Sailing narratives, authors R–Z

THE OCEANS ARE WAITING
Around the world on the yacht Tigger

Sharon Ragle

The true story of newlyweds on a four-and-a-half year circumnavigation aboard a small sailing boat. A funny and loving escapade across 35,000 miles of ocean, and a new perspective on cruising the South Pacific and the Great Barrier Reef.

220 x 140 mm | 224 pp illus. | ISBN 1 57409 145 X | £17.95 SH hbk

SURVIVE THE SAVAGE SEA

Dougal Robertson

After their schooner was sunk by killer whales, the six members of the Robertson family spent 38 days adrift in the Pacific, first in a liferaft, then aboard a tiny dinghy. With no maps, compass or navigation instruments, and rations for only three days, they used every survival technique they could, as they battled 20-foot waves, sharks, thirst, starvation, and exhaustion.

'For stark excitement, marine natural history, practical lessons, and human love and stresses, few records, if any, of hazard and survival have ever bettered it.'

Washington Post

216 x 132 mm | 224 pp illus. | ISBN 0 924486 73 2 | £12.95 SH pbk

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LAST VOYAGE OF THE LUCETTE

Douglas Robertson

In their schooner Lucette, the Robertson family sailed from Falmouth in January 1971. 18 months out, in the middle of the Pacific, Lucette was holed by killer whales and sank. Four adults and two children survived the next 38 days adrift, first in a survival raft, then crammed into a 9-foot dinghy, before being rescued by a Japanese fishing vessel. This is a vivid and candid account of how they survived, but also of the the delights, hardships, dangers, and the emotional highs and lows they experienced, both before and after the shipwreck. Douglas Robertson has taken his father's account, Survive the Savage Sea, as his starting point, but drawn upon his own memories of a life-changing experience.

With a foreword by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

153 x 234 mm | 372 pp illus.| ISBN 0 9542750 8 X | £13.95 SBSH hbk

TRADE WIND HITCHERS

Nicola Russell

For those willing to risk a life change, this is a different kind of travel book, combining practical information with personal experience, and advice on how to stretch the shoestring further. The definitive guide to crewing on transatlantic yachts.

'Her account of saltwater neophyte to ocean vagabond is captivating, honest, inspiring and makes an indispensablepocket guide for anyone thinking of following in heradventurous wake.'

Yachting monthly

'The ultimate armchair reading.'

Independent

'The author has gone to considerable trouble in obtaining up-to-date information as a guide to prospective "yachties".'

Little Ship

198 x 128 mm | 196 pp illus. | ISBN 095381 802 0 | £6.95 SB pbk

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CASTAWAY IN PARADISE
The Incredible Adventures of True-Life Robinson Crusoes

James C Simmons

The figure of the castaway is one of the most powerful in our literary heritage. This book explores the reality behind the myth - the gripping, true stories of people who, because of shipwrecks, perfidious sea captains, or their own choice, found themselves marooned. From Alexander Selkirk, Defoe's model for Robinson Crusoe, to Tom Neale, a drifter from New Zealand who became the hermit of Suwarrow.

229 x 151 mm | 264 pp illus. | ISBN 1 57409 066 6 | £12.95 SH pbk

SAILING ALONE AROUND THE WORLD

Captain Joshua Slocum

A fully illustrated, cloth bound edition of the famous classic - an unequalled masterpiece of vital yet disciplined prose by the first man to circumnavigate the globe single-handed.

'In all the immense literature of ocean yachting, Joshua Slocum's account of his single-handed circumnavigation in the late 1890's, the first in the world, is still the best.'

Lloyd's List

216 x 144 mm | 294 pp illus. | ISBN 0 911378 20 0 | £9.95 SH hbk

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THE VOYAGES OF JOSHUA SLOCUM

Captain Joshua Slocum, edited by Walter M Teller.

The collected works of 19th-century seafarer Joshua Slocum, annotated and introduced by the leading expert on his life and voyages. With all Slocum's writings in one volume, including material not available anywhere else - unequaled, first-hand accounts of life and death on the high seas during the age of sail.

240 x 160 mm | 406 pp illus. | ISBN 0 911378 55 3 | £18.95 SH hbk

CASTAWAY BOATS

Victor Slocum

Thrilling, detailed and historically accurate records of survivors' adventures, including the Easter Island castaways, Shackleton's voyage, and the fated crew of the whaleboat, Essex. The author, who spent years travelling with his father, Captain Joshua Slocum, played an active role in the famous voyage of the Liberdade. As a teenager, he helped his father build a junk-rigged canoe from scratch after the Aquidneck was wrecked, and sail it home, 5000 miles to North America. A 'must read' for every lover of the sea.

With 20 line drawings and maps

210 x 137 mm | 336 pp | ISBN 1 57409 126 3 | £12.99 SH pbk

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SLOW BOAT FROM CHINA

Adrian Sparham

Slow Boat from China is everything one could want out of a sailing narrative. A couple decides to escape from the rat race to the freedom and adventure of a life aboard. Sailing from Hong Kong to Vancouver, B.C. on MOONSHINER, a 37' steel ketch, they encounter colorful natives and awesome landscapes, describing them in great detail. They are delayed by mechanical problems, powerful storms, and corrupt customs officials. The crew - their dog, Fluke - adds charm and humor as they stop in exotic ports in Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe. After a 3-year stopover in Holland to replenish the cruising kitty, they leave for Canada and home..

'There are two dimensions to bluewater sailing - two journeys. One has a clear destination and its achievement is celebrated with flags and champagne. The other is an inner journey, where we learn about our personal strengths and limitations, and struggle to figure out what we'll do with the rest of our lives when our temporary escape is over. Cruising changes us. And there's no guarantee that the transition back into normal life will be easy. It wasn't for me - freedom can be addictive.'

228 x 148 mms • 248 pages Illus • ISBN 1574092170• Price: £15.95 pbk

SAILING JUST FOR FUN
High adventure on a small budget

A C Stock

High adventure on a small budget is Charles Stock's philosophy as he cruises his midget 16-foot gaff-rigged sailing cruiser Shoal Waters on the Thames estuary, with 68,000 miles logged since 1963. There's a lesson here for all of us who hanker after the South Seas!

'… for all who obtain happiness from simply pottering under sail'

Nautical Magazine

200 x 130 mm | 238 pp illus.| ISBN 0 95381 806 3 | £9.95 SB pbk

RETURN TO MURMANSK

Henry Swain

Henry Swain first went to Murmansk in 1945 with the Royal Navy, Interwoven with this account of his return voyage in a yacht 45 years later, are memories of fear and danger.

'It reads like a thriller, and captures brilliantly fear and anxiety, the psychology of waiting suffered by those facing, arguably, the war's worst way to die.'

Yachts and Yachting

Foreword by Admiral Sir John Woodward RN

216 x 138 mm | 242 pp | ISBN 0 85036 453 1 | £9.95 SB pbk

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TRANSATLANTIC AT LAST

Helen Tew

For Helen Tew, the question was never, 'Why sail across the Atlantic in a small boat at the age of 89?' but rather, 'Why not?' This simple philosophy determined her entire attitude to life, from her first encounter with the sea as an impossible toddler, to her 'trip across the pond' as a seasoned and experienced yachtswoman in a 26-foot gaff cutter her late husband had designed 65 years earlier. A remarkable book, about a remarkable life, by a remarkable woman whose sense of adventure is both infectious and inspirational. At the British Nautical Awards in January 2002, Helen Tew was runner-up for the Offshore Yachtsman of The Year Award, beaten only by Ellen MacArthur.

'An account of a sailing life lived to the full'

Classic Boat

With a Foreword by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be given to the RNLI.

216 x 135 mm | 200 pp illus.| ISBN 0 9542750 7 1 | £11.95 SB hbk

COMING ABOUT
A Family Passage at Sea

Susan Tyler Hitchcock

A family that had been falling apart rediscovers intimacy and joy through the experience a 3,500 mile voyage around the Caribbean. An inspiring chronicle of life at sea, and a wonderful meditation on marriage, family, and the fulfillment of dreams. Winner of Sail America's Southam Award for best book on sailing.

'… a well-written story that is not overly technical about how a family adjusts to life aboard a small boat.'

Library Journal

210 x 140 mm | 352 pp illus. | ISBN 1 57409 135 2 | £12.95 SH pbk

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THINGS I WISH I'D KNOWN BEFORE I STARTED SAILING

John Vigor

Aimed at sailing boat owners of all kinds, this reference book containts 200 entries packed with solid practical advice. With cartoons by SAIL magazine's Tom Payne and a comprehensive appendix covering some 50 technical topics.

'One of the finest boating writers at work today'

Cruising World

228 x 148 mms •188 pages Illus • ISBN 1574092111 • Price: £11.95 pbk

ONLY SO MANY TIDES

John Wainwright

Shining through Jon Wainwright's account of a lifetime adventure - thirty-eight years' cruising, racing and fishing in a traditional wooden boat - are a love of the sea, and a devotion to his boat, Deva. With photos and illustrations by the author and Walter Kemsley.

'… a readable and inspiring story which will interest all who sail - whether in modern yachts or old gaffers - and many people who prefer to voyage from their armchair'

East Anglian

'There is considerable discussion about the most efficient rig, and how to get the best out of a heavy wooden boat.'

Cruising

'If thinking of cruising the North Sea, make sure you read this book before setting out - it gives some very good descriptions of the sea and tidal conditions.'

Royal Naval Sailing Association

With a foreword by Alan Cameron

216 x 138 mm | 336 pp illus. | ISBN 0 95381 803 9 | £9.95 SB pbk

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FOUR GUYS IN A BOAT

Tom Watkins
Illustrated by Bettyjo Knapp

A hilarious glimpse into the secret lives of a motley crew of college professors who abandon their landlocked lives (and wives) for one week every year and go sailing. Tom Watkins vividly recounts a decade's worth of these annual escapes, as the adventurous academics fish, dive, drink, and dream together in such exotic locales as the Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and the Grenadines, all the while coming to a better understanding of themselves and each other.

216 x 137 mm | 128 pp illus.| ISBN 1 57409 193 X | £7.95 SH pbk

ATLANTIC CROSSINGS
A Sailor's Guide to Europe and Beyond

Les Weatheritt

The main intent of this book is to prepare the North American sailor for his first crossing of the Atlantic to Europe. It is actually so exhaustive in its coverage that it will indeed help the bluewater sailor to learn how cross any ocean in the world. Covering prevailing winds and other seasonal considerations, the author not only deals with suitable starting points on the East coast but also covers in great detail the best and most popular destination sites in Europe. Several appendices provide additional useful information.

'I really like this book. It has a ring of experience but is delivered in a way that makes the new sailor very comfortable. It is filled with just the kind of information first time crossers really like to read about. It is a "World Cruising Routes" in narrative form with lots of amusing anecdotes. The strength of the book is the route planning...'

John Kretschmer

mms • 320 pages Illus • ISBN 1574092316 • Price:

ICE, BEARS AND KOTICK

Peter Webb

Awaiting information

mms • pages Illus • ISBN• Price:

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Authors A–C