; the pioneering developments in Ireland and the exporting of yachting to the colonies and trading outposts of the Empire; the expansion of yachting in Victorian times; the Golden Age of Yachting in the years before the First World War, when it was the sport of the crowned heads of Europe; the invention of the dinghy and the keelboat classes and, after the Second World War, the massive numbers of home-built dinghies; the breaking of new boundaries by risk-taking single-handers from the mid-1960s; the expansion of leisure sailing that came in the 1980s with the use of moulded plastic yachts; and current trends and pressures within the sport. Well-referenced yet highly readable, this book will be of interest both to the scholar and the sailing enthusiast. MIKE BENDER is an experienced yachtsman and qualified Ocean Yachtmaster, with some forty thousand miles, mostly singlehanded, under the keel. He is an Honorary Research Fellow in History at the University of Exeter.

Setting Sail - Ten Thousand Years of Seafaring Adventure (Hardcover, 1st North American ed): Luc Cuyvers Setting Sail - Ten Thousand Years of Seafaring Adventure (Hardcover, 1st North American ed)
Luc Cuyvers
R1,068 R755 Discovery Miles 7 550 Save R313 (29%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Setting Sail tells the 10,000-year story of mankind's quest to cross the world's oceans. It is a remarkable saga that moves from island to island, between nations, and eventually across continents as various peoples share skills and technologies that advance their sailing skills. The book accompanies a four-part television program which is currently airing on the Discovery Channel's High Definition network. A DVD of the program is included with the purchase of this book. Author Luc Cuyvers looks first into the prehistory and the Polynesian diaspora that began before the Christian era. At a time when most sailors refused to venture beyond the sight of land, Polynesians were the first 'bluewater' adventurers, exploring the western Pacific Ocean across an area greater than twice the size of the American continent. Setting Sail considers the advances and techniques that allowed Arab Traders to pursue the first ocean going trade routes. By 750AD, Arab traders regularly sailed to India, Ceylon, and onward as far as China and Korea. Seven centuries later, new centres of exploration were stirring. The Chinese began to travel on voyages of discovery and Portugal's Prince Henry the Navigator sponsored the first of many voyages that would change Europe's understanding of the maritime world. The story Setting Sail tells is fascinating and visually exciting. The text is supplemented with more than 100 colour photographs of places, people, and ships that illustrate the story of ocean exploration.

More Power (Paperback): Hugh Matheson, Christopher Dodd More Power (Paperback)
Hugh Matheson, Christopher Dodd 1
R230 Discovery Miles 2 300 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Arguably the greatest coach in British sporting history. SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS Jurgen Grobler's Olympic coaching career is one of legend, yet the man himself has remained resolutely out of the spotlight. Over the last twenty years he has masterminded British Rowing's incomparable success. And when the difference between gold and silver can mean mere fractions of a second, Jurgen Grobler has consistently delivered Olympic gold through various boat classes and with an ever-changing group of athletes. Arguably the greatest coach in British sporting history, Grobler's unparalleled record outstrips many much better known records and stories; building champions such as Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell to name but few. This authoritative account of Grobler's career straddles the Iron Curtain, beginning in the German Democratic Republic, where systemic state-funded doping was an open secret, before crossing to Britain following the fall of the Berlin Wall. And whilst culture and sport have shifted dramatically over the last half century, Grobler's pursuit of greatness has never faltered. Written by Olympic medallist, Hugh Matheson, and rowing historian, Christopher Dodd, More Power is the unmissable story of one man's quest for glory, and sets out to unlock the secrets of Jurgen Grobler: the finest coach Olympic sport has ever seen.

Broad River User's Guide (Paperback): Joe Cook Broad River User's Guide (Paperback)
Joe Cook
R603 R501 Discovery Miles 5 010 Save R102 (17%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The Broad River is among the last free-flowing rivers in Georgia and perhaps the state's most wild. The Broad River User's Guide traces the unique characteristics of the full 60 miles of the river and the 110 miles of its three forks (South, Middle, and North) before the main river's convergence with the Savannah River. In doing so, the guide outlines the river's cultural and natural history, telling the story of humans' relationship to the river from precolonial days to the present. Though the mainstem of the Broad is one of the few Georgia rivers to escape dams, it was one of Georgia's first inland river valleys to be explored and settled. Along its course are rare species like shoals spider lilies and the Bartram's bass, not to mention some of the most popular whitewater paddling in North Georgia. With this handbook, river explorers will find all the information needed to embark on a Broad River journey, including detailed maps, put in/take out suggestions, fishing and camping locations, mile-by-mile points of interest, and an illustrated natural history guide to help identify animals and plants commonly seen in and around the river. This guide includes: an introduction and overview of the riverchapters describing each river section with detailed maps and notes on river access and points of interest a compact natural history guide featuring species of interest found along Georgia's rivers notes on safety and boating etiquette a fishing primer notes on organizations working to protect the river

Paddle - A long way around Ireland (Paperback, Main): Jasper Winn Paddle - A long way around Ireland (Paperback, Main)
Jasper Winn 1
R286 R257 Discovery Miles 2 570 Save R29 (10%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

One summer, writer and musician, Jasper Winn set himself an extraordinary task. He would kayak the whole way round Ireland - a thousand miles - camping on remote headlands and islands, carousing in bars and paddling clockwise until he got back where he started. But in the worst Irish summer in living memory the pleasures of idling among seals, fulmars and fishing boats soon gave way to heroic struggles through storm-tossed seas ... and lock-ins playing music in coastal pubs. Circling the country where he grew up, Jasper reflects on life at the very fringes of Ireland, the nature and lore of its seas, and his own eccentric upbringing - sprung from school at age ten and left free to explore the countryside and its traditional life. Charming, quietly epic, and with an irresistible undertow of wit, Paddle is a low-tech adventure that captures the sheer joy of a misty morning on Ireland's coast. As the sun breaks through, you'll be longing to set off too.

Stress-Free Engine Maintenance (Paperback): Duncan Wells, Jonathan Parker Stress-Free Engine Maintenance (Paperback)
Duncan Wells, Jonathan Parker
R487 Discovery Miles 4 870 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Stress-Free Engine Maintenance is an accessible and practical guide to understanding what is going on with your boat's engine, how to look after it, spotting the signs when all is not well, and how to fix it. Learn how to change a filter and impeller, how to ensure the engine doesn't overheat, and much more. This visual and jargon-free book covers all the essentials for looking after your engine, in one place, including: - Basic principles of how an engine works - Fuel, cooling and air systems - Engine electrical systems - Gearboxes and drives - Checklists (e.g. before starting and once running) - Most common causes of breakdown - Troubleshooting Like the other titles in Duncan Wells' bestselling 'Stress-Free' series, the information is presented in an accessible, manageable way, with the use of diagrams, quick reference tables, box features, QR videos, clear explanations, top tips and checklists, making maintenance and basic repair of your engine straightforward, and with minimum stress. There are also plenty of amusing anecdotes and useful lessons learned. If you find the prospect of fixing anything to do with the engine daunting, then this is the book for you. Stress-Free Engine Maintenance is a key addition to any boat's bookshelf, ready to remind the skipper how to deal with problems and keep everything running smoothly.

Yachting Start to Finish - From Beginner to Advanced: the Perfect Guide to Improving Your Yachting Skills (Paperback, 2nd... Yachting Start to Finish - From Beginner to Advanced: the Perfect Guide to Improving Your Yachting Skills (Paperback, 2nd edition)
Barry Pickthall
R518 R422 Discovery Miles 4 220 Save R96 (19%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Yachting Start to Finish is the perfect book for you if you are new to sailing, or if you are an experienced sailor wanting to broaden your skills and develop your techniques. This easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide takes you through the basic principles, preparing to sail, your first sail and safety at sea. It includes advice on choosing and buying a yacht, essential equipment, boat handling, tides, weather and navigation, all taken from the courses delivered by the UK's biggest sailing school, the UKSA. This book is accessible to all levels, giving those new to sailing straightforward advice, and showing experienced sailors how to take their sailing to the next level with professional tips on how to sail faster and safer. It covers day keelboats and cruising yachts. This book is packed with hundreds of illustrations and photographs, and is a great way to learn, develop and refresh your sailing skills.

Northern England & IOM - Fifty Great Sea Kayak Voyages (Paperback): Jim Krawiecki Northern England & IOM - Fifty Great Sea Kayak Voyages (Paperback)
Jim Krawiecki
R703 Discovery Miles 7 030 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

From the Mersey to the Solway and the Isle of Man in the West and the Humber to Berwick in the east, 'up north' is described to us in the author's own inimitable style. Industrial areas and the wilder landscapes are described with the same care and attention to detail. The result is a wealth of varied sea kayaking voyages to suit all tastes and abilities, from easy sheltered paddles to testing offshore passages and everything in between. In addition to the usual important information needed to plan a trip, recommended cafes, pubs and chip shops are strategically located to provide sustenance at the end of your trip. Detailed tidal information also allows the book to serve as a valuable inshore pilot for water users such as anglers, windsurfers and sailors. Jim started paddling in any old kayak he could muster during the school holidays. He has since paddled (and swum) many of the exciting white water rivers of England, Scotland and Wales, as well as many of those in the French Alps. A passion for sea kayaking combined with an interest in writing and photography, brought about the first comprehensive guidebook to the Welsh coast, for sea kayakers. His first publication ("Welsh Sea Kayaking" co-authored by Andy Biggs) is a great success and has already gone to a reprint.

The Complete Rigger's Apprentice: Tools and Techniques for Modern and Traditional Rigging, Second Edition (Hardcover, 2nd... The Complete Rigger's Apprentice: Tools and Techniques for Modern and Traditional Rigging, Second Edition (Hardcover, 2nd edition)
Brion Toss
R1,101 R876 Discovery Miles 8 760 Save R225 (20%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Revised and updated-the only book you need on sailboat rigging and marlinspike arts From its initial publication, The Complete Rigger's Apprentice has been the definitive go-to resource for weekend sailors and maritime professionals who want to master the fine art of rigging. In this revised second edition, master rigger Brion Toss expands upon the traditional basics of ropeworking to give you the most comprehensive, up-to-date information on the latest tools, techniques, and tricks of the trade. Features include: A complete rigging primer of essential gear, principles, and proceduresClassic ropeworking techniques you can adapt for today's modern rigsMoney-saving tips on the newest equipment, materials, upgrades and designsIllustrated instructions for tying knots, splicing rope, and making repairsProfessional guidelines for inspecting and maintaining rigs for longer voyagesEmergency procedures, troubleshooters and fixes to ensure smooth sailingNew technologies for multihull rigs, soft-shackles, Sta-Lok terminals, and more Need-to-know resources including a portfolio of rigs and glossary of termsPLUS rope tricks and puzzles that will delight your passengers

Ocean Sailing - The Offshore Cruising Experience with Real-life Practical Advice (Hardcover): Paul Heiney Ocean Sailing - The Offshore Cruising Experience with Real-life Practical Advice (Hardcover)
Paul Heiney
R1,081 R883 Discovery Miles 8 830 Save R198 (18%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This is the reassuring voice of the ocean sailing community. Your big adventure starts here.

For many sailors, an ocean passage is the big dream. But many will worry that they don't have the right experience, that their boat isn't strong enough, or that it will be prohibitively expensive and difficult.

Ocean Sailing will prepare you for an ocean passage by painting a picture of what ocean sailing is really like, through the experiences of others who have gone before. Topics covered range from safety to boat kit and preparations, budgeting to staying in touch with home, equipment breakdowns to health and weather.

Members of three great cruising clubs – the Royal Cruising Club, Ocean Cruising Club, and the Cruising Club of America – share their vast wealth of experience, and by focusing on the practicalities of ocean sailing, allay the anxieties and doubts of prospective ocean cruisers to ensure a deeply satisfying ocean voyage.

Splicing Modern Ropes - A Practical Handbook (Hardcover): Jan-Willem Polman Splicing Modern Ropes - A Practical Handbook (Hardcover)
Jan-Willem Polman
R628 R529 Discovery Miles 5 290 Save R99 (16%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

For any seafarer, splicing rope is an essential skill. But the traditional 3-strand rope is fast disappearing. So how do you splice braided rope? This is the definitive guide to this crucial skill. Most of the techniques are quite easy to master - and also fun to do. See why splices are better - and stronger - than knots or shackles for joining or shortening rope, and follow the step-by-step photographs and clear instructions to find out how to splice efficiently. Learn how to * make strong, reliable splices in braided rope * select ropes in the materials that best suit your on-board requirements * customise your ropes to make your setup easier and safer * optimise your deck layout and save weight on board * taper your sheets for ease of handling * splice an extra cover on your ropes to give better grip in clutches, avoid chafe and make them last longer While a knot can reduce the strength of a rope by as much as 50%, a well-spliced rope loses only 5-10%. The techniques, insights and suggestions within these pages will be invaluable to all boaters, whether recreational or commercial.

Ocean Passages and Landfalls - Cruising routes of the world (Hardcover, 3rd New edition): Rod Heikell, Andy O'Grady Ocean Passages and Landfalls - Cruising routes of the world (Hardcover, 3rd New edition)
Rod Heikell, Andy O'Grady; Edited by Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson Ltd
R1,206 R1,064 Discovery Miles 10 640 Save R142 (12%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

This cruising guide for ocean voyagers provides invaluable passage-planning information for tried and tested routes around the world. Climates and weather patterns, currents, seasons and timings are key to selecting routes, but just as important is knowing something about the countries that you will arrive in. Details of the expected formalities and regulations are followed by essential information on key landfalls, accompanied by the first-hand observations of well-known world sailors and authors Rod Heikell and Andy O'Grady. Text and plans have been updated for this third edition which is illustrated with a number of new photographs to inspire both dreamers and passagemakers. "I have recently been planning a voyage from Trinidad to New Zealand using Ocean Passages and Landfalls by Rod Heikell and Andy O'Grady. The book has been an exceptional resource. The mass of information on a wealth of subjects is excellent. The layout is beautifully put together and very accessible. The pilotage and chartlets will be invaluable. The book will certainly be travelling with me and I cannot recommend it highly enough to anybody who is planning ocean voyaging." Theresa Kewell, S/Y Mr Blue 'This is a 'blue planet' book. Its scope is awe-inspiring as it takes an overview of the globe as the yachtsman's potential cruising ground... It is of course possible to glean all the macro information from scientific geophysical sources, but the personality and experience of the authors adds an indispensable ingredient.'

Inland Waterways of France Volume 1 North and Centre, 1 - North and Centre (Paperback, 9th edition): David Edwards-May Inland Waterways of France Volume 1 North and Centre, 1 - North and Centre (Paperback, 9th edition)
David Edwards-May; Edited by Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson Ltd
R681 R622 Discovery Miles 6 220 Save R59 (9%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The ninth edition of Inland Waterways of France is the ideal guide for planning cruises in and through the most fascinating and diverse waterway network in Europe. This edition takes a new paperback format, split into three volumes. Author David Edwards-May presents a detailed overview of the waterways extending from the English Channel through Northern France, Picardy and Paris to Central France and Burgundy. This system totals 2700 kilometres of waterways that are as vibrant as ever, and include the new Seine-Nord Europe Canal, now under construction, to be completed by 2028. Recreational use is growing alongside the commercial traffic on the busier waterways, while Champagne, Burgundy and Central France have become cruising destinations in their own right. This first volume of the new edition sets out the current state of the network in 200 pages in full colour, with detailed maps of junctions and other key sites on the network, overview maps for each waterway, and route descriptions. It is a unique blend of practical information, maps, background historical notes and colour photographs.

Downriver - Into the Future of Water in the West (Hardcover): Heather Hansman Downriver - Into the Future of Water in the West (Hardcover)
Heather Hansman
R609 Discovery Miles 6 090 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The Green River, the most significant tributary of the Colorado River, runs 730 miles from the glaciers of Wyoming to the desert canyons of Utah. Over its course it meanders through ranches, cities, national parks, endangered fish habitats, and some of the most significant natural gas fields in the country, as it provides water for 33 million people. Stopped up by dams, slaked off by irrigation, and dried up by cities, the Green is crucial, overused, and at risk, now more than ever. Fights over the river's water, and what's going to happen to it in the future, are longstanding, intractable, and only getting worse as the west gets hotter and drier and more people depend on the river with each passing year. As a former raft guide and an environmental reporter, Heather Hansman knew these fights were happening, but she felt driven to see them from a different perspective-from the river itself. So she set out on a journey, in a one-person inflatable pack raft, to paddle the river from source to confluence and see what the experience might teach her. Mixing lyrical accounts of quiet paddling through breathtaking beauty with nights spent camping solo and lively discussions with farmers, city officials, and other people met along the way, Downriver is the story of that journey, a foray into the present-and future-of water in the west.

Man the Ropes - The Autobiography of Augustine Courtauld: Explorer, Naval Officer, Yachtsman (Paperback): Augustine Courtauld Man the Ropes - The Autobiography of Augustine Courtauld: Explorer, Naval Officer, Yachtsman (Paperback)
Augustine Courtauld
R365 R331 Discovery Miles 3 310 Save R34 (9%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days
When Men & Mountains Meet Paperback - Like the desire for drink or drugs, the craving for mountains is not easily overcome... When Men & Mountains Meet Paperback - Like the desire for drink or drugs, the craving for mountains is not easily overcome (Paperback, New edition)
H.W. Tilman; Foreword by Simon Yates
R379 R303 Discovery Miles 3 030 Save R76 (20%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

'We had climbed a mountain and crossed a pass; been wet, cold, hungry, frightened, and withal happy. One more Himalayan season was over. It was time to begin thinking of the next. "Strenuousness is the immortal path, sloth is the way of death".' First published in 1946, the scope of H.W. 'Bill' Tilman's When Men & Mountains Meet is broad, covering his disastrous expedition to the Assam Himalaya, a small exploratory trip into Sikkim, and then his wartime heroics. In the thirties, Assam was largely unknown and unexplored. It proved a challenging environment for Tilman's party, the jungle leaving the men mosquito-bitten and suffering with tropical diseases, and thwarting their mountaineering success. Sikkim proved altogether more successful. Tilman, who is once again happy and healthy, enjoys some exploratory ice climbing and discovers Abominable Snowman tracks, particularly remarkable as the creature appeared to be wearing boots - 'there is no reason why he should not have picked up a discarded pair at the German Base Camp and put them to their obvious use'. And then, in 1939, war breaks out. With good humour and characteristic understatement we hear about Tilman's remarkable Second World War. After digging gun pits on the Belgian border and in Iraq, he was dropped by parachute behind enemy lines to fight alongside Albanian and Italian partisans. Tilman was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his efforts - and the keys to the city of Belluno, which he helped save from occupation and destruction. Tilman's comments on the German approach to Himalayan climbing could equally be applied to his guerrilla warfare ethos. 'They spent a lot of time and money and lost a lot of climbers and porters, through bad luck and more often through bad judgement.' While elsewhere the war machine rumbled on, Tilman's war was fast, exciting, lightweight and foolhardy - and makes for gripping reading.

Messing About in Boats (Paperback): John R. Muir Messing About in Boats (Paperback)
John R. Muir; Foreword by Sam Llewellyn
R370 R336 Discovery Miles 3 360 Save R34 (9%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Inexplicably out of print since the late 1940s, Messing About in Boats is one of the most charming and evocative accounts of work and leisure afloat in the years either side of the Great War. John Muir describes with humanity and humour the perils of boat acquisition and ownership by the impecunious, and the somewhat mixed talents of the Paid Hand. But his account is more than balanced by the interest and pleasure he took in working and sailing in English waters, from the North Sea to the Bristol Channel, in an age long before the marina, GPS and radio.Muir provides two valuable first-hand accounts of work afloat under steam and sail before the War, while he was on half-paid leave between assignments in the Royal Navy: In the North Sea 'boxing' fleet of trawlers which remained on station for weeks on end, where he served in his medical capacity, and later in the Bristol Channel Pilot service, where he crewed on a cutter, delivering the pilot to incoming ships in all weathers.His unfavourable views of the qualities of the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter as a yacht may surprise its aficionados today, but he relented sufficiently to own two of them, Maud and Freda, which feature in the book.

Triumph and Tribulation - No ship should be without Tabasco sauce (Paperback, New edition): H.W. Tilman Triumph and Tribulation - No ship should be without Tabasco sauce (Paperback, New edition)
H.W. Tilman; Foreword by Andrew Craig-Bennett; Afterword by Bob Comlay
R369 R292 Discovery Miles 2 920 Save R77 (21%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

'Experience is said to be the name men give to their mistakes and of the experience I gained in Spitsbergen that may well be true.' The circumnavigation of Spitsbergen is the first of three voyages described in H.W. 'Bill' Tilman's fifteenth and final book, a remarkable example of Tilman's ability to triumph when supported by a crew game for all challenges. The 1974 voyage of the pilot cutter Baroque takes Tilman to his furthest north--the highest latitude of any of his travels in the northern or southern hemisphere. The account of this achievement makes compelling reading, the crew pulling together to avert potential disaster from a navigational misjudgement. A younger, less experienced crew join Tilman in 1975, this time heading north along Greenland's west coast until a break in the boom necessitates the abandonment of the objective and an early return. 'That one can never be quite confident of reaching any of the places I aim at may be part of their charm, and failure is at least an excuse for making another voyage.' The following year proves to be Tilman's last voyage in his own boat, his account beginning with a dry nod to his artillery background: 'As I begin to describe this voyage, the discrepancy between the target and the fall of shot provokes a wry smile.' Tilman never expected crews to pay, covering all the costs of his voyages personally. He therefore held the quite reasonable view that his crew would pull their weight, show loyalty to the ship and take the rough with the smooth. Sadly, the crew in 1976 fell far short of that expectation, forcing several changes of plan and eventually obliging Tilman to leave Baroque in Iceland. Not for the first time in Tilman's remarkable 140,000 miles of voyaging is he moved to quote Conrad: 'Ships are all right, it's the men in them.' Tilman set a high standard and led by example; where his companions rose to the challenge, as they did in the majority of his expeditions, the results were often remarkable. Triumph and Tribulation, his fifteenth and final book, completes this newly extended edition of his literary legacy, a fine testament to a remarkable life.

Tumblehome - One Woman's Canoeing Adventures in the Divine Near-Wilderness (Paperback): Brenda Missen Tumblehome - One Woman's Canoeing Adventures in the Divine Near-Wilderness (Paperback)
Brenda Missen
R342 Discovery Miles 3 420 Ships in 12 - 17 working days
Uncommon Courage - The Yachtsmen Volunteers of World War II (Hardcover): Julia Jones Uncommon Courage - The Yachtsmen Volunteers of World War II (Hardcover)
Julia Jones
R523 Discovery Miles 5 230 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

'An extraordinary account of heroism and sacrifice. An unexpected and important story, rivetingly told. Rip roaring stuff. Get this into the paws of the sea dog in your life.' - Griff Rhys Jones 'A book that had to be written' - Let's Talk 'People ashore don't realise what a grim war we are waging at sea with the Germans. A cold-blooded war, in a way I think requiring the maximum of bravery from the men of both sides in the long run, as it is so ceaseless and intangible. You just don't know whether the next moment will be your last.' Robert Hichens, RNVSR Several years ago, Julia Jones was searching through long-forgotten items stored at her house and discovered some suitcases of old written material, which turned out to be accounts by her father of his experiences in the RNVSR (Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve). She realised that as a child she'd met some of the people mentioned, and although she was too young to truly know them, these youthful impressions spurred her on to rediscovery and understanding. In this absorbing book Julia tells the compelling stories of the yachtsmen. Some were famous (such as Sir Peter Scott), others were wealthy (such as August Courtauld, who returned his pay to help with the war effort) but the majority were just 'ordinary' professionals such as publishers, lawyers and advertising agents, who signed up because they loved sailing. Few could ever have dreamed that they would end up acting in areas that were so far beyond their normal lives, as they found themselves commanding destroyers and submarines, and undertaking covert missions of sabotage. Some undertook the dangerous daily drudgery of minesweeping; others tackled unexploded bombs, engaged the enemy in high-speed attacks or played key roles in Ian Fleming's famous intelligence commandos. This varied crew of men were given tasks vital to the war effort, requiring endurance, extraordinary bravery, resourcefulness and quick thinking. Some died in the process, but for the ones who survived, Julia asks how their experiences changed them. Could their love of sailing and the sea survive the harsh realities of war?

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