Chris Stewart's sea-faring 'prequel' to Driving Over Lemons was launched into the hardback bestseller list in May, where it's been bobbing about happily ever since. Sort of Books plan to make this paperback plain sailing too. It will be published in the same format and price as his ever popular Spanish trilogy.

'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?

This 4th edition has been produced by a team from the Royal Cruising Club and contains substantial changes. Apart from the routine updating of the text and plans - many newly drawn for this edition - and the addition of new photos, there are also some major changes. In particular coverage of Finland has been reorganized, and reflecting the fast pace of change since the last edition, the Baltic States and Poland sections have been improved significantly. The nine countries bordering the Baltic Sea offer an immense variety of cruising grounds, people and cultures. There are thousands of harbours and innumerable anchorages, and it would take an entire bookshelf, to cover them all in detail. The information contained in this book is therefore selective. It has been chosen for its value both at the planning stages - preparing the yacht, choosing the most suitable route, timing and communications etc - and again on arrival, when a general overview of each individual country is followed by specific harbour information. Where detailed cruising information is readily available - effectively Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland - only selected harbours are covered, chosen, with a few exceptions, as fulfilling certain key needs. Where cruising information is more limited - Poland, Kaliningrad, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia - many smaller harbours are also featured in detail. In addition to comprehensive suggestions for further reading (and sources in each country from which they may be ordered) more than 200 websites are listed, again chosen for their relevance both at the planning stages and en route. In order to facilitate the latter, as well as for general communication, details of internet access points are included for most major harbours. Beautiful, secluded anchorages, picturesque canals, bustling marinas, dramatic cities - all await those considering a Baltic cruise.

For most sailors, boat tuning may seem a mystery understood only by sailmakers and the like. In this book, sailor, chandler and championship winner, Ian Pinnell, unravels this daunting subject and will help improve your boatspeed as a result. Since most races are won or lost by a difference of less than 2% of racing time, you will soon be moving up the fleet. With hundreds of photos and diagrams to illustrate every point, the book clearly explains what each control does and how to set it up optimally for different conditions. Additional troubleshooting and skills sections take things even further, making this the bible of dinghy tuning.

Asymmetric dinghies burst into the sailing scene in the 1990s and have transformed the sport. They led to the introduction of new types of courses and a new sailing style. While the basic principles may be the same as for conventional dinghies, the increased focus on apparent wind sailing and responding to changes in wind pressure and direction downwind are exciting new elements that asymmetric dinghies bring. This book allows you to learn the secrets of getting the most from your asymmetric dinghy - whether you sail an entry level dinghy or a high-performance skiff, single-handed or with a crew. Following its advice will enable you to enjoy being at one with your boat and the wind. It is written by asymmetric champion sailor and journalist Andy Rice who has also gleaned tips, advice and some great shortcuts from expert sailors in a wide range of classes. This will give you the inside knowledge to improve your techniques and get ahead of the fleet. There's step-by-step guidance, accompanied by great photo sequences. Every stage of asymmetric sailing is covered, including rigging and tuning, hoists, gybes and drops, tactics, survival sailing and advanced skills for solo and crewed boats.

200 invaluable yachting tips only the pros know?in a pocket-sized format for onboard use

For every yachtsman who's dreamed of a mentor, in the form of a seasoned helmsman close at hand helping guide a vessel, this pocket reference from Yachting Monthly just may be the closest thing. With its refreshing approach to sailing and seamanship instruction, this handy guide gives yachtsmen of all experience levels essential tips on navigation, safety, weather, and boat handling as well as insights on life at sea. Each tip is illustrated with a color photograph or diagramIncludes tips on ropes and knotsOther titles by Cunliffe: "Celestial Navigation" and "Coastal and Offshore Navigation"

Filled with advice that yachtsmen pass on to fellow yachtsmen, and fathers pass on to their sons, this compact collection of sailing wisdom will help boat lovers and yachtsmen of every stripe improve and enjoy their outings at sea.

Breaking down the complicated concepts of speed, acceleration, torque, fluid mechanics, and surface physics, Physics of Sailing provides a lively, easily accessible introduction to the basic science underlying the sport of sailing. It illustrates the many ways physics can be used to understand the principles of sailboat propulsion and how a scientific understanding of the boat, wind, and water can lead to more skillful sailing. After a brief but insightful tour of the history of sailing, the book explores the physics involved in making faster sailing crafts for both upwind and downwind sailing, including Newton's impact theory of fluid resistance and lift and drag phenomena. It compares possible sail shapes, presents measurements of hull smoothness, and describes wind turbulence, the nature of water waves, and the structure of wakes. Using the physics of optics, the author also explains the connection between water's appearance and the wind. Along with a glossary of sailing terms, he includes many examples throughout to illustrate the concepts in practice. Avoiding unnecessary formalisms, this book skillfully applies the principles of fluid mechanics to sailboat technology and the art of sailing. It should help you become a more knowledgeable sailor.

Yachtsmen can now benefit from the practical expertise of scores of sailors and captains from a vast range of boating experience who divulge a wealth of information on types of ships, sailing areas, and requirements. This guide brings together their best ideas and secrets, including simple and cost-effective ways to improve equipment performance that make life on board more convenient and comfortable, and sailing easier and safer. Included are tips on mooring and anchoring, handling, stowing, securing, storing during the winter, and cleaning and of course, maximizing comfort in the cockpit and on deck. Easy-to-follow demonstrations of how to tackle often complicated tasks efficiently, without much effort, and without breaking the bank, are sure to turn any serious sailor into a master yachtsman."

The chain of islands from the Virgins to the southern Lesser Antilles is one of the most desirable tropical cruising grounds as well as the most accessible for North American and European sailors. The Caribbean Sea is usually benign, but the conditions are very different from your home waters-you must learn to sail with the grain of wind, weather, current, and climate, or these forgiving waters will turn into a punishingly rough old sea. Learn to sail in harmony with the winds and currents that surround the Virgins, the Leewards, and the Windwards, and your Caribbean sailing experience will be the good one you deserve. This updated third edition of Caribbean Passagemaking is an entertaining mine of information for the sun-soaked passage planner as well as the dreamer back home. Here is the full, vital background to help skipper and crew enjoy sailing the Caribbean islands. Topics include: *How to achieve easier passagemaking and sail in comfort *Which are the safe and easy harbors *How to spot the weather windows *Prevailing winds and currents *Ideal equipment for Caribbean waters Plus a wealth of practical, down-to-earth hints and tips.

Whether planning a day sail or a longer passage, at home, at the wheel or at the chart table, the Skipper's Cockpit Navigation Guide is the perfect at-a-glance handbook for all skippers and crew. It covers all the essential navigation skills and techniques with a user friendly, easy to follow and succinct approach. Spiral bound to lie flat, and with laminated splash-proof pages, it is the hands-free ready reckoner to help you get where you want to go. Written in clear, practical language, with clear photos, step-by-step diagrams and actual chart extracts, the book covers: - Using nautical charts - Understanding buoys, marks and lights - Using the compass, log and depth gauge - Plotting positions (including by dead reckoning), courses and bearings - Understanding tides (heights, streams, including using tide tables) and currents - Factoring in the weather - Making a passage plan, keeping a logbook, and more An essential title to have on board, this accessible book is aimed at skippers and crews of all levels, whether as a primer for those new to navigating or the perfect aide-memoire for those with prior experience.

SeaWise for Sailing Yachts provides step-by-step, concise, reliable plans for emergencies at sea that require fast and effective action. Designed for functionality, it has two sides: an Emergency Action Guide with instructions for specific problems, from fire and floods to man overboard and dangerous weather; and Safety Checklists, used to prepare the vessel and crew for voyages. A tab-based flip book design makes the guide easy to use for fast and effective responses, with 26 multi-tabbed sections covering a wide range of topics and situations. Some sections allow boat owners to customize the information to their craft. The information is based on extensive research and personal experience. This guide, the first of its kind, is printed on waterproof paper, packaged in a plastic case with mounting strips, and ready to be placed in an easily accessible location. It is designed for both professional and recreational vessels; a companion guide is available for motor yachts.

First published over 60 years ago when interest in reviving Britain's network of navigable and rivers was starting to gather pace, this map provides the best coverage of the system in England, Wales and Scotland. Distances, the number of locks and restricting dimensions are given for each waterway. The simple cartography defines rivers, broad and narrow canals against generalized relief and the major road network. The 2016 edition has been updated to show progress in restoration schemes and other changes.

At five out of the last six Olympic Games team GBR has been the top nation in sailing, a result of strong leadership from the Royal Yachting Association and very talented sailors and coaches. But Barry Pickthall, formerly the Yachting Correspondent of The Times observes: "If one man deserves recognition for Britain's remarkable success within the sailing Olympic arena, it is Jim Saltonstall - the coach who has cajoled, encouraged and inspired so many youngsters towards world stardom over the past 3 decades." This is the story of Jim Saltonstall and his contribution to the success of British sailing. It starts in his home county of Yorkshire and the seaside town of Bridlington where he learnt to sail. It goes through his experiences in the Royal Navy, which he joined aged 15, with tours all around the world but, particularly, sailing with the Royal Navy team and becoming the Royal Navy Sailing Coach. This led to his appointment as the first RYA National Yacht Racing Coach, the development of the GBR Race Training Scheme and, in due course, great success at youth, world and Olympic levels. The 24 Olympic medals won by the 14 sailors who give glowing praise to Jim in the Foreword confirms his contribution to this success. Jim retired from his Team GBR role in 2000, after the Sydney Olympics, but it is a testimony to him that two of the gold medallists from Tokyo 2020 (which took place in 2021 - in elite sports a lifetime since Jim retired) credit him in their success, saying he was 'a huge inspiration' and 'couldn't help be motivated' by him. The story is told as modestly as a Yorkshireman can, and is interspaced with tales of cars, car journeys and one or two parties! Jim also takes time out of the story to give his thoughts on all aspects of youth training, competing internationally and coaching. Anyone involved in race training will benefit from the wisdom he provides in these pieces.

It began in fine weather, then suddenly became a terrifying ordeal. A Force 10, sixty-knot storm swept across the North Atlantic with a speed that confounded forecasters, slamming into the fleet with epic fury. For twenty hours, 2,500 men and women were smashed by forty-foot breaking waves, while rescue helicopters and lifeboats struggled to save them. By the time the race was over, fifteen people had died, twenty-four crews had abandoned ship, five yachts had sunk, 136 sailors had been rescued, and only 85 boats had finished the race. John Rousmaniere was there, and he tells the tragic story of the greatest disaster in the history of yachting as only one who has sailed through the teeth of a killer storm can. With a new introduction by the author.

Unless you have unbeatable boatspeed, tactics are vital to winning sailboat races. Multi-champion, Nick Craig, shows you how to develop a strategy and what tactics to adopt on every leg and at every mark of the course. His first book, Helming to Win, was described as "original, thought provoking... like no other that has gone before it". He now turns his highly analytical mind to the subject of tactics. He discusses the inputs into strategy, starting and the race plan (going through each leg in turn). Nick then tackles mark tactics, covering every different type of mark, and fleet tactics on every leg of the course. He finally focusses on boat-to-boat tactics, again on every leg of the course. In each situation he covers attacking and defensive tactics, either to get ahead or make sure you stay ahead. Non-spinnaker, symmetrical spinnaker and asymmetric dinghies are all covered because Nick has won world or national championships in each of these types of boats. Having read Nick's first book many said that it had transformed the way they sailed. This book will have the same effect on your tactics and should see you moving up the leaderboard.

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.

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.

The Complete Yachtmaster has been a bestseller since first publication and has established itself as the standard reference for Yachtmaster students as well as skippers of all levels of experience. In this fully revised and up-to-date 10th edition, Tom Cunliffe brings together all the essentials of modern cruising in one volume. He presents an analysis of a good skipper, the theory and practice of sailing and sail trim, the art of seamanship, accurate navigation including chart plotters and PCs, understanding meteorology, heavy weather preparation, understanding yacht stability and coping with emergencies. The Complete Yachtmaster builds knowledge as it builds sailing confidence, guiding examination candidates as authoritatively and reassuringly through the RYA syllabus as a sea pilot bringing a ship safely to harbour. Required reading for all skippers and budding skippers, both on board or in the classroom. ‘A gem, distilled from decades of experience' Yachting Monthly ‘Cunliffe's competence and authority radiate from the pages... thoroughly recommended' Little Ship Club 'There are all too few authors who not only know their subject but can write well about it. Tom Cunliffe is one' Cruising

In an old wooden sloop, Philip Marsden plots a course north from his home in Cornwall. He is sailing for the Summer Isles, a small archipelago near the top of Scotland that holds for him a deep and personal significance. On the way, he must navigate the west coast of Ireland and the Inner Hebrides. Through the people he meets and the tales he uncovers, Marsden builds up a haunting picture of these shores - of imaginary islands and the Celtic otherworld, of the ageless draw of the west, of the life of the sea and perennial loss - and the redemptive power of the imagination. The Summer Isles is an unforgettable account of the search for actual places, invented places, and those places in between that shape the lives of individuals and entire nations.

Few people would want to test their mettle in an ice-encrusted boat with Ernest Shackleton, sail the Straits of Magellan with Joshua Slocum, or watch with Owen Chase as an angry whale sends his ship to the bottom, thousands of miles from the nearest land. But it's quite another thing to read these true accounts while settled into a favorite chair. Shackleton and Chase persevered in the face of travails that would have given even Job pause. Their stoic accounts are stronger and more dramatic for their total lack of affection, their frankness, and their lack of ego. Their gripping stories are custom made for the imaginative reader who seeks adventure in a more controlled environment, safe and warm, and well fed. "Civilized "readers with their armchairs anchored firmly to the living room floor.
Rich in drama and history, here are fifteen stories that will entertain, inform, and inspire--enduring stories that have attracted generations of readers.
With contributions from:
William Shakespeare
Aaron Smith
Joseph Conrad
Erskine Childers
Joshua Slocum
James Fenimore Cooper
Herman Melville
Richard Henry Dana
Jerome K. Jerome
Edgar Allan Poe
Richard Hakluyt
Robert Louis Stevenson
Owen Chase
Ernest Shackleton

Since J W Norie published the first edition of his Complete Set of Nautical Tables and Epitome of Practical Navigation in 1803, many changes to the tables have been necessary in both content and presentation. New tables have been included, obsolete ones deleted to conform with changing techniques of navigation, with the aim of improving the accuracy of the calculated position and reducing the tedium of the calculation. Since the commissioning of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), its proven accuracy and reliability in all weather conditions have resulted in confidence and almost unquestioning dependence on its ability to provide a vessel’s position, course and speed. Its use is widespread but the marine environment is a hostile one and failure of electronic equipment or of the system itself is a possibility. No prudent seafarer would proceed on an ocean passage without a reliable navigational back-up. The Explanation is in the form of a detailed step-by-step description, by means of worked examples, of the different methods of performing navigational calculations using a scientific calculator and/or the tables. A number of esteemed editors have worked on Nories’ Nautical Tables over the years and this edition includes new contributions from François Hugo. This edition now presents formulae in an appropriate format for direct entry to a scientific calculator. Because the possibility of navigation without even an appropriate calculator exists, the logarithms have been retained. • All the tables required for coastal and deep sea navigation are included • A simple uniform method of interpolation for all the trigonometrical tables is used • Certain tables and data are also included which are not readily available on board ship or are only used in the examination room.

We all rely on charts to navigate at sea - but are we missing essential information? A mass of data is included on each chart and deciphering the many symbols and abbreviations can be complicated. The accuracy of some charted depths can be trusted entirely while others should be treated with caution. This book will tell you where to find and how to understand this vital knowledge. This updated second edition explains how charts are compiled before guiding you through the elements that make up these vital navigational tools. Improve your understanding of charts and you will navigate with increased safety and confidence. Understanding a Nautical Chart offers superb value as, in addition to a wealth of practical advice, there is a key to all the recently updated chart symbols and abbreviations from Symbols and Abbreviations Used on Admiralty Charts (5011). It includes information on electronic charts, explains how to update a chart and how to establish the accuracy of each chart. It is ideal for professional mariners and leisure sailors.

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.