'One of the finest memoirs published in recent years.' Dan Jones 'An utterly fascinating and wonderfully detailed insight into the hidden world of the modern submarine.' James Holland A candid, visceral, and incredibly entertaining account of what it's like to live in one of the most extreme environments in the world. Imagine a world without natural light, where you can barely stand up straight for fear of knocking your head, where you have no idea of where in the world you are or what time of day it is, where you sleep in a coffin-sized bunk and sometimes eat a full roast for breakfast. Now imagine sharing that world with 140 other sweaty bodies, crammed into a 430ft x 33ft steel tube, 300ft underwater, for up to 90 days at a time, with no possibility of escape. And to top it off, a sizeable chunk of your living space is taken up by the most formidably destructive nuclear weapons history has ever known. This is the world of the submariner. This is life under pressure. As a restless and adventurous 18-year-old, Richard Humphreys joined the submarine service in 1985 and went on to serve aboard the nuclear deterrent for five years at the end of the Cold War. Nothing could have prepared him for life beneath the waves. Aside from the claustrophobia and disorientation, there were the prolonged periods of boredom, the constant dread of discovery by the Soviets, and the smorgasbord of rank odours that only a group of poorly-washed and flatulent submariners can unleash. But even in this most pressurised of environments, the consolations were unique: where else could you sit peacefully for hours listening to whale song, or... Based on first-hand experience, Under Pressure is the candid, visceral and incredibly entertaining account of what it's like to live, work, sleep, eat - and stay sane - in one of the most extreme man-made environments on the planet.

'The water slips over me like cool silk. The intimacy of touch uninhibited, rising around my legs, over my waist, up to my collarbone. When I throw back my head and relax, the lake runs into my ears. The sound of it is a muffled roar, the vibration of the body amplified by water, every sound felt as if in slow motion . . .' Summer swimming . . . but Jessica Lee - Canadian, Chinese and British - swims through all four seasons and especially loves the winter. 'I long for the ice. The sharp cut of freezing water on my feet. The immeasurable black of the lake at its coldest. Swimming then means cold, and pain, and elation.' At the age of twenty-eight, Jessica Lee, who grew up in Canada and lived in London, finds herself in Berlin. Alone. Lonely, with lowered spirits thanks to some family history and a broken heart, she is there, ostensibly, to write a thesis. And though that is what she does daily, what increasingly occupies her is swimming. So she makes a decision that she believes will win her back her confidence and independence: she will swim fifty-two of the lakes around Berlin, no matter what the weather or season. She is aware that this particular landscape is not without its own ghosts and history. This is the story of a beautiful obsession: of the thrill of a still, turquoise lake, of cracking the ice before submerging, of floating under blue skies, of tangled weeds and murkiness, of cool, fresh, spring swimming - of facing past fears of near drowning and of breaking free. When she completes her year of swimming Jessica finds she has new strength, and she has also found friends and has gained some understanding of how the landscape both haunts and holds us. This book is for everyone who loves swimming, who wishes they could push themselves beyond caution, who understands the deep pleasure of using their body's strength, who knows what it is to allow oneself to abandon all thought and float home to the surface.

The Definitive Guide to Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in Northwest Florida"Reef Smart's waterproof cards and guidebook have become an essential part of all of our dive charters. They make the site briefing much more readily understood by our divers, letting them accurately see the dive before getting in the water. Highly recommended by this Captain and Instructor!" Pat Green (owner) - Panama City Diving, Panama City Beach #1 New Release in Scuba Travel Guides From the authors of the Reef Smart Guide series comes Reef Smart Guides Northwest Florida, a unique and essential scuba, snorkel, and surf travel guide for Northwest Florida diving. A great travel gift. The ultimate guide for visitors and locals looking to spend time in Northwest Florida's Gulf of Mexico. This guidebook provides detailed descriptions and illustrations of beaches, shipwrecks, shore-accessible dive and snorkel reefs, and the top surfing sites in the area. Detailed descriptions and map art. With the help of Reef Smart's unique 3D-mapping technology, learn all you need to know about the region's top dive and snorkel sites, including the world famous Oriskany and historical wrecks of the Tarpon and Empire Mica. Snorkelers enjoy the maps of 27 shore-accessible sites along the coast, and all the information necessary for a great day in the water. Don't go diving without it. This indispensable resource helps you plan and execute dives without a hitch. Make sure to pack this unique guidebook with the rest of your scuba gear! This guidebook provides: Descriptions of 137 dive and snorkel sites in the region, including 2 freshwater springs Detailed 3D maps of 48 of the most popular sites, with details for an additional 9 sites A 33-page species guide to help you identify and understand the marine creatures you'll encounter And so much more! A unique and comprehensive SCUBA diving book. Also look for Reef Smart Guides Florida: Palm Beach; Reef Smart Guides Florida: Fort Lauderdale; and the best-selling Reef Smart Guides: Bonaire.

Written by one of the best-known figures in all of sailing and a leading authority on Optimist sailing and racing, The Winners Guide to Optimist Sailing is the ideal training manual for young skippers, their parents, and their coaches. The most comprehensive sailing guide to the International Optimist dinghy class features:

• Step-by-step instructions on every aspect of beginning sailing
  
• More than 100 stunning photographs and helpful illustrations
  
• Useful tips and winning tactics for competitive racing
  
• Special advice sections for parents and coaches
  

Now in its sixth edition, this must-have guide for aspiring Yachtmasters covers the essentials of the RYA syllabus and provides new tips on exam tactics. Since the first edition was published, Pass Your Yachtmaster has helped thousands of students through their shore-based and practical Yachtmaster course. Concise and comprehensive, this crammer covers all the essentials of the RYA syllabus, arranged in bite-size chunks to make revision easier and brought fully up to date in this sixth edition. Throughout, the theory is set in a practical seagoing perspective, and helpful hints on exam tactics are provided too. And to relieve the tension of all that swotting, each section is enlivened with Mike Peyton's best-loved cartoons. "A wealth of information, simply laid out."--Cruising

A new and updated edition of the only sailing manual that you will ever need. Whether you are a seasoned seafarer or just starting out, this fully revised and updated sailing manual is perfect for all levels of experience. Learn how to handle any sailing situation - with thorough coverage of all aspects of sailing and boat ownership Inside the pages of this new edition of the go-to guide about sailing and boat maintenance, you'll discover: - Comprehensive coverage of all aspects of sailing practice written by an expert sailor - The latest information and advice, and technological developments - A complete tuition course on seamanship, chapter by chapter - Authoritative text, clear, annotated diagrams, and action photographs - A reliable, instant, and user-friendly handbook for any sailing situation - Foreword by quadruple Olympic gold medalist, Sir Ben Ainslie In DK's The Complete Sailing Manual, former British national champion Steve Sleight offers a wealth of expert advice and guidance in the form of a complete tuition course on seamanship. This ultimate sailing handbook is packed with engaging essential information and breathtaking action photography. Handy diagrams, and step-by-step artwork, and instructions will teach you all the latest sailing techniques. This updated edition for 2021 features all of the latest developments in sailing - including foiling, long-distance cruising, and high-speed apparent-wind sailing and navigation. Explore new developments in sailing equipment such as modern performance systems, electronic navigation and ways to use alternative energy on board. Explore the latest rules, regulations, and best practices from collision regulations to safety equipment. This essential sailing book is necessary for every keen sailor, from the novice to the seasoned sea person.

Advanced Rowing brings together a selection of leading experts in the sport of rowing, including international head coaches from New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark, who have all coached crews to World and Olympic medals. Distinguished club and university coaches contribute from the United States, Great Britain and Australia. Between them these coaches work with the top national level athletes in their countries and specialise in preparing them to achieve international competitive standard. The coaches reveal key features that they believe explain why they have achieved a consistent level of success, paying special attention to key issues including: - Training programmes to promote skill and fitness - Motivating and inspiring athletes - Creating successful training environments - Selecting athletes and talent identification - Making use of other experts (e.g. sports scientists, physiotherapists, dedicated strength and conditioning coaches) Advanced Rowing also offers insights from experts on selected topics that are important in the development of rowing success including biomechanics, nutrition, technique development, endurance training and strength and conditioning. This is an essential resource for any rowing coach, providing an overview of the general environments that support high performance national and international rowing programmes and describing the range of strategies that elite rowing coaches use to help develop advanced rowing performance.

'I cannot imagine setting sail without it' SAIL 'A must for all aspiring ocean crossers' Yachting World We call it 'The Pond', yet the Atlantic Ocean covers one fifth of the surface of our planet and one third of its surface area of water. It is still a mighty big pond to cross! Realising the dream of an Atlantic crossing remains a challenge but the rewards are many and lifelong. The Atlantic Crossing Guide is well established as the standard reference for anyone planning an Atlantic voyage, whether via the trade wind route to the Caribbean or to Europe from the United States. The better prepared you are the greater your chances of success. Packed full of the collective wisdom of cruising sailors over four decades, this new edition has been updated to include advice on: PREPARATIONS * suitable boats, including considerations of hull integrity * equipment and maintenance * advances in navigation and communications systems * access to weather and routeing information * the balance of power input and usage * planning for hurricane season * risk management * crew harmony and health * provisioning PASSAGE PLANNING * Atlantic weather systems, including tropical waves and hurricanes * common routes and timings across the Atlantic * seasonal cruising along bordering coasts and within Atlantic island groups * fog and ice in the higher latitudes * key landfalls 'A fantastic amount of information' Yachting Monthly

Sailors planning a cruise abroad use a pilot book, which gives you all the navigational advice to get you to your destination. Once you've closed the pilot book, this book will help you enjoy all that your destination has to offer. What can you discover within walking distance of the port? Where can you find fuel, laundry and food supplies? The main reason for going on a cruise in the first place is to explore new and lovely places. Sailors won't decide to stop at a port because of an interesting pilotage challenge, but you will for an amazing moules frites place hidden away. General guidebooks won't tell you everything you need to know, and will include a lot of info on places you can't reach. Adlard Coles Shore Guides provide the essential information and ideas to make the most of your time ashore. Paul Heiney, a hugely experienced sailor, journalist and author, is the perfect companion for exploring the pretty harbours and beautiful beaches of the Channel Coast of France. The book is lavishly illustrated with the author's own photos of this alluring coastline's bustling ports and hidden gems. Chapters arranged by region and port will detail why each place is worth visiting, what to see, where to find essentials such as fuel and repairs, transport connections, places to visit, best cafes and restaurants, walks (sailors need to stretch their legs when they go ashore), bike rides, best beaches and activities for the kids, all organised into categories by distance from the port or harbour - 10 minutes' walk, 30 minutes' walk and further afield.

Stress-free Motorboating is the answer to all single- or short-handed crews' prayers. Highly illustrated with step-by-step photographs, this highly practical handbook tackles the most common motorboating scenarios anyone will ever have to manage, whether cruising along a river or around the coast. The author covers groundbreaking and dependable procedures for getting off (and then back on to) a berth, anchoring, picking up mooring buoys, boat-handling in tides, fast-flowing rivers, managing locks and even picking up a man overboard. QR codes link to helpful instructional action videos to clarify the procedurees, and invaluable advice is given about fuel monitoring, engine care and maintenance - in fact all the essential issues that affect motorboats. Whether you're aboard a 60-foot displacement cruiser, crossing the Channel or pottering along a river or coast, Stress-Free Motorboating will make life aboard that much easier - and with less stress comes more enjoyment for everyone.

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.

‘This book is a must-have for any serious racing sailor’ – Sir Ben Ainslie, four-time Olympic gold winning sailor Paul Elvstrøm is arguably the greatest Olympic sailor of all time. Proving that understanding the rules is crucial to winning, he devised this unique approach to explaining them using bird’s-eye diagrams. His detailed explanations are applied to myriad racing situations, each cross-referenced to relevant case studies provided by World Sailing (formerly ISAF). Included with the book are a set of plastic boats, for use during protest hearings. They are transparent but coloured differently so can also be used with an overhead projector. This edition is completely revised to cover the new rules issued for 2021–24. It includes the full text of the latest rules, with a handy quick-reference guide highlighting the latest changes. There is also a confidence-building section on how to present your case in a protest, and the back cover shows the signal flags for instant easy reference on the race course. Long established as the most accessible and most trusted guide to the racing rules, Elvstrøm Explains is a must-have. Whether racing in a dinghy, keelboat or large yacht, it is the perfect pocket reference for those who want to win.

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

Tried and tested by teachers for over 15 years, Swimming Games and Activities is packed with games and ideas for teaching children the basics of water competence. With over 200 graded games and activities, it provides enjoyable ideas to stimulate children of all ages and includes: - confidence-building games for non-swimmers and beginners - more challenging activities such as sculling, treading water and diving to help more advanced swimmers develop their skills - practical advice for teachers on lesson planning, using music, running a gala, teaching survival skills and testing a child's progress.

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."

Every spring, paddlers from around the world migrate to eastern North America in pursuit of the massive early season flows. b.EAST follows some of the most committed and accomplished on this journey. With challenging, awe inspiring whitewater, b.EAST takes you on a though provoking ride that offers a window into the soul of the sport.