John Kretschmer is sailing's practical philosopher - as much a doer as a thinker. And that is the overarching theme of this chronicle of a sailing life. Often amusing, sometimes poignant, occasionally terrifying but always inspiring, his deeply personal account is a welcome reminder of the good life waiting at sea. With hundreds of thousands of nautical miles under his keel, John's adventures have taken him several times around the world, with challenging crossings of the Atlantic and the Pacific, a narrow escape from a coup in Yemen, an unlikely deliverance from a coral reef off Belize as well as more serene, introspective passages where trade winds are blowing and stories are flowing. His crew has included CEOs, actors, writers, teachers, kids - in essence, everyone. John's narrative is interwoven with practical tips and advice in seamanship, but also, and just as importantly, his hard-won insights about making the most of our lives. He truly believes we find out who we really are, and what we are capable of, far from the shackles of land, when we find a place where time changes shape - days may merge into one another, but minutes are memorable. To live adventurously is to live more fully, and that is the life John Kretschmer continues to live. In this book he shares his simple profundities that will inspire those who live to sail, and those seeking something more rewarding from life.

Naming a boat is as personal as naming a baby (even if few male skippers would risk telling the wife that). The culmination of many years of dreaming and penny pinching, the purchase of a boat of any size is a huge event for any sailor, and with that comes serious naming pressure. Many boatowners have a secret fear that someone else got their brilliantly original name first - or ruined it for ever by reducing its reputation to snigger-worthy opprobrium. Sometimes it's so difficult to name a boat that skippers are desperate enough to ask the sorts of people who think Boaty McBoatface would be a good choice... The perfect gift for any skipper or would-be skipper, and featuring hundreds of common and uncommon names, this entertaining little book will answer perhaps the most important question new owners should ask themselves: what will this name say about me? And as everyone knows, once you've named a boat, you never ever change it, so it also answers the question: what is my boat name saying about me? Names will be categorised and listed alphabetically within these chapters: - Pun Intended (some reveal a classic wit, others reveal just how many desperate unfunny dullards there are sailing around in yachts called Seas the Day) - Common as Muck (bad names - Moondancer, Wave Catcher and others that sound like names from a bad children's novel: where they come from, why they're bad, and how to avoid inventing another) - A Bit of Pedigree (good names - but probably too classy for you to get away with copying them) - Don't Even Go There (they might be uncommon these days, but sometimes there's a good reason for that) - Word Piracy (expressions borrowed from other languages - with varying degrees of wisdom) - Myths, Legends and Gods (inspired by heroes and deities of cultures now lost to the past) - The Devil's Own (don't tempt fate by calling your boat Invincible, as the Royal Navy did each time the last one sank/exploded - plus other superstition-violating names) With fascinating history, a fair bit of psychology and a lot of humour, this is the essential guide for all would-be boat owners, and anyone buying a gift for Dad for Father's Day or Christmas.

Kim Sturgess was a weekend sailor: he enjoyed club racing and several brief sailing holidays, but had never attempted a substantial expedition. Reaching the age of fifty focused the mind and he decided to sail around Britain. While many cruising sailors would not contemplate a 1900 nautical mile voyage, he broke the voyage into a series of day sails, making it an achievable ambition for him, largely single-handed, and for many other weekend sailors who might dream of sailing around their home island. This book tells the quirky traveller's narrative of the voyage and visits to forty-eight towns. Evoking the spirit of both Jerome K. Jerome with his Three Men in a Boat and Joshua Slocum's Sailing Alone Around the World, Kim shares his thoughts and struggles, recounting how easy it is for anyone to become an adventurer here at home. But don't expect to always agree with him - he has been described as "the Jeremy Clarkson of yachting"!

This is a practical guide that will help the reader to master the skills needed to manoeuvre a sea kayak efficiently. For beginner and intermediate paddlers. Doug draws on his personal and coaching experience to help the reader master sea kayak handling skills and techniques. Accurate sequential photos and simple concise language make the descriptions easy to follow and understand. The foundation skills of posture, connectivity (how your body is connected to the kayak), power transfer and learning to 'feel' how the boat responds, are explored initially. The author then goes on to tackle forward paddling, keeping the kayak on course, reverse paddling, edging, turning on the spot, forward turns on the move, reverse turns on the move, stern rudders, moving sideways, support strokes, and the use of skegs and rudders. "Sea Kayak Handling" is recommended as support material for the British Canoe Union 3 and 4 Star (Sea) awards. (The 1 star is a novice 'encouragement' award, the 2 star covers basic generic kayak skills, the 3 star basic/intermediate sea specific skills and experience, and the 4 star covers intermediate sea specific skills and leadership in moderate conditions).

The Adlard Coles Book of Navigation is the perfect reference for anyone following an RYA navigation course, from Day Skipper through to Yachtmaster Offshore and for any seafarer requiring a knowledge of navigation. This highly practical book explains everything the reader needs to know to navigate a yacht or motorboat from one port to another safely and accurately. Using clear diagrams, worked examples and colour photographs throughout, Tim Bartlett explains each stage of navigation, including electronic navigation. 'Excellent bestselling reference...you should be able to do it once you've read this!' Kelvin Hughes "Particularly useful for readers with little navigational experience...will also appeal to anyone studying for navigational qualifications.' The Nautical Magazine 'A must-have for any coastal and offshore yachtsman.' Yachting Monthly

The Boatyard Book is a practical, comprehensive reference manual that provides sensible, accessible advice for boatowners on planning and carrying out annual maintenance, repairs, upgrades and refits of sailing yachts and motorboats, up to 20 metres in length. Beginning with all the information owners will need to care for their boat, including how to budget and plan tasks to be done through the year, The Boatyard Book goes on to help them choose the best boatyard for their needs, then provides essential how-to reference material and ideas for a comprehensive range of projects large and small to be carried out ashore. There's advice and tips from highly respected boatyard owners, specialists and surveyors, as well as from the author's own 25 years' experience of boat ownership, all fully illustrated with step-by-step photos and illustrations. Topics covered include: - laying up - hull and deck care - mast and rigging - sail care - engines - electrics - maintenance of plumbing and gas systems - more complex projects, including re-wiring a boat, overhauling an engine, how to treat osmosis and how to go about a complete refit. This is a book to be kept at the yard, or on the boat, and used time and time again by those who are either happy to keep things ticking along with the minimum of effort or by those who want to get stuck into bigger projects.

Mankind has plied the waves of the ocean since the dawn of recorded time, seeking sustenance, riches and adventure. "Fifty Places To Sail Before You Die" maps out some of the world's great sailing venues, as shared by both champion racers and celebrated adventurers. Venues range from clubby New England ports like Newport to the hair-raising passage around Cape Horn to idyllic island retreats like Mopelia. In addition to colourful descriptions of the sailing spots and anecdotes from some of the world's greatest sailors, "Fifty Places To Sail Before You Die" will include brilliant photographs and enough information to help would-be sailors chart their own adventure in these areas.

'For most men, as Epicurus has remarked, rest is stagnation and activity madness. Mad or not, the activity that I have been pursuing for the last twenty years takes the form of voyages to remote, mountainous regions.' H.W. 'Bill' Tilman's fourteenth book Ice with Everything describes three more of those voyages, 'the first comparatively humdrum, the second totally disastrous, and the third exceedingly troublesome'. The first voyage describes Tilman's 1971 attempt to reach East Greenland's remote and ice-bound Scoresby Sound. The largest fjord system in the world was named after the father of Whitby whaling captain, William Scoresby, who first charted the coastline in 1822. Scoresby's two-volume Account of the Arctic Regions provided much of the historical inspiration for Tilman's northern voyages and fuelled his fascination with Scoresby Sound and the unclimbed mountains at its head. Tilman's first attempt to reach the fjord had already cost him his first boat, Mischief, in 1968. The following year, a 'polite mutiny' aboard Sea Breeze had forced him to turn back within sight of the entrance, so with a good crew aboard in 1971, it was particularly frustrating for Tilman to find the fjord blocked once more, this time by impenetrable sea ice at the entrance. Refusing to give up, Tilman's obsession with Scoresby Sound continued in 1972 when a series of unfortunate events led to the loss of Sea Breeze, crushed between a rock and an ice floe. Safely back home in Wales, the inevitable search for a new boat began. 'One cannot buy a biggish boat as if buying a piece of soap. The act is almost as irrevocable as marriage and should be given as much thought'. The 1902 pilot cutter Baroque was acquired and after not inconsiderable expense, proved equal to the challenge. Tilman's first troublesome voyage aboard her to West Greenland in 1973 completes this collection.

Plans included: Ayvalik (Turkey) (1:75 000) Sigri (N. Lesvos) (1:30 000) Entrance to Kolpos Kalloni (N. Lesvos) (1:30 000) Entrance to Kolpos Yeras (N. Lesvos) (1:40 000) Mitilini (N. Lesvos) (1:10 000) Bademli Limani (Turkey) (1:40 000) On this 2014 edition, the chart has been fully revised and updated throughout. The new TSS in the approaches to Aliaga is shown, as are developments to the new Mitilini Marina. Details of the recently deployed AIS transmitters are shown across the chart.

'No sea voyage can be dull for a man who has an eye for the ever-changing sea and sky, the waves, the wind and the way of a ship upon the water.' So observes H.W. 'Bill' Tilman in this account of two lengthy voyages in which dull intervals were few and far between. In 1966, after a succession of eventful and successful voyages in the high latitudes of the Arctic, Tilman and his pilot cutter Mischief head south again, this time with the Antarctic Peninsula, Smith Island and the unclimbed Mount Foster in their sights. Mischief goes South is an account of a voyage marred by tragedy and dogged by crew trouble from the start. Tilman gives ample insight into the difficulties associated with his selection of shipmates and his supervision of a crew, as he wryly notes, 'to have four misfits in a crew of five is too many'. The second part of this volume contains the author's account of a gruelling voyage south, an account left unwritten for ten years for lack of time and energy. Originally intended as an expedition to the remote Crozet Islands in the southern Indian Ocean, this 1957 voyage evolved into a circumnavigation of Africa, the unplanned consequence of a momentary lapse in attention by an inexperienced helmsman. The two voyages described in Mischief goes South covered 43,000 miles over twenty-five months spent at sea and, while neither was deemed successful, published together they give a fine insight into Tilman's character.

COLLECTIVE WINNER OF THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE AND SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 'This is the book that has been wanting to be written for decades: the ragged fringe of Britain as a laboratory for the human spirit' Adam Nicolson Over the course of a year, leading historian and nature writer David Gange kayaked the weather-ravaged coasts of Atlantic Britain and Ireland from north to south: every cove, sound, inlet, island. The idea was to travel slowly and close to the water: in touch with both the natural world and the histories of communities on Atlantic coastlines. The story of his journey is one of staggering adventure, range and beauty. For too long, Gange argues, the significance of coasts has been underestimated, and the potential of small boats as tools to make sense of these histories rarely explored. This book seeks to put that imbalance right. Paddling alone in sun and storms, among dozens of whales and countless seabirds, Gange and his kayak travelled through a Shetland summer, Scottish winter and Irish spring before reaching Wales and Cornwall. Sitting low in the water, as did millions in eras when coasts were the main arteries of trade and communication, Gange describes, in captivating prose and loving detail, the experiences of kayaking, coastal living and historical discovery. Drawing on the archives of islands and coastal towns, as well as their vast poetic literatures in many languages, he shows that the neglected histories of these stunning regions are of real importance in understanding both the past and future of the whole archipelago. It is a history of Britain and Ireland like no other.

An essential guide to tying knots in splash proof ring bound format

This full colour, clearly illustrated book covers cover the top 10 knots everyone should know, plus coiling and throwing a rope, and whipping (stopping the end unravelling). It is part of of Fernhurst's highly popular Companion series.

All "Companion" books feature essential information - colour coded for instant access. Designed to withstand the rigours of on-board use they are splash proof, ringbound and printed on durable laminated card.Everyone needs knots: sailors, fishermen, girl guides, etc.Features the 10 knots everyone should know.Colour sequences of drawings show how to tie the knot, step-by-step.The use, good and bad points of each knot is highlighted.Splash proof ring bound format.

This illustrated guide will help you plan your journey along the River Spey, one of the UK's classic canoe and kayak touring rivers. The river may be navigated from Loch Spey to Spey Bay, and here this is divided into seven sections. These can be paddled as single day trips or combined into multi-day adventures. Each section is described in detail and includes agreed access points, local attractions, plus accommodation and camping options. To help you plan your trip there are also eight suggested multi-day itineraries, which range from three to five days.Whether you opt for a five-day expedition or a scenic day trip, here you will find all the information you need to prepare for your journey. There is advice on equipment, food and safety, as well as information on wildlife, wild camping and navigation skills. The River Spey is a stunning river that should be on every paddler's tick list and this guide will help you to make the most of your journey.

This beautiful full-colour book covers knots, splices and whippings. It begins with the ten knots everyone should know. The other knots are grouped by use so that if, for example, you want to make a loop you have eight knots to choose from. Each stage of each knot is illustrated and its uses, strong points and weak points are highlighted.

Get the authoritative guide to the waterways of Georgia, offering thousands of miles of paddling. Wet your paddle-and whet your paddling appetite-with Canoeing & Kayaking Georgia, the definitive guide to whitewater, smoothwater, and everything in between. From the Chattahoochee River Watershed in the west to the Savannah River Basin along the eastern border, this is your complete resource for paddling the creeks and rivers of the Peach State. Canoeing & Kayaking Georgia covers 3,700 miles of paddling in more than 80 profiles of rivers and creeks. They range in difficulty from pleasant and uncomplicated runs for beginners, such as the Chattooga River Section II, to whitewater runs in the Tallulah Gorge. Expert paddlers Suzanne Welander and Bob Sehlinger utilize the latest technology, along with good old-fashioned experience, to make your canoe and kayak adventures easy to enjoy. The book has been revised and updated, with maps and important details like access points, river gauges, mileages, contact information, and GPS coordinates for every put-in and takeout. Canoeing & Kayaking Georgia is useful for paddlers of all skill levels. It is the resource you need to find where to float, no matter what type of boat you paddle. Inside you'll find New maps plus GPS coordinates More than 80 river and creek profiles, divided into 8 sections Waterway recommendations for beginners, families, campers, and more Easy-to-reference descriptions of Georgia's developed Water Trails

The Baltic was northern Europe's best kept secret - but word has got out to sailors from across the continent and beyond. The lively seaside towns, beautiful wild coastlines that stretch for miles, serene and secluded bays, remote islands, and friendly people are driving a boom in cruising and chartering. This is the perfect cruising guide for anyone who wants to explore the Baltic Sea, whether pottering around Denmark and Germany, crossing to Sweden or cruising further afield, into Eastern Europe. It includes suggested routes for trips of all lengths, from short trips in the Sly Firth or Flensburg Fjord suitable for those with less time or experience, to longer cruises to beautiful locations like Svendborg or Marstrand, visits to busy cities like Aarhus, Copenhagen and Stockholm, and more adventurous tours to islands like Anholt, Bornholm or Gotland. Lavishly illustrated with gorgeous photography, and as inspirational as it is practical, this guide covers all the best destinations to explore, and features navigation advice, including landmarks, lights, bearings, depths and approaches, as well as detailing local facilities and attractions.

Plans included: Mylor Yacht Harbour (1:10 000) Falmouth Marina (1:5000) Falmouth Inner Harbour (1:10 000)

Amyr Klink, whose sailing exploits have made him a hero in Brazil, tells of his daring singlehanded circumnavigation below the Antarctic Convergence. Surfing the waves in his custom-built 50-foot "aluminum red truck," PARATII, Klink enjoys the quiet confidence that comes from proper planning, common-sense technology, and a lifelong fascination with the history of Southern Ocean sailing. A modern Moitessier, sailing before an Aerorig mast, Klink proves his seamanship handling tricky boat repairs while underway, navigating icebergs, negotiating gales and williwaws, and surfing gigantic waves.

Every yachtsman or motorboater has at some point entertained the idea of catching their own supper, but until "Sea Fishing" there hasn't been a book to guide them through it. This unique handbook fills the gap. Fishing whilst cruising along the coast or at anchor isn't as easy as it might at first seem, but this practical, photographic guide shows the novice how to set up their tackle, bait the line correctly and how to work with the tide to best effect. Different fishing techniques, tackle, weights and (importantly) bait are required when sailing at speed, drifting along the coast or fishing whilst at anchor, and this book presents them all with helpful step-by-step photos and diagrams. It also details how to kill, de-scale, fillet, skin and cook your catch. There is also a fish identification section that shows every type of fish that can be caught between Scotland and Gibraltar. Updated for the second edition, there is a new section on wreck fishing, and a wider range of fish is covered. With this book, some perseverance and a little luck, anyone trying their hand will soon be able to plan for the pleasure of fresh fish cooked aboard.

Sailing: A Beginner's Guide takes the reader step-by-step from his or her first sail to an almost intuitive mastery of small boat handling. the delightful drawings combined with the author's appealing writing style successfully explain topics in manageable double page spreads. The book unravels the mysteries of reading the wind, guides the reader through his or her first tenuous steps aboard, and then beyond to navigation, safety, seamanship and even trailering, conveying the magic as well as the nuts and bolts of sailing. It is a gentle introduction for those who are just starting out, and will provide many evocative images for those who already sail. It's all here, more successfully captured than ever before in one book. Inspirational for novice and old hand alike. 'A learn-to-sail book with heart' - WoodenBoat ' A real winner...a masterful blend of straightforward text with delightful and instructive illustrations' - Cruising World 'Teaches sailing with flair and poetry' - SAIL

The practical guide to celestial navigation - know what to do step by step, understand why you're doing it, and be confident that you can put it into practice when on board. Did you know that a person standing on the equator is effectively travelling at 900mph? And did you know that you can use this information to work out where you are in the world, to an accuracy of about 3 or 4 miles? No GPS, no computers. Just a sextant, some tables from an Almanac and the knowledge in this book. It’s the only back up if the GPS goes down, so it’s a matter of safety. If you want to qualify as a commercial skipper/superyacht captain you need to know how to carry out celestial navigation. And if you want to pass the RYA Ocean Yachtmaster™ exam, you need to know it too. It’s a major stumbling block for many sailors wanting or needing to take their next qualifications, and the other books on the market are complex and often assume some prior understanding. This book fulfils the need for a clear explanation of celestial navigation, illustrated with colour diagrams and including unique checklist sheets to enable you to repeat all those calculations you learned back at home, when you’re on deck. Without overwhelming the reader with a load of theory from the off, the author breaks down what you need to do, step by step, explaining why at every point – giving the information context, and making it more interesting and memorable. He has trained students in this subject for years, and here he’s able to use his experiences of what works, and what are the common pitfalls – he even includes a troubleshooting chapter near the end, going through errors commonly made, and how to spot them. The objective is that readers will finish the book not only knowing what to do, but really understanding why, and being able to make sense of it all again later (rather than just getting through and exam and finding themselves at a loss when on deck). The author also includes time-tested ‘proformas’ – quick reference sheets that sailors can refer to when they come to putting the theory into practice on board, avoiding the terrifying ‘cold start’ that most sailors experience when they suddenly need to put their theoretical knowledge to the test in the real world.