The weather affects everyone at sea, whether you are pottering along the coast, motoring from port to port or sailing to another continent. This book explains the basic principles that govern the weather from a practical, on the water, sailor's point of view. It goes through global, regional and then local weather patterns so you understand what is happening, how this might change and why. Armed with this knowledge and understanding you will be more confident to make decisions about when and when not to venture out to sea and what to expect if things change while you are out there. Simon Rowell shares his experience as a round-the world skipper and world-class weather forecaster. He explains the basic physics creatively and puts it in context with real situations to enable you to apply weather theory to practical sailing scenarios. Hundreds of illustrations aid the communication of what can be a complex subject, enabling you to better understand the weather and increase your enjoyment and safety when out on the water. This book is part of Fernhurst Books' Skipper's Library series of practical books for the cruising sailor.

The first book to address the fears and hesitations of reluctant mates whose husbands have caught the cruising bug.

The adventure of sailing over the horizon is a widely held dream. Yet for every couple that goes cruising, thousands stay behind because only one partner is infected with this dream.

Dragged Aboard addresses only the interests of the reluctant partner: Is cruising safe? Healthy? Can I be comfortable? What will we eat? Can I be reached in an emergency? What can I take? With such essential questions honestly answered, it's possible to realize that you don't have to like sailing to get hooked on the cruising lifestyle. Don Casey carefully, cheerfully explains what life afloat is all about, from the mundane to the magical.

Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness together comprise some one and a quarter million acres of the wildest country in the United States. This nearly roadless region of lakes, bogs, and forests in northeastern Minnesota is a mecca for canoeists from around the world. Veteran paddler James Churchill guides readers to great paddling and camping destinations. Maps, detailed route descriptions, and a wealth of planning tips make this an indispensable guide for the modern voyageur.
Features include:
-An overview of what to expect and how to prepare
-Detailed maps showing access points and routes
-Information on each waterway's character, difficulty, and the best times to paddle
-Lists of local paddling organizations and information resources
-Trips to thrill experienced paddlers and novices alike
-Historical importance and wildlife

Fourteen thrilling and important sea tales are brought together for the first time in this carefully edited collection.

Robotic Sailing 2017. This book contains the peer-reviewed papers presented at the 10th International Robotic Sailing Conference which was organized in conjunction with the 10th World Robotic Sailing Championship held in Horten, Norway the 4th-9th of September 2017. The seven papers cover topics of interest for autonomous robotic sailing which represents some of the most challenging research and development areas. The book is divided into two parts. The first part contains papers which focus on the design of sails and software for the assessment and predication of sailboat performance as well as software platforms and middleware for sailboat competition and research. The second part includes algorithms and strategies for navigation and collision avoidance on local, mid- and long range. The differences in approach in the included papers show that robotic sailing is still an emerging cross-disciplinary science. The multitude of suggestions to the specific problems of prediction and simulation of sailboats as well as the challenges of route planning, anti-grounding and collision avoidance are good indicators of science in its infancy. Hence, we may expect the future to hold great advances for robotic sailing.

The Mirror dinghy was a significant factor in the boom of dinghy sailing in the 1960s, introducing thousands to the delights of sailing. While sailing has come a long way since then and there have been a lot of far more exotic craft launched, the Mirror remains a fantastic boat in which to learn to sail and to compete at the highest levels. With this second edition, The Mirror Book has been bought into the Start to Finish series format alongside such revered books as The Laser Book and The Topper Book, The Catamaran Book and The Foiling Dinghy Book. Like these titles, this book tells you everything you need to know about sailing the Mirror (whether it be the original gaff-rigged boat or has the newer Bermuda rig). Written for both those starting out through to those striving to win a championship, the book is packed with practical advice and illustrated with step-by-step photographs. It covers: setting up the Mirror and early sailing experiences; developing skills on all points of sailing and with the spinnaker; racing & masterclasses to become a championship winner. Over 180 photographs show you exactly how it's done, and 72 diagrams illustrate key boat parts, the different points of sailing and complex on-the-water scenarios with clarity. It is written by Peter Aitken, formerly the UK National Mirror Coach, who has coached teams to win world championships in the Mirror, Cadet and 420 classes, and Tim Davison, a successful racer and author of countless books on sailing. The UK Mirror Class Association have contributed to this update and it is endorsed by Dave Wade, double Mirror National Champion, who says: "Armed with this book, your understanding of Mirror sailing techniques will grow, and your results will improve. I thoroughly recommend it."

Mindfulness and Surfing casts a fresh perspective on this popular sport, and explores how riding the waves can be the ultimate meditation. Engaging author Sam Bleakley takes us on a soulful journey across the tideline of his personal and philosophical travels. Through lunar cycles and river surfing to the Taoism of nature, he reveals an acute awareness of what the oceans can tell us about our place in the natural world. Meditating on one of nature' s greatest elements - its salty swells, flow and peaks - he shares life lessons in mindfulness that will be relished by surfer and non-surfer alike.

A TOP 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2018 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 The incredible true story of four ordinary working mums from Yorkshire who took on an extraordinary challenge and broke a world record along the way. Janette, Frances, Helen and Niki, though all from Yorkshire, were four very different women, all juggling full time jobs alongside being mothers to each of their 2 children. They could never be described as athletes, but they were determined to be busy and the local Saturday morning rowing club was the perfect place to go to have a laugh and a gossip, get the blood pumping in the open air, and feel invigorated. Brought together by their love of rowing, they quickly became firm friends, and it wasn't long before they cooked up a crazy idea over a few glasses of wine: together, they were going to do something that fewer people than had gone into space or climbed Everest had succeeded in doing. They were going to cross 3,000 miles of treacherous ocean in the toughest row in the world, The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Yes, they had children and husbands that they would be leaving behind for two months, yes they had businesses to run, mortgages to pay, responsibilities. And there was that little thing of them all being in their 40s and 50s. But two years of planning, preparation, fundraising, training and difficult conversations later, and they found themselves standing on the edge of the San Sebastian harbour in the Canary Islands, petrified, exhilarated and ready to head up the race of their lives. This is the story of how four friends together had the audacity to go on a wild, terrifying and beautiful adventure, not to escape life, but for life not to escape them.

Nature sports such as skiing, climbing, and surfing have had a significant influence on Western popular culture since the mid-twentieth century and participation in such sports continues to grow. Written in a clear and accessible style, this important book provides a comprehensive philosophical analysis of nature sports. Philosophy and Nature Sports offers an engaging inquiry into how nature sports differ from mainstream sports, how these differences are related to their value as human activities, and the role of the environments in which such sports take place. Addressing the claim that the most distinctive feature of nature sports is the relationship between participants and the natural world, the book also examines a wide range of topics, such as ethics, risk, gender construction, the social role of nature sport subcultures and the aesthetic experiences of nature sports athletes. Tying these together is the question of what it is that attracts us to nature sports and why they hold meaning for us. This is a valuable resource for students and academics in fields such as alternative sports, alternative sport subcultures, sport philosophy, sport and social issues, ethics, and phenomenology. It is also a fascinating read for outdoor educators and practitioners.

Crystal-clear advice for maintaining a crystal-clear swimming pool.

Keeping a swimming pool ready for use requires some chemistry know-how, an understanding of how pool mechanics work, and some time spent doing good old-fashioned cleaning work. Pool Care For Dummies offers a reliable, comprehensive resource for building the knowledge that lets you turn pool maintenance into a do-it-yourself task. Written by a certified swimming pool professional who started taking care of pools when she was 5 years old, this book helps you separate the good advice from the bad as you learn to build an upkeep schedule, figure out what chemicals you actually need and which are less-than-magical potions, and fix the common problems that plague all pool owners.

With so much trustworthy pool care advice in one place, you can finally cut back on time spent searching for swimming pool advice and more time splashing with your friends and family!

• Learn how pools work and get the tools you need to keep your pool running
• Test your water and maintain a safe swimming environment
• Care for your and balance your above-ground or in-ground pool
• Know what to do when unexpected problems arise

Private pool owners who need to know what’s what in the water will love this clear and complete Dummies guide.

Surfing: A Beginner's Guide has been the go-to surf book for beginners since 1996. This third edition, now with the endorsement of Surfing England, takes you through all the vital steps to become a surfer: you will learn where to surf, when to surf and how to surf safely.You will learn the foundations such as choosing the correct equipment, which is essential to make any progress as a beginner; pre-surf preparation, including getting fit with tips and advice; and your first surfer steps on the beach and in the ocean. All these stages lead up to you catching your very first wave and the surfing bug. The sea is renowned for its beauty, but infamous for its dangers. Alf provides you with transferable skills to safely enjoy your new hobby. Safety features heavily in the book, and you will learn all the basic common-sense aspects of surfing that even the most experienced surfer forgets.