Not many 'amateur' yacht designers would dare to enter the first boat they had ever designed into the epic offshore Fastnet Race, let alone with the intention of winning it. But that is what Dick Carter did in 1964, beating all 151 other yachts, some sailed by the most notable sailors of the day. He repeated the feat 4 years later with another of his own designs (which also won the Admiral's Cup that year as top boat and top team), but by then he could certainly not be described as an 'amateur' yacht designer. His radical innovations created fast and comfortable boats which were much in demand in this, the golden age of offshore racing. They were commissioned by the top sailors and succeeded in winning the Admiral's Cup, Southern Cross Series, One Ton Cup, Two Ton Cup and many of the biggest races. He even went on to design the massive 128-foot Vendredi Treize for Jean-Yves Terlain to sail single-handed in the 1972 OSTAR (trans-Atlantic) race - the longest boat ever to have been raced single-handed. But after just a decade at the top of his game, he quit the world of sailing and moved on to other challenges. He hadn't been heard of for so long that sailors assumed he was dead. His surprise appearance at the funeral of Ted Hood gave rise to the suggestion that he wrote this book. It is beautifully produced with many fabulous photographs and boat plans and was first published in the US by Seapoint Books and is now published in the UK by Fernhurst Books. While his career as a yacht designer may have been brief, the impact of his innovations has lasted the test of time. Who today would think of an offshore yacht without internal halyards in the mast or that the rudder always had to be fixed to the keel? These concepts, and many more, were first introduced by Dick Carter.

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

A nautical chart covering the North coast of the West Indian Island of Martinique.

Bob Shepton is an ordained minister in the Church of England in his late 70s, but spends most of his time sailing into the Arctic and making first ascents of inaccessible mountains. No tea parties for this vicar. Opening with the disastrous fire that destroyed his yacht whilst he was ice-bound in Greenland, the book travels back to his childhood growing up on the rubber plantation his father managed in Malaysia, moving back to England after his father was shot by the Japanese during the war, boarding school, the Royal Marines, and the church. We then follow Bob as he sails around the world with a group of schoolboys, is dismasted off the Falklands, trapped in ice, and climbs mountains accessible only from iceberg-strewn water and with only sketchy maps available. Bob Shepton, winner of the 2013 Yachtsman of the Year Award, is an old-school adventurer, and this compelling book is in the spirit of sailing mountaineer HW Tilman, explorer Ranulph Fiennes, climber Chris Bonington and yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnston, all of whom have been either friends of Bob's or an inspiration for his own exploits. Derring do in a dog collar! Ranulph Fiennes: 'A wonderful true tale of adventure.' Bear Grylls: 'You are going to enjoy this...as a Commando, Bob is clearly made of the right stuff!'

Restoring a fibreglass yacht is not something for the faint-hearted, even if you don't intend to do all the work yourself (you still need to understand the processes to be gone through). But the satisfaction of the job well done, not to mention the possible cost savings on buying a new yacht, are immense. Nevertheless, it is not something that should be undertaken lightly and without careful consideration. That is where this book comes in, as Enric Rosello takes you through his restoration of a 30-year-old 40-foot yacht. Broken down into 46 chapters, Enric details the stages of his restoration in chronological order. For each he starts with an overview of the task and the thinking behind the approach he took. Just these introductory pieces alone are ideal for someone contemplating a restoration (of all or part of a boat) to read before making the final decision as to whether to go ahead. For those who decide to take on the challenge, each overview is followed by an in-depth step-by-step account of what they did, accompanied by numerous informative photo sequences (with over 800 colour photos in total). The material in this book would be invaluable both to boat owners who are considering a complete overhaul and to those who have one or two smaller jobs to do. All possible subjects are covered, including dealing with osmosis, the interiors, deck, rigging, electrics and electronics, plumbing, engine, galley, heads and much more. The author is very honest about the amount of work and commitment required and also offers advice about when to call in the professionals and when to consider doing the work yourself. Anyone contemplating a complete or partial restoration is advised to read this book beforehand, so you know what is ahead, and to follow its guidance if you to decide to proceed.

A comprehensive guide to over 140 knots and splices, with easy-to-follow instructions, and 380 clear illustrations. Useful for sailing, fishing, camping, hobbyists, and those needing to know knots and splices. Contains an explanation of the basic terms used relating to knots and ropes, and cordage.

Caribbean Sea Plans included: Port St Charles & Port Ferdinand (sketch plan) Speightstown (1:15 000) Bridgetown (North) (1:20 000) Bridgetown (South) (1:20 000) On this 2018 edition port development at Bridgetown is included. The plan of Port St Charles has been reschemed to include Port Ferdinand. The chart specification has been improved to show coloured light flashes. There has been general updating throughout.

Discover a sea-kayaking paradise with this popular guide. Trip ideas for a range of experience and skill levels; route descriptions including beaches, campsites and tamale vendors; hard-to-find information on trip preparation, safety, and health. The latest on environmental and camping regulations on the peninsula.

A Practical and Visual Guide to the Essentials of Marine Knots! Every good sailor must know the basic knots, indispensable for his safety and life on board in general. This handy little manual offers you the opportunity to master the essentials of knot-tying, with clearly illustrated step-by-step instructions. The Ultimate Guide to Nautical Knots focuses on 22 vital knots, including: Bowline Figure Eight Knot Cleat Hitch Thief Knot This is a great introduction to the art of seamanship. Its simple and concrete step-by-step instructions will enable you to have a good time and have you tying knots in no time. The Ultimate Guide to Nautical Knots is a great introduction to ropework and a seaman's essential companion; make it yours, too!

Every four years for 80 days, it's just you, the wind and the waves, once around the globe. The Vendee Globe is said to be the world's hardest regatta, and every four years it pushes the world's top solo sailors to the limit. This illustrated book documents the 2020/2021 experience of Boris Herrmann, the race's first German participant. It features fascinating photos of the extreme situations he encountered while sailing "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco" around the world, and insight into what makes this likeable solo sailor tick: his love of the sea and nature, and the thrill of solitude. Stunning images tell us about his commitment to climate protection, the preservation of mangrove forests, and the saving of oceans. Text in English and German.

Marcia Pirie's account of her travels across the Pacific Ocean.

This title offers step-by-step instruction in every technique, from beginner to advanced levels, shown in more than 600 action-packed photographs and diagrams. It is the ultimate how-to guide to the exciting water sports of kayaking and canoeing, both for novices and more experienced intermediate-level paddlers. It includes expert instruction on mastering the basic skills as a beginner on flat water, and progressing to the challenges of white water, open water and the sea. It offers essential advice on clothing and equipment, reading weather conditions and understanding hydrodynamics. Paddling in kayaks and canoes offers enormous scope for young children, teenagers and adults alike in terms of recreational fun, touring and camping holidays. This book provides practical advice on where to paddle, clothing and equipment, how to get into a kayak and a canoe, how to capsize safely, how to hold the paddle, and the skills needed to move and roll the boat. It also explores the fast and furious sports of white water paddling, play boating and surfing, and the competition scene.Illustrated with step-by-step sequences and over 600 inspirational photographs, this practical guide is a one-stop reference source for aspiring paddlers everywhere.

South-central Wisconsin provides an impressive array of opportunities for all types of paddling, including some of the very best day trips in the entire state and even Upper Midwest. Paddling South Central Wisconsin, by experienced paddler and author Timothy Bauer, guides all types of paddlers, whether veteran or novice, through whitewater adrenaline or flatwater calm routes near Madison, Rockford, Janesville, Waukesha, and Milwaukee. This paddling guide is the perfect companion for those seeking "the rowed less taken." It describes the best times to paddle 60 diverse routes, alerts readers to each paddle's difficulty level and estimated length, and suggests side trips, optional trip extensions, and alternate routes to paddle, depending on weather conditions. Easy-to-follow maps, complete with GPS coordinates and driving directions, add to this book's high value. In addition, the author provides contact information on local paddling clubs, outfitters, and Internet links.

This is a wonderful cherry-picked collection of humiliating misadventures from the enduringly popular Confessional column of Yachting Monthly magazine. For over 25 years, yachtsmen have clamoured to tell the world about their most embarrassing exploits and their most shameful blunders, and the cream of the crop are collected together here in the hope that the rest of us can learn from their mistakes instead of our own - or at least have a good laugh at their expense! Shipwrecks, strandings, mutiny, getting locked in the lavatory...you couldn't make them up. Counted among the contributors are no less than four former editors of Yachting Monthly, which goes to prove that worse things really do happen at sea! Accompanied by cartoons from the inimitable Mike Peyton, this collection deserves a place at every bunkside.

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.

Paul Theroux invites us to join him on one of his most exotic and tantalizing adventures exploring the coasts and blue lagoons of the Pacific Islands, and taking up residence to discover the secrets of these isles. Theroux is a mesmerizing narrator - brilliant, witty, keenly perceptive as he floats through Gauguin landscapes, sails in the wake of Captain Cook and recalls the bewitching tales of Jack London and Robert Louis Stevenson. Alone in his kayak, paddling to seldom visited shores, he glides through time and space, discovering a world of islands, their remarkable people, and in turn, happiness. 'A sharp, fascinating and highly entertaining book ... Theroux at his best' Daily Telegraph.

From the Intrroduction "Since 0230 that morning, Karina had been enveloped in thick fog. The sky was completely obscured. Jack's "Naviguesser" Mike couldn't take any sights. He did have a thermometer aboard, an essential piece of equipment for sailors traversing the Gulf Stream. Karina didn't carry the convenient hard-wired digital type used today. Instead he had a thermometer that he dipped in a bucket of seawater hoisted aboard for the purpose. The latest measurement showed that the ocean water temperature was beginning to rise. This was bad. Simultaneously rising wind speed and temperature are a combination Bermuda-bound sailors don't like to see. It means heavy wind would combine with current, unpredictable squalls, and often tumultuous heavy seas in the Gulf Stream. If the wind blew strongly counter to the current, waves could build to a frightening size. By 0600 Karina was straining under sustained winds of 35 knots, with gusts up to 40. Jack and his friends had furled the mizzen and genoa, reefed the main, and hanked on a working jib. At 1100, the water temperature spiked to 77 degrees; they were in the Stream. Moments later, Karina was knocked down on her beam ends by an enormous sea driven by a powerful Gulf Stream squall. Spreaders scraped the tops of waves. The RDF instrument came loose and crashed across the now vertical cabin sole. Amazingly, the beast still functioned when it was called on later in the race as Karina approached Bermuda.""Writer-sailor Mark Gabrielson's new book is a fine, often surprising sea story of men and women who share a distinctively contrarian understanding of what sailing really should be--an adventure by amateur sailors in normal cruising boats making their damp, exciting way across rough seas to a beautiful, beckoning, remote destination."--John Rousmaniere author of Fastnet Force 10 and the Anappolis Book of Seamanship

Running from New Orleans to St. Louis in the summer of 1870, the race between the Robert E. Lee and the Natchez remains the world's most famous steamboat race. This book tells the story of the dramatic contest, which was won by the stripped-down, cargoless Robert E. Lee after three days, 18 hours, and 14 minutes of steaming through day, night and fog. The Natchez finished the race only hours later, having been delayed by carrying her normal load and tying up overnight because of the intense fog. Providing details on not only the race narrative but also on the boats themselves, the book gives an intimate look at the majestic vessels that conquered the country's greatest waterway and defined the bravado of 19th - century America.

The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) - the maritime equivalent to the emergency services number - provides a fast and efficient way of calling for assistance at sea, whatever the size of craft or its location. Denise Brehaut explains the operation of the system as a whole and clearly outlines the procedures required to get help quickly, as well as covering the syllabi of the General Operator's Certificate (GOC), the Long Range Certificate (LRC) and the Restricted Operator's Certificate (ROC). Concise descriptions of channel usage, call signs, types of transmission and equipment allow novices as well as long-time users to thoroughly understand this life-saving communications system. The 6th edition of GMDSS incorporates all the changes to the regulations that came into force in 2009 as well as the 2016 system updates. GMDSS: A User's Handbook has proved an invaluable reference for exam candidates and equipment users alike for almost 20 years - it is the GMDSS bible. The clear and lucid text is supported with illustrations, handy Q&A sections and a quick-reference revision guide for GOC and LRC students. Since it was first published, this book has helped explain the system for anyone using GMDSS and has been excellent pre-course reading for students.