Covering a time of great social and technological change, this history traces the development of the four classic aquatic disciplines of competitive swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo, with its main focus on racing. Working from the beginnings of municipal recreational swimming, the book fully explores the links between swimming and other aspects of English life society including class, education, gender, municipal governance, sexuality and the Victorian invention of the sports amateur-professional divide. Uniquely focused on swimming -often neglected in analytic sports histories- this is the first study of its kind and will be an important landmark in the establishment of swimming history as a topic of scholarly investigation. This book was previously published as a special issue of the International Journal of the History of Sport.

This illustrated guide will help you plan your journey along the River Spey, one of the UK's classic canoe and kayak touring rivers. The river may be navigated from Loch Spey to Spey Bay, and here this is divided into seven sections. These can be paddled as single day trips or combined into multi-day adventures. Each section is described in detail and includes agreed access points, local attractions, plus accommodation and camping options. To help you plan your trip there are also eight suggested multi-day itineraries, which range from three to five days.Whether you opt for a five-day expedition or a scenic day trip, here you will find all the information you need to prepare for your journey. There is advice on equipment, food and safety, as well as information on wildlife, wild camping and navigation skills. The River Spey is a stunning river that should be on every paddler's tick list and this guide will help you to make the most of your journey.

Quest for Adventure is a collection of stories written by Sir Chris Bonington looking at the adventurous impulse which has driven men and women to achieve the impossible in the face of Earth’s elements: crossing its oceans, deserts and poles; canoeing its rivers; climbing its mountains, and descending into its caves. Bonington selects seventeen of the most thrilling expeditions and adventures of the mid-late twentieth century, uncovering the common thread that drives men and women to achieve the impossible. Following a new preface, he charts such outstanding achievements as Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki voyage across the Pacific Ocean; Francis Chichester’s round-the-world tour in his boat Gipsy Moth IV; the race for the first non-stop circumnavigation of the globe under sail; and Ice Bird’s sail around Antarctica. Away from the ocean, the travels of one of the world’s most outstanding desert explorers, Wilfred Thesiger, are detailed, journeying through what is menacingly called the Empty Quarter. Bonington returns to familiar ground as he writes about some exceptional mountain adventures, including the 1970 ascent of the South Face of Annapurna; Hillary and Tenzing’s first ascent of Everest; Reinhold and Gunther Messner on Nanga Parbat; Andy Cave’s triumph and tragedy on Changabang; and the Warren-Harding-led first ascent of The Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite. Wally Herbert’s team crossing of the Arctic Ocean and the equally gruelling Fuchs/Hillary crossing of Antarctica are written about in detail. More recent adventures include the race to make the first circumnavigation of the globe by balloon – a high-stakes race with a high-profile cast, including Richard Branson and Steve Fossett. Quest for Adventure concludes with an account of the cave diving epic the Dead Man’s Handshake, leaving the reader with a chill in their spine and an appreciation for the natural wonders below the Earth’s surface. Bonington’s eloquent writing on a subject in which he is a passionate authority makes for a highly engrossing read for adventurers and armchair explorers alike.

Choosing the right travelling companion for that trip of a lifetime is a tough task, yet Stormrider Surf Stories makes life easy by offering something for everyone who is on a journey of enlightenment through Indonesia. This compendium of short stories brings together some of the finest tales of discovery, adventure and hardship from every corner of this surf-blessed archipelago. Join the pioneers and share their experiences as they hack their way through the jungles of Nias, the Mentawai Islands, G-Land, Sumbawa and Sumba, searching for the perfect wave around the next headland. Feel the terror as survivors recount their flirtation with disasters as big as the Boxing Day tsunami and Bali bombings or as small and personal as getting lost or falling overboard. Learn what it was really like in the early '70s on the sleepy island of Bali or jump in a sampan for a magical mystery tour of the far-flung Mentawai islands, decades before the modern, luxury, charter boats appeared. Shipwrecks, tsunamis, volcanoes, bombs, beatings, malaria and death are all cheated by an intrepid cast of trailblazers and chancers, but it's not all danger and mayhem as there are also some heart-warming narratives of love, joy and face-creasing comedy. This compendium of Stormrider Surf Stories will delight both the road-weary Indo traveller and the inquisitive intern, looking for a good ol' yarn to read during the next flat spell.

A compact, handy summary of the key things you need to consider when planning a passage by sea and when managing your ship on that passage: the perfect quick reference guide to keep onboard. The book covers the timetable for developing a passage plan and goes through all the elements you should consider: port information, routeing, weather, tides, timings and safety. It then takes you through ship management on the passage: the crew briefing, roles, routines, pre-sail checks, watch keeping and much more. Splash-proof and spiral bound - allowing you to lay it out flat on the chart table - this little book stands up to frequent use and will be a valued companion as you plan and execute your passage.

A maritime adventure memoir that follows a crew of misfits hired to sail an 18th-century warship 5,000 miles to HollywoodIn the late 1990s, Patrick O’Brian’s multimillion-copy-selling historical novel series—the Aubrey–Maturin series, which was set during the Napoleonic Wars—seemed destined for film. With Russell Crowe as Jack Aubrey and Paul Bettany as Stephen Maturin, the production only needed a ship that could stand in for Lucky Jack’s HMS Surprise, with historical accuracy paramount. The filmmakers found the Rose, a replica of an 18th-century ship that would work perfectly. Only there was one problem: the Rose was in Newport, Rhode Island, not in Southern California, where they would be filming. Enter a ragtag crew of thirty oddballs who stepped up for the task, including Will Sofrin, at the time a 21-year-old wooden-boat builder and yacht racer, who joined as the ship’s carpenter.All Hands on Deck is Sofrin’s memoir of the epic adventure delivering the Rose to Hollywood. It’s a story of reinvention, of hard work on the high seas, of love, and of survival. The Rose was an example of the most cutting-edge technology of her era, but in the 21st century, barely anyone had experience sailing it. The crew effectively went back in time, brought to life the old ways of a forgotten world, and barely lived to tell the tale. Just a few days in, a terrifying hurricane-strength storm nearly sank the Rose, and later, a rogue wave caused a nearly fatal dismasting. And the ups and downs weren’t limited to the waves—with the crew split into factions, making peace between warring camps became necessary, too, as did avoiding pirates and braving the temptations of shore leave. All Hands on Deck is a gripping story of an unforgettable journey and a must-read for fans who adore O’Brian’s novels and the dramatic film adaptation of Master and Commander.

This is an A-Z of seamanship skills for multihull sailors. There are many textbooks on the market which detail general seamanship principles. This is not one of them. Multihull Seamanship is about sea-going catamarans and trimarans and the skills needed to understand and enjoy them to their utmost. Both racing and cruising yachts are catered for, as are trailer-able multihulls. Seamanship is not a black and white skill. It is an evolution of knowledge; a building of information through experiment, thought and experience. There is no definitive word on an evolving skill. Multihull Seamanship started as Dr Gavin Le Sueur's personal index of `how-to's. It has grown through experience and others sharing their knowledge. It should be on the book shelf of every catamaran and trimaran. This book is for people who are already multihull sailors, or for those who are contemplating multihull sailing. It has served this community for over 20 years and this second edition is fully updated. It is illustrated with delightful line drawings by Nigel Allison.

However many times it has been done, the act of casting off the warps and letting go one's last hold of the shore at the start of a voyage has about it something solemn and irrevocable, like marriage, for better or for worse. Mostly Mischief's ordinary title belies four more extraordinary voyages made by H.W. 'Bill' Tilman covering almost 25,000 miles in both Arctic and Antarctic waters. The first sees the pilot cutter Mischief retracing the steps of Elizabethan explorer John Davis to the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage. Tilman and a companion land on the north coast and make the hazardous crossing of Bylot Island while the remainder of the crew make the eventful passage to the southern shore to recover the climbing party. Back in England, Tilman refuses to accept the condemnation of Mischief's surveyor, undertaking costly repairs before heading back to sea for a first encounter with the East Greenland ice. Between June 1964 and September 1965, Tilman is at sea almost without a break. Two eventful voyages to East Greenland in Mischief provide the entertaining bookends to his account of the five-month voyage in the Southern Ocean as skipper of the schooner Patanela. Tilman had been hand-picked by the expedition leader as the navigator best able to land a team of Australian and New Zealand climbers and scientists on Heard Island, a tiny volcanic speck in the Furious Fifties devoid of safe anchorages and capped by an unclimbed glaciated peak. In a separate account of this successful voyage, Colin Putt describes the expedition as unique - the first ascent of a mountain to start below sea level.

"Full of brilliant insights . . . an inspiring book" Stylist Christmas Gift Guide 2022 "It's all the encouragement you need to dip a toe in icy waters" Woman & Home "Packed with stunning photography" Red Magazine "A perfect gift" My Weekly A beautifully illustrated exploration of cold-water traditions in Scandinavia and around the world, and a factual, scientific account of why winter swimming gives such a boost to body and soul. Whether in lake, lido, river or sea, we know the benefits of swimming outdoors and in nature - environmentally friendly and accessible, it can influence our happiness, our energy and our inner tranquility, and give us that winter glow. Danish scientist Dr Susanna Soberg leads us step by step into the icy water and explains the "cold-shock response", the massive endorphin rush as our body reacts and adapts to very cold temperatures through the winter season. Not only do our circulation, heart, lungs and skin respond positively, but our immune system, metabolism and mental health too. In particular she explains how our "brown fat" is activated to benefit multiple health conditions. "Take an uplifting dip into Winter Swimming" Stylist's "Ultra List" Winter swimming is fast becoming one of our most popular pastimes. This beautifully illustrated exploration of cold-water traditions in Scandinavia and around the world shows how it can have a significant positive impact on our physical and mental health, confidence and well-being, providing such a boost to body and soul. "A blend of how, and why, and what . . . A beautiful celebration . . . Visual inspiration for anyone hovering on the edge" Sunday Independent Translated from the Danish by Elizabeth DeNoma

The Big Book of Boat Canvas is a thorough revision and updating of Karen Lipes two popular earlier books, Boat Canvas Cover to Cover and More Boat Canvas, combined with a whole new section on below-decks sewing projects. In this latest volume Lipe ranges well beyond the boundaries of traditional canvas work to create a comprehensive guide to fabric work on board. Youll find dozens of traditional canvas projects--sail covers, awnings, duffel bags, dodgers, and Biminis, wind chutes, winter covers--all with clear, step-by-step instructions, generously illustrated. Youll also find dozens of not-so-traditional fabric projects to add comfort and a touch of elegance to your below-decks spaces: custom interior cushions, fitted sheets and daycovers, privacy curtains, lee cloths, even a tablecloth to fit your varnished table. Lipe offers a veritable minicourse in interior yacht decoration, dozens of useful sewing tips, a careful detailing of materials nad tools needed for each project, and an extensive discussion of modern fabrics appropriate for exterior and interior use. In short, this handy book covers everything you need to know to sew comfort, utility, and style into your boat.

A treasure of functional and fanciful projects you can sew yourself.--Multihulls

Youll find this book of the utmost practical help.--The Ensign

It passed what is for me the acid test of a how-to book: The Big Book of Boat Canvas made me want to get at some long-neglected projects and even to try some that I never thought I could manage.--SAIL

A GPS set gives your position to within 20 metres, anywhere on earth. Punch in your destination and the machine gives the data you need to sail or motor to your target. The dream of navigators through the ages - always to know exactly where they are and where they are going - has been realised. This book explains, to the novice or traditional navigator, what the system can and cannot do. You will learn about choosing a set, position fixing, outputs, waypoint navigation, passage making and pilotage. In a very short time you will be entering Waypoints, planning Routes and watching the Crosstrack Error as though they were old friends. You will also understand how to check your results using traditional navigation, common sense and the Mark 1 Eyeball.

Fully updated 8th edition of this easy-to-access instant guide to emergency first aid for all seafarers. This essential guide to first aid afloat is an essential part of any on-board medical kit. Its waterproof ring-bound pages, colour-coded tabs and clear layout make it easy to use in an emergency. This revised new edition has been updated with latest medical practice, including information relating to Covid-19, expanded information on treating burns, a new section on diving accidents, and updates to advice on certain illnesses and first aid kit contents. Clear, easy-to-follow illustrations make it ideal for crew members with limited training in first aid. Key features include: * Concise descriptions of each medical condition * Prioritised lists of treatments * Ringbinding to make the pages easy to turn and enable the book to lie flat * Waterproofed pages to withstand use at sea * A colour-coded thumb index to emergencies for quick reference * Covers all the medical emergencies likely to be encountered at sea * Fully updated in line with current guidelines and best practice Here is some praise for previous editions in the sailing press: 'A highly practical on-board emergency tool written by doctors who sail' - Yachting Monthly 'A handy companion not only detailing medical procedures but providing some information on emergency communications' - Sailing Today

Reeds Cloud Handbook is a quick-access, easy-to-use guide to identifying cloud types and how to predict what each cloud type can tell us about the weather and predict how it will change. This concise pocket reference will appeal to those who spend time outdoors and wants to better understand the weather, with its principal focus for sailors and also anyone going walking, fishing, cycling etc. This portable handbook will give you the essential information about common and unusual cloud types, how they form and what weather patterns are associated with them. Fully illustrated with colour photography and clear diagrams, this cloud identification guide includes sections on different weather patterns and how clouds form, different clouds according to where they appear in the sky, related features and different forms of fog. Each entry gives guidance on how and when to spot different cloud types and effects, and how the clouds relate to wind and rain patterns.

For more than twenty-five years, FalconGuide(R) has set the standard for outdoor recreation guidebooks. Written by top outdoors experts and enthusiasts, each guide invites you to experience the endless adventure and rugged beauty of the great outdoors.
Paddling Prince Edward Island features all the best paddling spots at this bucolic island, renowned for its charming villages, friendly people, varied wildlife, and abundant waters. This guide provides information on traveling to and around PEI, as well as directions to paddling put-ins and suggested routes. Sidebars on the Island's history, culture, and wildlife combine for a thorough introduction to this unspoiled vacation destination--as seen from the seat of a canoe or kayak.
Look inside to find:
Seventy-five paddling areas suited to every ability
Accurate driving directions to access points
Detailed maps showing put-ins, optional paddling routes, and latitude and longitude
Information on conditions and hazards, basic equipment, and outfitters

‘Heart-warming and life-affirming, full of humour and compassion’ ADELE PARKS, PLATINUM ‘A beautifully warm-hearted tale of friendship and hope’ MY WEEKLY ‘I loved this incredibly touching book…[it’s] a life-belt that will help any reader through a tough patch’ VERONICA HENRY *** In life’s stormy waters, it’s your friends who keep you afloat… Maddy Wolfe’s life has just capsized. After her twenty-year marriage suddenly implodes, she heads to Brighton to search for her estranged son, Jamie. But he’s nowhere to be found and for the first time, she’s totally alone. That is, until she meets the Salty Sea-Gals, a group of feisty sea-swimmers. Seventy-two-year old Helga is determined not to slow down, while thirty-something Tor is still figuring out who she is. Bereaved Dominica is trying to find a reason to carry on, and busy mum Claire is learning to put herself first for a change. As their regular cold-water plunges become a lifeline for them all, Maddy starts to realise that these brave women might just help her find both Jamie and herself. Together, will they turn the tide? 'Inspiring, heart-warming, utter joy' TAMMY COHEN ‘A beautiful read. You’ll love this one’ LOUISE BEECH ‘An absolute delight of a book!’ CELIA ANDERSON ‘Oh, this is such a wonderful read’ BISHOP’S STORTFORD INDEPENDENT *** Readers LOVE Josie Lloyd’s heart-warming novels: 'Inspiring and warm, heartfelt and real. I really loved this story' 'I rarely cry when reading but I was so emotionally impacted by this read I had a few cries in the bath reading it… a heart-warming portrayal of true friendship' 'Expect tears, laughter and a lot of fist pump in the air moments!’ 'A bloody brilliant, inspirational book of friendship and hope' 'Heartfelt and empowering' 'Affirming and inspiring… this book will give you all the feels!' 'I loved this book from the very beginning to the very end; it is a story that will resonate with every woman' 'Full of humour and compassion… I laughed and I cried' 'I absolutely loved this book. A testament to the power of friendship'

Since the development of the International Moth into a fully foiling dinghy there has been an explosion in the popularity of the class with some of the world's top sailors competing in it and many others enjoying the exhilaration of `flying'. However there is no doubt that it is a challenge to learn to fly a Moth and other designs are being introduced which are easier to sail and provide foiling opportunities for less dedicated, larger and less agile sailors. This book, the first to be published on dinghy foiling, explains how foils work and how to foil in the International Moth, Waszp and F101. Anyone who can sail a fast planing dinghy like the Laser should be able to foil and this book takes you through the skills and techniques required. Starting with the theory, the book goes through rigging and launching, then low-ride sailing, tacking and gybing before moving onto flying and, of course, the foiling gybe and tack. All illustrated by hundreds of colour photographs and many diagrams. Alan Hillman has taught hundreds of sailors to foil, including some of the top names. Through this book his expertise is available to everyone and there is no excuse not to get up on the foils and fly!

'Only a man in the devil of a hurry would wish to fly to his mountains, forgoing the lingering pleasure and mounting excitement of a slow, arduous approach under his own exertions.' H.W. 'Bill' Tilman's mountain travel philosophy, rooted in Africa and the Himalaya and further developed in his early sailing adventures in the southern hemisphere, was honed to perfection with his discovery of Greenland as the perfect sailing destination. His Arctic voyages in the pilot cutter Mischief proved no less challenging than his earlier southern voyages. The shorter elapsed time made it rather easier to find a crew but the absence of warm tropical passages meant that similar levels of hardship were simply compressed into a shorter timescale. First published fifty years before political correctness became an accepted rule, Mischief in Greenland is a treasure trove of Tilman's observational wit. In this account of his first two West Greenland voyages, he pulls no punches with regard to the occasional failings, leaving the reader to seek out and discover the numerous achievements of these voyages. The highlight of the second voyage was the identification, surveying and successful first ascent of Mount Raleigh, first observed on the eastern coast of Baffin Island by the Elizabethan explorer John Davis in 1585. For the many sailors and climbers who have since followed his lead and ventured north into those waters, Tilman provides much practical advice, whether from his own observations or those of Davis and the inimitable Captain Lecky. Tilman's typical gift of understatement belies his position as one of the greatest explorers and adventurers of the twentieth century.

"White Water Nepal" is probably the most iconic and famous rivers guidebook in the world of international kayaking and rafting, and it is the book that you will find on every international river runner's bookshelf or wish list. This new and thoroughly updated third edition opens the doors to the exhilarating joys of Himalayan river running. Nepal has become one of the world's top destinations for white water kayaking and rafting, and this new edition reflects this with updates from many Nepali top river runners and also contributions from celebrity international river runners. The new edition has detailed and updated descriptions of all the major rivers of Nepal and over 2300km of paddling. There are over 100 maps, hydrographs, river profiles, photos and drawings by some of Nepal's best artists. There is extensive travel and logistics advice and the medical sections have been widely acclaimed by Expedition Doctors.

A compact, handy summary of the key things you need to know to start racing or refresh your knowledge: the perfect quick reference guide to keep in your kit bag. The book covers all the racing essentials: courses, rules, the start, beat, reach, downwind, mark rounding, finish, protests and flags in a highly illustrated format making it easy to understand at a glance - ideal for those moments when you need an answer, and you need it fast! Splash-proof and spiral bound, this little companion stands up to frequent use and serves as a great aide-memoire that will fit into your pocket or kit bag.

An ex-yacht chef uncovers the dark reality of life at sea. By the age of twenty-two, Melanie is ticking life's boxes as if filling in a routine survey. Good grades at school? Check. Reliable university degree? Check. Steady graduate job? Check. Her two feet are planted firmly on solid ground; her life to date perfectly mirrors society's expectations. That is until she finds herself plunged into the superyacht industry, like an ice cube thrown into a cut crystal glass of the finest whisky, having stepped foot on a boat just three times before. Not only is she required to learn how to run, sail, and race a multi-million-pound yacht on the job, she is forced to adapt to a wholly unnatural life afloat, largely confined to a bunk bed, crammed galley, and live-in colleagues. Oh, and to devise, develop, and deliver fine dining menus for some of the wealthiest people on the planet. No biggie. From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to the Arctic she cruises, visiting places many can only dream of, orienting herself in an environment few have the opportunity to observe. But while her culinary knowledge evolves and her on-board responsibilities grow, the world as she knows it begins to close in. The depth of the ocean no longer phases her; it's the darkness inside which she fears. Behind Ocean Lines is a deeply personal account of a deterioration in mental health against a backdrop of opulence. It is, shockingly, not an anomaly in the industry. It is about time the public is told.

Marine Tourism examines both successful and unsuccessful tourism in coastal and marine environments. The author provides an overview of the history, development and growth of marine tourism and describes the characteristics of 'marine tourists' and the 'vendors' of these tourist activities. The book includes case studies of specific types of tourism including:
* the cruise ship industry, * whale and dolphin watching,
* yachting - the America's Cup,
* personal water crafts and other water sports
* and maritime museums and festivals. in locations including Brighton, UK, the Florida Keys and Hawaii, USA Caribbean islands, New Zealand and Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The final section examines tourism impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal communities and explores management techniques aimed at reducing negative impacts and maximizing the benefits of marine tourism.

First published in the 1950s under the editorship of EE Benest and later Konrad Nussbaum, the Imray map of the French inland waterway system has always been regarded as the essential reference for planning a visit to France by boat. It is now superseded by this completely recompiled and redrawn edition by David Edwards-May, the leading authority on World canals and waterways. The new cartography includes improved detail and presents essential information concerning distances and dimensions with a greater clarity than on previous editions. The map continues to cover the Low Countries and the western part of Germany and now also includes large scale insets of the Paris region and northeast France. The scale remains at 1:1 500 000