This is a book that aims to provide the beginner with a sound introduction to dinghy handling with a view to eventually acquiring race-winning skills. A useful read for anyone who requires information and to gain confidence before entering the sport. It may also be of service to those with more experience. Contents Include: Dinghy Classes - Buying a Boat - Crewing - Rigging and Jobs Ashore - Getting Afloat and Ashore - Mainly on Sail Trimming - Weight Distribution, Balance and Kicking Straps - Heavy and Light Weight Weather Tasks - Helming - Helmsman's Responsibilities - Sail Trimming and Steering - Positions and Predicaments - Maintenance of the Hull - Maintenance of Spars, Rigging, Sails and Gear - Joining an Club - Safety Measures - Some of the Many Clubs Giving Regular Races for Dinghies

John Quirk loves history, drawing and boats and these three elements come together in this attractive and entertaining book. He has sought out obscure episodes or familiar events from the past and written engagingly about them, illustrated with his excellent colour cartoons. Where possible he relates the historical happenings and maritime moments to the present day, be it when tracing the history of the screw, misinformation (fake news) during the Second World War, plague ships in the fourteenth century, or Russia's ill-fated war with Japan in 1904. The events covered range from Henry V's invasion of France in 1415, consisting mainly of chartered French ships and paid for partially by Dick Whittington, to episodes in the Second World War, like the Somali Camel Corps capturing a German U-boat. Other historic figures involved include Horatio Nelson, Napoleon, Rudolf Diesel and Lawrence of Arabia. The 25 stories and over 100 cartoons are a treasure-trove of compelling, salt-infused, tales told with imagination and humour, with an eye on the present day, which will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in maritime history (or even just history).

'What a fun book! Reading Sea Fever is enticing and intriguing, like watching floating treasure bob past your nose.' Tristram Gooley, author of The Natural Navigator Can you interpret the shipping forecast? Do you know your flotsam from your jetsam? Or who owns the foreshore? Can you tie a half-hitch - or would you rather splice the mainbrace? Full of charming illustrations and surprising facts, Sea Fever provides the answers to all these and more. Mixing advice on everything from seasickness to righting a capsized boat with arcane marine lore, recipes, history, dramatic stories of daring-do and guides to the wildlife we share our shores with, even the most experienced ocean-dweller will find something in these pages to surprise and delight.

Praise for this boating classic:

"The most up-to-date and readable book we've seen on the subject."--"Sailing World"

"Deserves a place on any diesel-powered boat."--"Motor Boat & Yachting"

"Clear, logical, and even interesting to read."--"Cruising World"

Keep your diesel engine going with help from a master mechanic

"Marine Diesel Engines" has been the bible for do-it-yourself boatowners for more than 15 years. Now updated with information on fuel injection systems, electronic engine controls, and other new diesel technologies, Nigel Calder's bestseller has everything you need to keep your diesel engine running cleanly and efficiently. "Marine Diesel Engines" explains how to: Diagnose and repair engine problems Perform routine and annual maintenance Extend the life and improve the efficiency of your engine

Medical emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere, so first aid training can be very useful. It can be especially important if you are out at sea, where medical assistance can be hours or even days away. When onboard a seagoing vessel, even minor accidents, such as burns, sprains, and fractures, has the potential to become life-threatening. Being prepared and knowing essential first aid care can be the difference between life and death. This illustrated instructional guide offers a quick overview for the correct way to provide first aid. Chapters include standard medical examinations, different illnesses and related symptoms, effects of heat, cold, and water, and collecting relevant information about a sick or injured person. Such information is valuable not only for the person providing first aid, but also to give over the radio, because it may facilitate the decision-making about treatment strategy, thus saving lives under extreme circumstances.

For readers of Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit" and "Unbroken," the dramatic story of the American rowing team that stunned the world at Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics
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"Daniel James Brown's robust book tells the story of the University of Washington's 1936 eight-oar crew and their epic quest for an Olympic gold medal, a team that transformed the sport and grabbed the attention of millions of Americans. The sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the boys defeated elite rivals first from eastern and British universities and finally the German crew rowing for Adolf Hitler in the Olympic games in Berlin, 1936.
The emotional heart of the story lies with one rower, Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not for glory, but to regain his shattered self-regard and to find a place he can call home. The crew is assembled by an enigmatic coach and mentored by a visionary, eccentric British boat builder, but it is their trust in each other that makes them a victorious team. They remind the country of what can be done when everyone quite literally pulls together--a perfect melding of commitment, determination, and optimism.
Drawing on the boys' own diaries and journals, their photos and memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, "The Boys in the Boat "is an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times--the improbable, intimate story of nine working-class boys from the American west who, in the depths of the Great Depression, showed the world what true grit really meant. It will appeal to readers of Erik Larson, Timothy Egan, James Bradley, and David Halberstam's "The Amateurs."

Based on the exceptional and fascinating eyewitness account of a 17th century Spanish padre, Dave Horner's Shipwreck is the absorbing and true story of two immense galleons that were lost (along with hundreds of passengers and millions of pesos in treasure) to disasters at sea. Shipwreck is an extraordinary literary adventure which interweaves accounts of the many attempts throughout the past three centuries to recover the sunken treasure, including the recent discovery and salvage of one of the galleons by Dave Horner himself. Shipwreck is an outstanding history of true adventure on the high seas, past and present, which is wonderfully enhanced for the reader with 50 photographic illustrations, six maps, four line drawings, seven appendices, as well as bibliographies of archival sources, institutions, original documents or primary works, and a general listing of thematically appropriate titles for further suggested readings.

All boaters need to have a repertoire of reliable knots and splices they can call upon in many situations, both on board and at the dockside. This handy pocket guide, part of the bestselling Reeds Skipper's Handbook series, is a quick aide memoire for experienced sailors, but also provides novice sailors with all they need to know to master the most useful knots and splices they will need on a regular basis when going to sea. Each knot gets a double page spread with a clear photograph showing what the finished knot should look like, and step-by-step diagrams accompanied by straightforward instructions about how to tie it. Helpful text also describes each knot's use, when and why to use it, how strong it is, how quickly it can be tied (and untied), and what type and thickness of rope can be used to tie it with. This is the perfect pocket companion.

A compact, handy, on-the-water reference guide containing all the essential information about keeping your marine diesel engine running for when you need it most: the perfect quick reference guide to keep onboard. The book covers the parts of the engine and has checklists for monthly, weekly and daily checks. It outlines what to do if the engine won't start, or stop, if it overheats or there are problems with the fuel system. It tells you about servicing, the electrics and winterisation. Splash-proof and spiral bound - allowing you to lay it out flat beside your engine - this little book stands up to frequent use and will be a valued companion when the engine doesn't behave.

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"!