Robin Lloyd-Jones has been exploring the west coast and islands of Scotland in his sea kayak for more than forty years. In this book he recalls many a memorable expedition to wild and beautiful shores. Amongst magnificent scenery and ever-changing seas, we are transported to Jura, Scarba, the Garvellach Isles, Mull, Staffa, the Treshnish Isles, the Monach Isles, Iona, Lewis and the Uists, Skye, the Orkneys, and the Shetland Isles. Along the way, he explains a great deal about kayaking, about the wildlife and history of the areas he visits. More than that, however, he makes us feel that we are with him in his kayak. Through his vivid and beautifully crafted prose, we experience the terror of a force nine gale, the tranquillity of moonlit trips, and the lure of tiny bays and seal-meadows accessible only to a slim kayak. We encounter dolphins, otters, unidentified monsters and nuclear submarines. This is a book to set the imagination adrift and appeal to the Robinson Crusoe in all of us; a book for those seeking wider horizons, be their vessel an armchair or a kayak.

This highly practical guide explains what sail trim is all about - how to achieve it and what its benefits are. Aimed at owners and crews sailing all types of boats, from dinghies to offshore cruisers, with either masthead or fractional rigs, it covers: - mainsails and headsails - trim for light airs, medium strength and strong winds - trim for beating, reaching and running - correct camber and mast rake - weather helm - causes and cures - easy reference trimming tables How to Trim Sails will help racers and cruisers of all levels of experience get the best performance from their boats and sails. 'Any owner will find help here in unravelling the mysteries of sail shape, as it is affected by mast bend, luff tension and the rest' Practical Boat Owner

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"!

Storms, fatigue, equipment failure, intense hunger, and lack of water are just a few of the challenges that ocean rower Mick Dawson endured whilst attempting to complete one of the World's 'Last Great Firsts'. In this nail-biting true story of man versus nature, former Royal Marine commando Dawson, a Guinness World Record-holder for ocean-rowing and high-seas adventurer takes on the Atlantic and ultimately the North Pacific. It took Dawson three attempts and a back-breaking voyage of over six months to finally cross the mighty North Pacific for the first time. Dawson and his rowing partner Chris Martin spent 189 days, 10 hours and 55 minutes rowing around the clock, facing the destruction of their small boat and near-certain death every mile of the way, before finally reaching the iconic span of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Dawson's thrilling account of his epic adventure details how he and Chris propelled their fragile craft, stroke by stroke for thousands of miles across some of the most dangerous expanses of ocean, overcoming failure, personal tragedy and everything that nature could throw at him along the way.

Navigation with sextant and almanac is as user-friendly as a cornered rat.' Barefoot Navigator introducesus to a unique take on navigation - using the skills of the ancients and technology-free techniques, we learn how to navigate using the sun, sea, wind and stars, and even the flight patterns of ocean birds. The first part of this absorbing book recounts a colourful history of seafarers and their navigation techniques. How did the Polynesians manage to populate an area of ocean larger than North America simply by analysing clouds,currents and wind direction? How did the Vikings routinely travel on the notorious stretches of water between Iceland, Greenland and Scandinavia? The second part shows how to use these ancient techniques to supplement today's navigational hardware, especially in survival situations. Fascinating history, useful advice, enjoyable writing, and different to every other navigation reference out there, this second edition has been beautifully packaged in a hardback format, with new illustrations and thoroughly revised text.

From docking to surviving storm waves, everything you need to know before you hit the water

Using hundreds of illustrations and photos, "Powerboat Handling Illustrated" shows you step-by-step how to do tasks such as docking, trimming, wave handling, and close-quarters maneuvering. These maneuvers are adapted to different types of boats under various conditions.

A light-hearted look at the lock-keeper's job, be it a rural little lock on the canals, or an ultra-modern affair at a huge marina. Jake Kavanagh presents a humorous survey, using his inimitable cartoons and anecdotes, of the scrapes people get into when trying to use locks. He focuses on notable events like the Henley Regatta which afford many opportunities for horrors to unfold. Readers have enjoyed Jake's tales for decades; this is the perfect book for his devotees. 'Do not read this book while edging your 52ft hired narrow boat towards an impossibly small lock. It would seriously damage shipping.' Southern Evening Echo 'Excellent reading whilst queuing for those over-busy Thames locks on a summer weekend.' Waterways World

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.

Leeward IslandsPlans included:Deshaies (1:25 000)Pigeon Island (1:25 000)Marina de Riviere Sens (1:10 000)Pointe-a-Pitre Approaches (1:50 000)Pointe-a-Pitre (1:25 000)Gosier (1:30 000)Sainte Francois & Marina de la Grande Saline (1:10 000)Port Louis (1:20 000)Iles de la Petite Terre (1:50 000)On this 2017 edition the latest information on Marine Reserves is shown. The revised buoyed approach to Pointe a Pitre is shown and a revised plan showing the new channel along with recommended tracks is included. The plan of Deshaies has been extended to show a greater approach from the south.A new plan of Pigeon Island is included, showing anchorages and the marine reserve.The chart specification has been improved to show coloured light flashes. There has been general updating throughout.

"English Canoe Classics" is an illustrated guide to some of the finest tours of northern England's waterways, from the North Tyne in Northumbria to the Shropshire Union Canal in the West Midlands. Scenic lakes, placid canals and broad rivers, as they can only be seen from a canoe or kayak. Eddie and 'Wilf' have chosen the best inland touring routes. They are described in great detail and illustrated with numerous colour photos and maps. The selected routes are suitable for open canoes, sit-on-tops and touring kayaks. Many of them can be tackled as a single voyage or a series of day trips, with campsites en route. The journeys are all accessible but highly varied, taking place on lakes, sheltered coastline, rivers and canals. A wonderful book for planning voyages and inspiring dreams, or sharing your experiences with others. Eddie Palmer bought his first kayak over 50 years ago. It was a wood and canvas one in which he set out to paddle rivers in his part of middle England and Wales. Since then, he has kayaked and canoed extensively in the UK, Ireland, western and eastern Europe, the USA and Canada and southern Africa. His passion over the past few years has been for long-distance canoe-camping. After a competitive career in slalom and whitewater racing, he still paddles whitewater. Eddie is a Board Director of the SCA and is the co-author of Scottish Canoe Touring, author of Scottish Canoe Classics and co-author of Irish Canoe Classics (all published by Pesda Press). Nigel Wilford has been involved with canoeing for most of his adult life, paddling throughout the UK, mainland Europe, Canada, USA and New Zealand. Born in northwest Leicestershire, his first canoe experience was on the gentle River Soar. Not long after, he moved to Yorkshire to attend university. The enjoyment he found while paddling the rivers of the northeast firmly established canoeing as his activity of choice. In 1991 he joined the British Canoe Union's coaching service, helping others to improve their canoeing or to become better coaches. Nigel has held various roles within the BCU including Local Coaching Organiser and English Whitewater Safety Coordinator. He is a BCU Level 5 Coach and member of Team Pyranha.

Turn a run-down fiberglass boat into a first-class yacht

Since it first appeared in 1991, Don Casey's "This Old Boat" has helped tens of thousands of sailors refurbish older fiberglass boats and has become a revered classic among boat rehabbers.This second edition is revised from first page to last with new information on electrical systems, diesel engines, refrigeration, resins, plumbing and more. Plus, more than 600 newly created illustrations enhance the book's beauty as well as its utility.

Leeward Islands On this 2017 edition the latest depth surveys have been applied where available. The chart specification has been improved to show coloured light flashes. The accompanying sailing directions have been updated. There has been general updating throughout.

David Hillyard, founder of the famous firm of boatbuilders in Littlehampton, was born in the late nineteenth century, at the height of the Big Boat era. His family were stalwarts of Rowhedge in Essex, where the aristocratic owners of the enormous cutters dicing in the Solent sent their skippers to pick their racing crews of hard-bitten fishermen. Yachts, in those days, were for the very rich, but the men who sailed them were often the reverse. Perhaps it was a consciousness of this divide that led Hillyard-a devout Christian, descended from a long line of fishermen-to build boats that were robust, practical, and within the means of those lacking the advantage of dukedoms or armaments factories. This account of David Hillyard's voyage from apprentice boatbuilder to founder of a boatbuilding dynasty will be deeply interesting not only to owners of his boats and enthusiasts of traditional boatbuilding, but to anyone interested in the story of messing about in boats as practised in Britain. It also provides fascinating insights into the development of a small but significant corner of the relationship between the people of these islands and the seas that surround us.

THE HEART-STOPPING MEMOIR, NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING SHAILENE WOODLEY AND SAM CLAFLIN, AND DIRECTED BY BALTASAR KORMAKUR (EVEREST) A compelling, at times devastating, ultimately inspiring account of how much can go wrong on the ocean and how, miraculously, one woman conquered her own fears. 'An inspirational and empowering read' Shailene Woodley Young and in love, their lives ahead of them, Tami Oldham and her fiance Richard Sharp set sail from Tahiti under brilliant blue skies, with Tami's hometown of San Diego as their ultimate destination. But the two free spirits and avid sailors couldn't anticipate that less than two weeks into their voyage, they would sail directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. They found themselves battling pounding rain, waves the size of skyscrapers, and 140 knot winds. Richard tethered himself to the boat and sent Tami below to safety, and then all went eerily quiet. Hours later, Tami awakened to find the boat in ruins, and Richard nowhere in sight. Adrift is the story of Tami's miraculous forty-one-day journey to safety on a ravaged boat with no motor and no masts, and with little hope for rescue. It's a tale of love and survival on the high seas- an unforgettable story about resilience of the human spirit, and the transcendent power of love. Previously published as Red Sky in Mourning

In May 1946 John Caldwell set out to sail from Panama to Sydney to reunite with his wife who he hadn't seen for more than a year. Eager to reach his destination and unable to secure any other form of transport, he had to resort to singlehanded seamanship. After an ignominious scene in the harbor, where a tangled anchor led him to take an early dip, he spent ten days learning the rudiments of navigation and sailing from a book, before embarking on the 9,000 mile journey aboard the 20-foot Pagan. Ahead lay a mission that was to reveal in him elements not only of astounding courage and determination, but also of incredible foolhardiness. Within 500 miles of Panama John Caldwell had already been shipwrecked once and had his boat's engine and cockpit destroyed by an angry shark. Indefatigable, he decided to press on towards his goal.He endured the terrors and discomforts of life on the high seas and enjoyed the triumphs of fighting and winning against the elements. This is more than an exciting tale of sea-adventure. It is as compelling and unpredictable as a thriller. It is the story, witty and moving, of a man, motivated initially by love, and ultimately by his own fierce determination to survive.

A selected guide to the finest coastal paddling trips around Scotland. This completely revised and updated 2nd edition is packed with great photography and detailed route maps, alongside descriptions and anecdotes revealing Scotland's rich tapestry of maritime scenery, wildlife, history, geology and culture. Although primarily written for kayakers, the detailed tidal information contained within the book would also serve as a valuable inshore pilot for other water users such as anglers, windsurfers, sailors and SUP enthusiasts. New in this edition: * 12 additional routes (62 in total) * Selected routes in the Orkneys and Shetlands * New photos throughout * Improved maps * Sat nav coordinates for access points

The long-awaited update of this best-selling pilot guide covering the whole spectacular North Brittany coast, the Channel Islands and the fascinating harbours on the west side of the Cherbourg peninsula. Packed with comprehensive pilotage and nautical information as well as suggestions of where to eat and what to do ashore: an authoritative guide designed to help you make the most of your visit to this fabulous area. It is enhanced with colour charts and detailed photography, including spectacular aerial shots of ports, harbours and anchorages. Share Peter & Jane's joy of cruising in this fabulous area which has enabled them to create a text which will inspire and inform you and help you love the area as much as they do. Reading Peter's wonderful prose in advance of your cruise you will almost feel you are there already. When you do make landfall, you will be reassured by the pilotage descriptions which will give you the confidence to tackle even the most challenging approaches. And once you have berthed you will know where to head for that celebratory meal of incomparable French cuisine. And that's only the start of your cruise! This third edition is fully updated for publication and further updates are provided every Spring on the Fernhurst Books' website.

Plans included: Castle Bay (Barra) (1:25,000) Mallaig (1:10,000) Tobermory (Mull) (1:22,500) Caledonian Canal Entrance (1:40,000) Lynn of Lorn (1:40,000) Dunstaffnage Bay (1:20,000) Oban (1:15,000) Loch Feochan Entrance (1:25,000) Sound of Luing (1:30,000)

These spiral bound splash-resistant cards make a quick reference to essential information, and help predict the weather

These cards should be carried on board. They contain all the weather information people find hard to remember such as Sea Areas, Coastal Stations, times of broadcasts, cloud systems, how to predict the weather around lows and highs, and the terms used in broadcasts. Add a chinagraph pencil and you can fill in details and make predictions.

The Weather Companion can also be used as a revision aid for the various RYA courses, which it covers.

A new collection of sailors' brilliantly funny, real-life blunders, from the pages of Yachting Monthly. The book compiles the best of the short real-life confessions from sailors from Yachting Monthly's Confessions feature, many of them illustrated by original cartoons. These cautionary tales are arranged into themed chapters, for the amusement and edification of readers. Worse things happen at sea, so the saying goes. This book relates the embarrassing blunders and shameful shenanigans of real sailors to whom the worst did happen. Even in a world of satellite navigation and social media, shipwrecks, collisions, getting stuck in the toilet and cases of mistaken identity can and do happen. They remain hidden until the skipper can bear the guilt no longer and must unburden their souls. The resulting stories are outrageously funny, while allowing the rest of us to thank our stars it wasn't us and to learn from others' mistakes. The Yachting Monthly Confessional has been offering absolution for almost half a century. This hilarious collection is the cream of the crop from the last few years, illustrated by the brilliant cartoons of Bill Caldwell, and deserves a place on every sailor's bookshelf as the definitive guide of what not to do at sea!

A no-nonsense study guide helping seafarers to pass their MCA or Flag State oral exams for Deck Officer qualifications. This handy revision guide is the one book that Deck Officer Cadets, Master and Deck Officers will want by their side when studying for the much-feared oral exams. Expert marine training director Simon Jinks strips back the masses of information to the core essential points that are easy to absorb and quick to remember when it comes to the oral assessment. The MCA Deck Officer (Officer of the Watch, Chief Mate and Master) syllabi cover a vast amount of information that candidates are required to understand and use in their oral exam, which for many presents a major stumbling block to qualification. While it inevitably takes a long time for candidates to build up this wealth of knowledge, this study aid is the perfect refresher, listing the key points and including helpful sample questions and worked examples on tidal working, radar plotting and more. Written in simple terms, this trusted crammer covers all the principal areas of the MCA’s exam syllabus, including sections on business and law conventions, pollution prevention, responses to emergencies and distress signals. Clearly presented, it is packed with straightforward diagrams and flow charts, making it ideal for revising. This is an invaluable reference for all international STCW Deck Officer candidates, and covers both MCA and Flag State oral exams. It is also suitable for Near Coastal and Boatmaster apprentices, Workboat crew apprentices, Yachtmaster Offshores, Yachtmaster instructors, and fishermen going for their fishing licences on larger vessels, and for shore workers such as vessel superintendents, maritime managers and trainers. There is specific information for all vessels, with sections on smaller, code and domestic vessels.

The 1866 transatlantic yacht race was a match that saw three yachts battle their way across the Atlantic in the dead of winter in pursuit of a $90,000 prize. Six men died in the brutal and close-fought contest, and the event changed the perception of yachting from a slightly effete gentlemen's pursuit into something altogether more rugged and adventurous. The race also symbolized the beginning of America's 'gilded age', with its associated obscene wealth and largesse (the $90,000 prize put up by the three contestants is about $15 million in today's money), as well as the thawing of relations between the US and UK. The narrative focuses on the victorious yacht Henrietta and her owner James Gordon Bennett. Bennett was the son of the multimillionaire proprietor of the New York Herald, and a notorious playboy. His infamous stunts included driving his carriage through the streets of New York naked, tipping a railway porter $30,000, and turning up at his own engagement party blind drunk and mistaking the fire for a urinal, which led to the coining of the phrase 'Gordon Bennett!'. However, Bennett was also a serious yachtsman and had served with distinction during the civil war aboard Henrietta, and he was the only owner to be aboard his own boat during the race. Other characters include Bennett's captain Samuel Samuels (legendary clipper skipper, ex-convict and occasional vaudeville actor), financier Leonard Jerome, aboard Henrietta as race invigilator (he also happened to be grandfather to Winston Churchill) and Stephen Fisk, a journalist so desperate to cover the race that he evaded a summons to appear as a witness in court and instead smuggled himself aboard Henrietta in a crate of champagne. Using the framework of the race to discuss the various historical themes, there's ample drama, and the diverse and eccentric range of characters ensure that this is a book laced with plenty of human interest, scandal and adventure.

Tom Cunliffe is one of the world's greatest champions of traditional sailing boats, and is considered the guru of gaff rig sailors. Having worked these beautiful boats all his life, his knowledge is second to none. In Hand, Reef & Steer - winner of the Best Book of the Sea Award - Tom explains the different sailing characteristics of classic craft and shares his knowledge of the special skills required to handle them. He describes how to manage heavy loads using tackles rather than winches and reveals the mysteries of making the boat work for you rather than fighting with her gear. He shares step by step advice on setting up the rig; sail handling skills (hoisting, setting and reefing) heavy and light air sailing; manouevring a long-keel boat; losing way, scandalizing and steering with sails, topsails, watersails, single-luff spinnakers and fisherman staysails; and much, much more. And for this new edition Tom had added new material on modern gaffers, replicas and a whole new section on sailing aspirational large gaffers. Hand, Reef & Steer, with its wonderful watercolour drawings and atmospheric photos, will delight all who love the unique character and grace of classic craft. 'Superb' Cruising 'A delightful book' WoodenBoat