The dramatic story of "Gipsy Moth IV" from her epic first circumnavigation to her restoration, wreck and triumphant return.

In this beautifully illustrated book, "Yachting Monthly"'s Paul Gelder tells the remarkable story of Gipsy Moth's rise, fall and triumphant rise again. It is the definitive history of this sailing icon, illustrated throughout with never before published photographs of the boat, the restoration project and dramatic images from both of her epic voyages.

The author has had unprecedented access to both the Chichester family archives and to the skippers' and crews' logs for the second circumnavigation, he even sailed aboard her on the first leg from Plymouth to Gibraltar. Having championed the restoration of this iconic yacht from the start, Paul Gelder has finally written a worthy successor the Chichester's original bestseller "Gipsy Moth Circles The World."

This is a wonderful cherry-picked collection of humiliating misadventures from the enduringly popular Confessional column of Yachting Monthly magazine. For over 25 years, yachtsmen have clamoured to tell the world about their most embarrassing exploits and their most shameful blunders, and the cream of the crop are collected together here in the hope that the rest of us can learn from their mistakes instead of our own - or at least have a good laugh at their expense! Shipwrecks, strandings, mutiny, getting locked in the lavatory...you couldn't make them up. Counted among the contributors are no less than four former editors of Yachting Monthly, which goes to prove that worse things really do happen at sea! Accompanied by cartoons from the inimitable Mike Peyton, this collection deserves a place at every bunkside.

By the same author as the bestselling "Total Loss," this is a new collection of terrifying and compelling accounts of yachts lost at sea. The seven deadly causes of loss continue to take their toll, and Paul Gelder has compiled first-hand accounts of shipwreck and sinking caused by Collision, Gear Failure, Stress of Weather, Faulty Navigation, Fire, Crew Failure and Exhaustion.
The moving, emotionally charged descriptions of shipwrecked sailors abandoning their yachts at sea will have you on the edge of your seat. But these accounts are more than just gripping tales of disaster - they carry valuable lessons which the survivors have been able to pass on to all who go to sea for pleasure.
Praise for Total Loss:
'The tales provide gripping if sometimes unsettling reading and many valuable lessons.' - Cruising World
'Sure, you can learn from your own mistakes, but wouldn't you rather learn from theirs?' - Sailing