books on sailboat racing

Published on March 21st, 2016 | by Editor

Top Picks: The Best Books for Sailboat Racers

Published on March 21st, 2016 by Editor -->

by Deborah Bennett Elfers I can be a little obsessive when it comes to racing sailboats, having read absolutely every sailboat racing book I could find. I’ve read some truly awful books, which did little more than make me even more confused than I was when I started, some rather good books, which made me realize how much I didn’t yet know, and a mere handful of really terrific books which catapulted my understanding of sailboat racing, and helped me to move up the fleet.

Here’s a list of the better books – most basic appearing first – with a brief review of each…

The Complete Sailor, David Seidman I’ve read this book from cover to cover, several times. There are so many little nuggets in here for the new sailor, but it’s also a handy reference guide for the more experienced. I use this book when teaching sailing, as it’s easily readable, and has some of the best basic sailing explanations I’ve seen anywhere.

Getting Started in Sailboat Racing, Adam Cort & Richard Stearns This book was my bible as I was first learning to race. I can’t tell you how many times I read it through, from cover to cover. I had started off with some other, more advanced books, but much of the information in those books was too complicated for a racing novice. This was the perfect introduction to sailboat racing for a newbie, with great graphics, and an easy-to-read format.

Winning in One-Designs, Dave Perry I think that this is one of the best guides to sailboat racing there is — it’s eminently readable, and organized so well that you can refer back to the appropriate sections when you’re trying to improve a particular weakness. You can use it like a “workbook”, as I did in my second season of racing, and I improved quite a lot by implementing the suggestions and techniques outlined in the book.

Start to Win, Eric Twiname This is a classic book, so well-regarded among sailboat racers that it was re-published 30 years after the author’s death. It is a clear, concise treatise on how to improve your racing. Easy to use, even for the more novice racer.

Sailing Smart: Winning Techniques, Tactics & Strategy, Buddy Melges & Charles Mason This book abounds with lessons on racing tactics and boat handling, sportsmanship, and is sprinkled liberally with the authors’ tales of races won (and lost). The book is clearly organized, and Melges’s personality shines through the pages. I’ve read this one again and again.

Sail, Race & Win: How to Develop a Winning Attitude – Eric Twiname This book is perhaps my favorite of all the books, in that Twiname teaches us how to self-coach, and explores the winning mindset – mirroring closely my own approach to improving my sailing, one learned from and adapted from many years of training as an opera singer.

Note : A few of these books are “old classics” so you will have to be careful to reference the current version of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

Tags: Books , Deborah Bennett Elfers , education

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32 Best Sailing Books For Current and Future Yachtsmen

Heading out on a sailing adventure? Need some inspiration away from the YouTube creators we often featured? Then you’re in the right place.

We have rounded up the best books for sailing enthusiasts. You’ll find highly respected books on racing, cruising and sailboat maintenance for your next adventure on the open seas!

1. Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 69th Edition

One of the best sailing books available, the Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 69th Edition is a comprehensive book with descriptions, illustrations, and pictures for every situation.

Whether the need is a guide for it all or looking for some tips, the book has an easy-to-use index that makes it simple to find information. 

2. The Complete Sailing Manual  

The Complete Sailing Manual by Steve Sleight is a detailed book written by sailors for sailors. 

It delves into the latest advancements in sailing, keeping the reader updated and ready to handle any situation.

3. Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die

Searching for a new, exciting place to sail can be exhausting. Chris Santella has an extensive list of options to bring back that exhilaration.

The handy guide gets inspiration by asking well-known sailors and athletes about their favorite places to sail.

4. The Ultimate Book of Everyday Knots  

Every sailor needs to know how to tie a good knot, and Geoffrey Budworth has a fantastic instruction tool to start.

This book has illustrations of common knots used in sailing and other sports, with directions to ensure every tie is a success.

5. Bargain Boats and Budget Cruising  

Sailing can be an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. Todd Duff has expert advice to keep the cost down.

This guide goes through the process of finding an economical boat and refitting it, so you can enjoy the water without breaking the bank.

6. Illustrated Sail & Rig Tuning  

Sometimes a picture can be just what’s needed, and Ivar Dedekam has detailed illustrations for everything relating to sailing.

This handy guide explains the necessities of sailing and the theories to get the most out of any boat.

7. The Alaska Cruise Handbook  

The wild waters of Alaska are a worthy goal for any sailor. With insights from Joe Upton, planning a journey through the Alaskan coast is more than practical.

Plan ports and explore the natural beauties of Alaska from the comfort of a personal sailboat.

8. The Sailing Bible

Jeremy Evans, Pat Manley, and Barrie Smith put together an extensive work covering the basics of sailing to niche activities like racing.

Even the most seasoned sailors can find something in one of the best sailing books around to enrich their knowledge, and beginners will feel ready to hit the water.

9. World Cruising Essentials  

Taking on a long voyage can seem like a daunting task. Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Essentials makes the trip doable. This happens to be my favorite book on this list!

Learn about everything to prepare for the cruise and get crucial tips for spending the days at sea.

10. Landfalls of Paradise  

Exploring the Pacific Islands can be a dreamy escape, and Earl R. Hinz’s writing makes it a carefree journey.

This guide has updated charts and descriptions to help make any sailing through the Pacific Islands easy to plan and execute. 

11. The Voyager’s Handbook  

Extended trips are one of the most fulfilling ways to experience life on the open seas, and Beth Leonard has a handbook to achieve it. Another personal favorite!

It not only covers the essentials needed on the boat but explains practical tips for keeping boat life enjoyable.

12. The World’s Best Sailboats: Boxset Vol.1&2  

Ferenc Máté’s The World’s Best Sailboats has detailed pictures, illustrations, and descriptions of the finest boats in the world. Enjoy appreciating the fine craftsmanship while learning what makes certain boats excel.

This volume isn’t only fun to flick through as its information can be invaluable when selecting a boat.

13. The Big Book of Boat Canvas  

Customizing a boat can be a fun way to make the vessel feel like home. One option is canvas, and Karen Lipe is here to explain multiple sewing projects.

From practical objects like sail covers to interior cushions, the options are endless in this handbook.

14. Sailing: The Basics  

Newcomers will appreciate Dave Franzel’s book as it helps people get on the water and become sailors in no time. It follows his fundamental principle that time in the water is key to learning, so it gets through the essentials fast.

Get from the docks to the water in record time, and feel confident doing it.

15. The Blue Book of Sailing  

Adam Cort hopes to take the reader of any experience level and turn them into true sailing experts. Through simple lessons, it explains everything needed to sail.

Some basic knowledge of sailing can be necessary for reading, but anyone will benefit from the tips.

16. BoatSense: Lessons and Yarns from a Marine Writer’s Life Afloat  

Combining narrative and guidebook, the unique BoatSense: Lessons and Yarns from a Marine Writer’s Life Afloat gives realistic tips based on Doug Logan’s experience.

The true tales from this sailor aren’t just for fun, as they pleasantly explain crucial teachings that are usually exclusive to years of sailing.

17. The International Marine Book of Sailing  

The International Marine Book of Sailing by William Robinson is great for beginners looking to learn everything. 

This book has handy illustrations and other valuable insights neatly organized to get the reader ready to sail as soon as possible.

18. The Ashley Book of Knots  

This comprehensive book covers around 3,900 types of knots with brief descriptions, drawn guides, and other information. 

This manual not only covers basic knots but includes complex versions that can be used on the boat or to impress friends.

19. The Handbook Of Sailing  

For visual learners, Bob Bond has thousands of diagrams and color photos to explore the basic techniques of setting sail. 

The guidebook has helpful descriptions to accompany the pictures and assists the reader through any situation.

20. Sailing America  

See the beauties of the United States from coast to coast in this picture collection from Onne van der Wal. Enjoy the views from the sea without even sailing across thousands of miles.

Whether it’s for inspiration or to admire the expert photography, any sailor can appreciate the beautiful landscapes in this book.

21. The Annapolis Book of Seamanship  

Another comprehensive guide that covers everything from the basics to handling extreme conditions. John Rousmaniere is on hand to get the reader for any sailing situation.

This book progresses from the simplest tasks to the most challenging endeavors, with traditional techniques mixed with newer innovations.

22. Desirable and Undesirable Characteristics of the Offshore Yachts 

Searching for a sea-worthy vessel can be a challenging task, but Steven L. Davis aims to make it much easier.

This guidebook examines trends and other information to prepare the reader for the boat market. That data will be invaluable to understanding what to look for when choosing their own.

23. Sailing Is Fun!: A Beginners Manual For Young Sailors  

Kids looking to sail can learn the basics from Charles D. Dawson. His book uses only simple terms, making it easy for children to follow.

It stresses water safety to keep youngsters safe, and it’s an invaluable tool for anyone wanting to pass on sailing traditions.

24. The Best Used Boat Notebook  

A cost-effective way to get into sailing is through a used boat, and The Best Used Boat Notebook from John Kretschmer gives every tip needed. 

This detailed guide breaks down the specifics any potential boat owner should know.

25. The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands 

Explore the crystal waters of the Virgin Islands with help from Simon Scott’s experience. 

It also includes a handy chart that folds out to aid your plans for the sailing voyage.

26. Marina’s Best  

A significant portion of sailing is in marinas, and anyone hoping to manage their marina can get the knowledge necessary from Dr. Amos Raviv.

This work guides the reader through everything necessary to run a marina and ensures sailors understand the rules and regulations of marina use.

27. Crewing to Win

Racing sailboats is an intense sport, and it relies on crew teamwork. To build the best team, try reading Crewing to Win by Saskia Clark.

This handbook explains how to form a team, set goals, and keep things running smoothly out on the water.

28. Building Outrigger Sailing Canoes

Outrigger canoes are a unique and traditional form of sailing, often handmade by indigenous Hawaiians .

Building Outrigger Sailing Canoes by Gary Dierking helps explain the best way to create an outrigger canoe with contemporary methods.

29. Reeds Skipper’s Handbook  

Owning a small index of essential knowledge can be invaluable at sea, and Malcolm Pearson’s Reeds Skipper’s Handbook is just that.

This book is an indispensable guide for any experienced sailor, as it’s easy to reference and find exactly what you’re looking for.

30. The Best of Sail Trim  

This volume is a compilation of the best articles from SAIL magazine, collected for ease of access. Explore tips ranging from cruises to racing.

The information in this book is easy and enjoyable to read while giving plenty of priceless tips.

31. Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules: 2021-2024 Rules  

Get into racing with this complete guide Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules: 2021-2024 Rules. Written by the Olympic sailor Paul Elvstrom, learn all the ins and outs to win first place.

This book has a quick reference guide for racing flags and ways to help plan the best course.

32. Maneuver and Dock Your Sailboat Under Power  

Docking a boat can be one of the most challenging tasks a sailor can undertake. Maneuver and Dock Your Sailboat Under Power by Grant Headifen prepares the reader for docking in any condition.

Feel confident sailing into the marina with one of the best sailing books focused on navigation, and never risk bumping into the docks again.

5 Favorite Sailing Books to Build Racing Skills

Build racing skills with these 5 books.

To build racing skills, it’s always good to refresh your understanding of key concepts and skills, so you can take them up a notch, or least not slip backwards.  Here are five books that have enough solid content to keep me coming back for more.

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Home » Blog » Gear » 25 sailing books every sailor should read

25 sailing books every sailor should read

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: January 26, 2023

THE BEST SAILING BOOKS INSPIRE YOU TO GET OUT THERE

Whether you’re looking to do some armchair sailing during the off-season or stock up your floating library with sailing stories for summer cruising, these are the best sailing books for adventure and inspiration.

In this list, you’ll find books about sailing around the world, first-hand accounts of daring Antarctic adventures, true crime nautical thrillers, and meditative musings about life at sea. Be sure to let us know your favorite sailing books in the comments below.

If you’re looking for reference books on boat maintenance and how to sail, check out our post on the nautical books we’ll never go to sea without .

A quick note that this post contains affiliate links (so if you purchase through a link we’ll earn a small commission). All the opinions are our own.

Best books about sailing around the world

1. the long way – bernard moitessier.

This is the book that inspired us to buy a boat and go sailing! Bernard Moitessier was a French sailor who raced in the 1968 Golden Globe, the first single-handed around the world race.

He sails from England alone for several months and when it seems he is just about to win…(well, I won’t spoil it for you!). His account is a great adventure story and also a deep meditation on zen philosophy.

2. Sailing Alone Around the World – Joshua Slocum

Joshua Slocum’s  Sailing Alone Around the World  is a really interesting account of the first solo-circumnavigation. It would be an interesting account even if it were written today but is especially so due to the fact that the events he recounts take place prior to the 20th century.

In many ways, Slocum was the first cruiser and the trouble he gets himself into, the people he meets, and the places he goes are things to which we can all relate.

3. A World of My Own – Robin Knox-Johnston

Robin Knox-Johnston’s account of his non-stop solo-circumnavigation of the world. He presents a vivid and  vulnerable portrait of a sailor attempting to accomplish what most thought impossible.

It’s a testament to the ability of the human mind to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and heartening for fellow sailors who will encounter situations that put their own courage to the test. It’s a great read and details one of the most incredible feats of the modern era.

4. Dove – Robin Lee Graham

Dove is a book for those who dream of sailing around the world.

In 1965, 16-year-old Robin Lee Graham set off from California in 24-footer on a solo round-the-world voyage. After 5 years and 33,000 miles, he returns with a wife and daughter. His adventures in between are recounted in this best-selling book.

5. Gipsy Moth Circles The World – Francis Chichester

In August 1966, Francis Chichester set out from Plymouth on his 53-foot ketch “Gypsy Moth VI”. He would become the first person to make a one-stop round the world circumnavigation.

Chichester’s journey set records, earned him a knighthood, and fueled the ambition of the next generation of sailors, to become the first to sail around the world non-stop in the 1968 Golden Globe Race.

6. Maiden Voyage – Tania Aebi with Bernadette Brennan

At 18 years old, Tania Aebi was going nowhere, until her father presented her with an ultimatum: she could go to college or get a boat. She chose the latter and for the next two and a half years and 27,000 miles, she sailed the world with only her cat as a companion.

Sailing adventure books

7. an island to oneself – tom neale.

New Zealander, Tom Neale travels to Suwarrow, a remote South Pacific atoll, and spends 16 years living alone and off the land. If you’ve ever fantasized about living on a remote South Pacific Island, this book is for you.

8. Sailing & Mountain Exploration Books  – H.W. Tilman

Considered one of the greatest adventurers of our time, Tilman has sailed and climbed in some of the world’s most remote and environments. His sailing books are must-reads for those who dream of straying from the beaten path and sailing in high-latitudes.

9. Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft – Thor Heyerdahl

Kon-Tiki was the first book about sailing that I ever read.  And really it is more about adventuring than sailing. The sheer foolhardiness of building a balsa wood raft and sailing it 4000 miles from Peru to Tahiti is enough to pique the interest of any adventurous soul.

It’s fascinating to read the various ways that the four men on the raft handled the, at times, boring, stressful, exciting, and survival situations in which they were placed.

Sailing thriller books

10. and the sea will tell – vincent bugliosi.

In this terrifying true story, two couples sail to a remote Pacific atoll, but only one couple makes it off the Island alive. As told by the defense lawyer, Vincent Bugliosi (who also prosecuted Charles Manson), the investigation that follows is a riveting true-crime murder mystery.

And the Sea Will Tell reconstructs the events and recounts the trial that follows. The first half of the book is a real page-turner. The second half delves into technical aspects of the court case which makes for a less compelling read (unless perhaps you’re a lawyer!).

11. The Perfect Storm – Sebastian Junger

A real-life thriller, this book is likely to scare you out of ever leaving land, but it will also give you an appreciation of the sheer power of weather in the Atlantic Ocean.

Junger tells the story of the Perfect Storm, a record topping storm that hit the east coast of North America in the fall of 1991. It follows the accounts of the crews of the fishing boat, a sailboat, and the U.S. Coast Guard as they battle to survive the severe conditions.

12. Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea – Steven Callahan

A staggering survival story written by Steven Callahan about 76 days spent in a life raft in the Atlantic Ocean.

Only six days out, Callahan’s small sloop capsizes and he’s left battling for survival in an inflatable raft. “Adrift” was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than thirty-six weeks when it first came out.

13. Godforsaken Sea – Derek Lundy

Godforsaken Sea  recounts the running of the 1996-97 Vendée Globe. On 3 November 1996, sixteen sailors set out to race around the world single-handed. Only six completed the course. The book explores what compels a sailor to go to sea why the Vendée Globe racers were willing to risk everything.

Sailing and cruising stories

14. the curve of time – m. wylie blanchet.

The story of a single mother in the 1920s with 3 children and a dog, exploring Vancouver Island’s inside passage.

In 1926 Muriel “Capi” Wylie Blanchet, a Vancouver Island resident, tragically lost her husband Geoffrey when he took their 25 ft cabin cruiser “Caprice” out on a solo camping trip and never returned. Rather than sell the boat, she took her three young children and dog on summer sojourns, exploring the pristine BC coast with nothing but her wits to rely on.

She documents her many adventures: piloting through whirlpools, run-ins with bears and cougars, climbing thousand-foot cliffs, and exploring abandoned First Nations villages. Her account is both inspiring and a reminder to slow down, appreciate the beauty of nature, and be present with those you love.

One of the few books to make our list of best sailing books that doesn’t take place on a sailboat!

15. Seraffyn’s European Adventure – Lin and Larry Pardey

Lin and Larry Pardey are living proof that you don’t need to be wealthy to see the world. They traveled for 26 years (covering the equivalent of 5 circumnavigations) in their home-built cutters, Seraffyn and Taleisin.

In Seraffyn’s European Adventure the young couple journey in their 24ft boat to the Baltic, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany. Without engine, electronics, or gadgetry these scrappy sailors accomplish remarkable things through sheer endurance and resourcefulness.

Their stories are as salty as it gets and their message is freedom: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

16. The Log from the Sea of Cortez – John Steinbeck

An account of the six-week scientific expedition made by John Steinbeck in 1940 with marine biologist Ed Ricketts, collecting marine specimens as they travel through the Sea of Cortez.

The book recounts bizarre sea creatures, funny anecdotes about the eccentric crew, and Steinbeck/Ricketts’ life philosophies. A good read if you’re planning to visit Mexico.

17. The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float – Farley Mowat

If you’ve ever cursed your boat, you’ll sympathize with the exasperated (but ever hopeful) Mowat in “The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float”.

Seeking adventure, Mowat hopes to buy a boat , a proud and seaworthy vessel, and roam the seven seas. Instead, he gets the worst boat ever and nearly goes mad trying to keep it from sinking.

18. Passage to Juneau – Jonathan Raban

Raban sails from Seattle to Juneau in a small boat, deftly describing the history of First Nations, Captain Vancouver, and life at sea as he travels up the coast.

More than just a travelogue, Raban recounts personal challenges: his relationship with his father, and being a good dad to his young daughter Julia. The Pacific Northwest history is absolutely fascinating and Raban is a deep and thoughtful soul who you can’t help but empathize with.

19. The Incredible Voyage – Tristan Jones

With wit and style, Tristan Jones tells the story of his 6-year voyage where he sailed a distance equal to twice the circumference of the world. His adventures include capsizing off the Cape of Good Hope, starving in the Amazon, and dodging snipers on the Red Sea.

20. Looking for a Ship – John McPhee

John McPhee, considered one of the pioneers of creative nonfiction, recounts a 42-day journey from Charleston down the Pacific coast of South America on one of the last American merchant ships, the S.S. Stella Lykes.

21. My Old Man and the Sea – David Hays, Daniel Hays

An account of an ambitious father-son project: build a boat and take on Cape Horn. With nothing more than a compass, sextant, and pet cat, the father and son duo are tested on an incredible voyage. Told in alternating sections by father and son.

Best Nautical Novels

22. Moby Dick – Herman Melville

No list of classic sailing novels would be complete without Moby Dick.

The story follows a whaler captain’s quest for revenge against the giant sperm whale, Moby Dick. Written by Herman Melville in 1851, it’s considered one of the “Great American Novels”.

23. The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway

24. Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

Published in 1969, this nautical novel was the start of a 20-book series. Set at the turn of the 19th century, the story follows a young Jack Aubrey, who has recently been promoted to the rank of Master and Commander.

Sailing logbook

25. Sailing logbook

The best sailing stories are the ones you create!  Pick up one of these hardcover logbooks to record your nautical travels.

Looking for more great sailing stories? Check out our posts on sailing vlogs and sailing podcasts .

Do you have any suggestions for other inspirational sailing books? We’d love to get your recommendations – please leave them in the comment box below.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Monday 1st of April 2019

Hi there! Great post, but my all time favorite is “South Sea Vagabonds” by John Wray!

Niah Vaughan

Saturday 16th of March 2019

The Loneliest Race by Paul Gelder. Is a must read.

Wednesday 27th of March 2019

Thanks Niah. I've been thinking about writing a post on sailing race books - there are some many good ones!

Michael Robertson

Friday 15th of March 2019

Overlooked on this list and many others is the great "The Water in Between" by Kevin Patterson.

Yes indeed - that's a great recommendation.

Jean Baillargeon

Hi Fiona n Robin, Hope you’re not missing the heat of the SP too too much. If I may suggest a few more books for your great list.

Anything by Moitessier of course, specially «Vagabond des mers du Sud» (telling of his learning to sail in Vietnam as a young man), and «Tamata et l’Alliance», (his last book written during his years living in French Polynesia) Quick english titles list here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=moitessier+bernard&crid=DQW3GY4NSYPS&sprefix=Moitessier%2Caps%2C446&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_10

Anything about Éric Tabarly, there are one or two bios and he wrote one account of his winning the BOAC. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tabarly&crid=C9Q57RE444SF&sprefix=Tabarly%2Caps%2C872&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_5

And my welsh mother in law would be very disappointed in me if I did not recommend Tristan Jones’ books. His are tall tales that sometimes strech believability, but they sure a great read. Typical welsh storyteller with a knack for spinning a good yarn with priceless tongue in cheek humour. Also of interest to handicapped sailors, Jones lost a leg to diabetes on one of his crossings, but kept sailing for many years afterwards. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tristan+jones+books&crid=11M2GS14E6MD4&sprefix=tristan+jones%2Caps%2C1327&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_13

These are great! Thank you Jean. Hope you're finding lots of time for reading on the boat in paradise :)

Darlene Kristi

You did miss a riveting true story, which won the National Outdoor Book Award for best book of the year! Journey of A Hope Merchant - from Apartheid to the Elite World of Solo Yacht Racing. by Neal Petersen

Wow this sounds fascinating! We'll check it out. Thanks Darlene.

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

18 of the Best Books on Sailing

I know–we’re all “connected” and glued to YouTube and online forums. But the truth is, you can’t replace a book. That’s right, a real, honest-to-God, turn the pages and read something, book-book!

The best books on sailing can be divided into a few categories. First, the non-fiction, fun-to-read ones make the best books on sailing adventures. Then there are the non-fiction sailing stories–the stories of solo racing, around-the-world travel logs, or survival at sea.

But, as a boater, you will also want to pick up some of the best books on sailing and seamanship. You’ll likely keep these titles as references onboard for when something breaks or you need a quick refresher!

So, without further ado, here’s a list of the best books on sailing stories for the ages.

Table of Contents

Best books on sailing stories – sailing adventure books, best books on the history of sailing – sailing books of the past, best books on solo race sailing, best books on sailing adventures and best books on sailing voyages, best books on sailing for beginners, best books on sailing and seamanship – books that should be on every boat bookshelf, what’s your favorite sailing book.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Flirting with Mermaids: The Unpredictable Life of a Sailboat Delivery Skipper John Kretschmer

Kretschmer is a celebrity in the sailing circuit, having worked for decades as a delivery skipper and now operating a popular offshore teaching charter on his Kauffman 47 Quetzal . He’s written for many major sailing magazines and has several excellent books about hurricanes and storm sailing.

But this book is a little more informal and a little more intimate. Kretschmer weaves personal anecdotes with sailing know-how to create an engaging tale that’s both fun to read and informative. The result is one of the best entertaining books on sailing that you can find.

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An Embarrasement of Mangoes Anne Vanderhoof

This is a real-life tale of a foodie gone cruising. Anne and her husband set out in a 42-foot sailboat from the US east coast, bound for the Caribbean. Each stop in the 16 countries and 47 islands along the way brings the sort of nautical misadventures you’d expect.

But the thing that brings this book home for me is the idea of taking one’s passions with them when traveling. I, too, am a devout foodie. Vanderhoof shares not her cruising dreams but also the culture and the ingredients that make each spot special–and even includes recipes.

From catching shrimp on the ICW to enjoying a Bahamian cracked conch for the first time, this one kept me turning pages the whole way through.

Float Plan Trish Doller

After facing a devastating loss, Anna decides a sailing trip is just the ticket she needs. She needs her own adventure and to see if salt water is indeed the cure for everything, all while her family questions her plans and worries for her safety at sea.

After an eventful sail to the Bahamas, Anna hires a captain to show her the ropes. The story is a delightful mix of rom-com, adventure, and travel as Anna discovers the highs and lows of the sailing lifestyle.

Swell: A Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening Liz Clark

Swell is the modern sailing story of a young surfer from California who sets out on the adventure of a lifetime, cruising through Mexico and, eventually, the South Pacific Ocean. Clark tells her story with enviable honesty, chronicling her journey of personal growth as well as her sailing adventure.

Liz has been sailing her 40-foot Cal Swell for over ten years now, visiting many exotic islands and meeting people that fellow sailors only dream about. Many times she’s alone, or in the company of only her cat. Swell touches on every aspect of her journey, from relationship drama to technical boat problems that had her stuck in Tahiti for more than a year.

Sailing Alone Around the World Joshua Slocum

I love this book for its historical perspective. Dreaming of casting off the lines and sailing into the sunset isn’t a new thing. Slocum was the first to circumnavigate by himself, setting out from 1893 to 1894 on his small sailboat Spray .

As you might imagine, cruising was a little different back then. One of the best books on the history of shipbuilding sailing, it offers a fascinating glimpse into what it was like in the late 19th century. Most of the spots visited were not set up for yachts, after all, and there was no Panama Canal. Join Slocum as he cruises the Magellan Straights and makes his way, navigating by stars (newsflash: the was no GPS back then, either!)

This classic is a free download on Kindle.

The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float Farley Mowat

Mowat’s humor will pull you into this story, a perfect read for anyone considering buying a fixer-upper sailboat. His tales of the dangerous hand-crank diesel motor and the leaky wooden boat might seem archaic, but anyone who’s owned a boat will rejoice in understanding that it’s always been this way–it’s just what boats do.

This is also, for a change, a northern adventure that sets out from the shores of Newfoundland. If ever there’s a place where you’d like your boat to float, it’s where the water is that cold!

Unfortunately, this is one of the only books on the list that has yet to make it to a Kindle or ebook version. You can pick up a paperback for under $10, though.

The Long Way (The Pivitoal Novel of the Golden Globe Race) Bernard Moitessier

Some books have inspired sailors for decades, and many of those sailors point to Moitessier’s The Long Way as one of the most impactful. It’s the story of the first Golden Globe Race–a solo, around-the-world, non-stop route by way of all three Great Capes in the Southern Ocean.

Moitessier’s story is one of surviving solo at sea, with knock-downs, gear failures, storms, and doldrums. In the end, he sailed 37,455 miles before he touched land.

Maiden Voyage Tania Aebi

At 18, Aebi became the youngest person and the first American woman to sail around the world alone. This book is her story and follows her 1985 journey of two-and-a-half years and 27,000 miles.

Bumfuzzle Patrick Schulte

Catamarans have made their mark on the world, and their impressive sailing performance and layouts continue to draw in new cruisers. Meet the young couple Ali and Pat, who decide over drinks that they should sail around the world on one.

One year later, they found the boat and set sail. With no sailing background or boating experience, the couple spent four years sailing around the world. They learn what they need along the way, get into trouble, and get out of trouble.

The most interesting thing about the book is that they are not conventional sailors–they aren’t into technicalities. They want to travel, and their catamaran lets them do it. This is a major shift for many sailors, and the couple makes it clear right off the bat that they don’t subscribe to the “norms.”

Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson

If you haven’t read the original pirate yarn Treasure Island since grade school, do yourself a favor and find a Kindle copy to reread. You might find buried treasures in this long-forgotten “kids” story.

And if the OG pirate tale piques your interest, consider hopping over to our ultimate list of best sailing movies and give Black Sails a watch. The show tells the back story of some characters from the book, like Long John Silver and Captain Flint.

Sailing Made Easy ASA

This is the textbook for ASA 101, the entry-level sailing course from the American Sailing Association. There are plenty of other books like it, but this one is super easy to learn from and designed by experts. It’s full of full-color graphics and diagrams and teaches using the building blocks method. Start with simple sailing terms and sailing knots , and work your way up to sail trim and handling the boat with easy, step-by-step instructions.

If you’re debating about getting into sailing without any experience, this book is a great place to start. So give it a read, and maybe you’ll want to make it interactive by taking the course from your nearest sailing school.

Coastal Cruising Made Easy ASA

This is the textbook for ASA 102, Coastal Cruising. It takes the introductory information from 101 and expands on it, giving you the confidence to navigate farther from the marina and tackle some longer journeys. You’ll learn more about navigation, planning a big trip, and fine-tuning your sailing skills.

• Full color, richly illustrated, 176-pages

Related: Best Boat for Beginners

Some books belong on the shelf in every boat, even if you’re tight on space. Of course, digital bookshelves count, but some of these references are invaluable to be able to pick up and flip through.

Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual Don Casey

For beginners contemplating living on a sailboat , you cannot go wrong with this how-to guide that covers every part of boat ownership. Even if you aren’t looking at a fixer-upper, this book will walk you through the hows and whys of boat ownership and maintenance.

This hardcover is a collection of five smaller books, making it the ultimate compendium for your shelf. Here are the five titles included to give you an idea of the wide-ranging topics.

• Inspecting the Aging Sailboat
• Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair
• Sailboat Refinishing
• Sailboat Electrics Simplified
• Troubleshooting Marine Diesels
• Canvaswork and Sail Repair

The great thing about this text is that it grows with the reader. Section one teaches you how to perform your own survey on a vessel, an invaluable step to consider before making an offer and hiring a professional surveyor.

The Boat Galley Cookbook: 800 Everyday Recipes and Essential Tips for Cooking Aboard Carolyn Shearlock and Jan Irons

Before you even get to the great recipes, this book contains great information you should have on hand in a cruising boat. Substitutions, how to store things without a refrigerator (or with a tiny one!), and what to look for in foreign markets are just a few examples.

The recipes are practical for the boater, with one-pan dishes and lots of potluck favorites. But there are also helpful tips on how to do things landlubbers may never have thought about, like baking bread in a tiny galley or cleaning a fresh-caught lobster.

Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual Nigel Calder

Calder’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual is the bible of boat maintenance for DIY and cruising owners. It provides the theory and the basics, industry-standard how-to guides, and basic troubleshooting steps.

The importance of this book cannot be overstated. While many things on boats seem straightforward, particularly to folks already DIY savvy, there is still much to learn. Calder provides a baseline of how things should be done and a good summary of the regulations and ABYC standards for things like electrical wiring and plumbing.

The Voyager’s Handbook Beth A. Leonard

If you’re wondering over the how-tos of making the splash into the cruising world, Leonard’s Voyager’s Handbook is an excellent resource. The book considers some of the important topics that few people discuss openly. For example, exactly how much does it cost to sail around the world? What sort of boat do you need, and how should it be outfitted?

Of course, these are hard questions to answer because everyone does it differently. Leonard tackles these difficult issues by dividing the cruising world into sectors–the budget cruisers, the middle-of-the-road folks, and the luxurious living large set.

No matter which group you put yourself in, this book helps you plan for the adventure. Whether you need help finding the right boat and outfitting it, weather forecasting and heavy-weather sailing, and managing emergencies, Leonard’s is a resource you should keep close at hand.

World Voyage Planner Jimmy Cornell

If you dream of crossing oceans, this book is for you. This is the original how-to guide for sailing around the world. Or around the Atlantic, or Pacific, or where ever you want to go. It includes the basics and the most popular routes, including things you need to think about along the way and an overview of how it’s done. If you’ve ever wondered things like “ how long does it take to sail across the Atlantic ,” then this is the book where you’ll find your answers.

This book is part of Cornell’s World Cruising Series of textbooks. Each book looks similar but has a slightly different purpose.

• World Cruising Routes — Details over 1,000 sailing routes for every major passage around the globe, including climate, storms, and ocean current considerations
• World Voyage Planner — Overview of the most common voyages and how to plan them in the most favorable conditions with background information on global climate and cruising destinations
• World Cruising Destinations — Descriptions and histories for 184 countries, including legal formalities for sailors, climate, and facilities

Sailing a Serious Ocean: Sailboats, Storms, Stories, and Lessons Learned from 30 Years at Sea John Kretschmer

The title sums this great read up well. Kretschmer has made his living for years as a delivery skipper (read his yarns in the above-mentioned Flirting with Mermaids ). But he also teaches wannabe voyagers and gives lectures on what makes a great bluewater boat. After all, he’s sailed a lot of them first-hand.

Sailing a Serious Ocean recounts some of his biggest lessons to students, including what makes a sound, bluewater boat, and how to deal with storms at sea.

Whether you like a good adventure yarn, some historical drama, or a how-to reference that will be used daily, there are many great options.

One parting thought–the helpfulness of a Kindle onboard cannot be overstated. The basic Kindle Paperwhite is worth a look if you’re an avid reader, and it will always be one of the best gifts for boaters . It’s waterproof (!!!), and its battery lasts weeks without a recharge. In short, it’s the perfect travel companion and allows you to free up space on your shelf–something every boater needs.

• Kindle Paperwhite – Now with a 6.8” display and thinner borders, adjustable warm light, up to 10 weeks of battery life, and 20% faster page turns.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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Hey, I'm Reading

Your friendly site for all fun things books, 25 awesome books about sailing around the world.

• by Megan Johnson
• Posted on March 2, 2022 May 17, 2022

There are affiliate links in here.  I get a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you

I am not a water person. I have very little desire to actually sail around the world. But when I read these books about sailing around the world, I briefly think it would be really cool to do.

But it’s certainly not something I’m striving to do anytime soon, if ever. I’ll stick to the sailing books instead for now and today I’m going to share some of them with you!

There aren’t any how to sail books on here, just books about sailing around the world and a few sailing survival stories, both topics I love reading about.

I’ve actually read a few of these and have quite a few of the others on my TBR and wishlist . I’m sure I’ll want to read even more by the time I’m done with this post.

• If you want to listen to some of these, consider  trying Audible ! You can get your first month free (one free book) plus tons of others they have for free.  Get that Audible deal here.
• If you’re on more of a budget, try Everand (formerly Scribd)! You can get 60 days free there with my link! You can read books and listen to audiobooks. It is unlimited (especially the reading) but if you listen to tons of new audiobooks you may be restricted after a few. I haven’t encountered this yet, but I do use Everand myself and like it a lot. Get 60 days free here!
• Shop my collection of bookish goodies on Etsy ! These aren’t my shop items, but other shops I’ve curated into a book-themed collection. Shop my Etsy bookish goodies here!
• If you want to read more on your Kindle but don’t want to buy books, Kindle Unlimited is a good option. If you read a lot and like to read more than just new releases (especially romance), it could be worth it. Get Kindle Unlimited here !
• Get $5 off of $25 from BookOutlet! This is a great place to find new books for pretty cheap. They also have sales quite a bit, so keep an eye out for those. I tend to check here for books I want if they’re more expensive other places. They don’t have everything but they do have a lot. Shop BookOutlet here!
• Thrift Books has become my go-to when I’m looking for a book and want it cheap. It’s great if you like buying used books. With this you can get a free book after spending $30!
• Shop my book lists here! You can find every book list I have on Bookshop.org (except my monthly round-ups) and I add everything I can but they occasionally won’t have some. I do occasionally add extras though. If any lists are empty, they’ll be filled in shortly! Shop my bookshop.org book lists here .

Love with a Chance of Drowning

Torre isn’t looking for love when she meets a soulful Argentinian man in San Diego. But he’s about to set sail around the world on his small sailboat. Lovesick, she decides to join him on this terrifying and life-changing journey through deep waters. Somewhere mid-pacific, she’s finding it hard to keep everything afloat.

I read this one last year and it was definitely interesting! It’s not like, 10/10 for me but I did enjoy it, especially from the perspective of someone that just sort of decided to sail across the world on a whim.

All the Colours of Polynesia

This is another one I have and can’t wait to read! My South Pacific and sailing book list is quite long now.

This is the three-year journey across French Polynesia on a sailboat, from Bora Bora to the Tuamotus. We get to experience the ups and downs of life on a sailboat along with Jasna, meeting heavily tattooed men, sailing under the stars, and diving with sharks and dolphins.

Maiden Voyage

This one landed on my TBR after reading Adrift: 76 Days at Sea (mentioned below) and it sounds so good!

Tania was eighteen, living in New York with no big plans. But then her father gave her a choice: a college education or a twenty-six-foot sloop. She chose the boat with the caveat of having to sail it around the world. Alone.

It was her home for the next two years and 27,000 miles with just her cat as a companion. What started as just an adventure became a spiritual quest.

The Long Way

This is Bernard’s own story of his experience in the first Golden Globe Race, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation rounding the Capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin, and Horn.

He battled storms, doldrums, fatigue, loneliness, and more over the next seven months. Near the end of the race, he pulled out and sailed on for three more months, ending in Tahiti 37,455 miles later, not touching land once.

Escape from the Ordinary

When Glen and Julie followed their dream, they found reality could be bigger than imagined. Here, we get to hear about the terrors and pleasures of living on a sailboat from the North Atlantic to French Polynesia where even simple decisions can have major consequences.

This is perfect for anyone looking for a true-story sailing book, whether you want to sail or not.

The Perfect Storm

It was the storm of the century with waves over 100 feet high formed by a combination of factors that deemed it the perfect storm.

This is the stories of the lives of people touched by the storm. This is non-fiction and it’s actually a movie, too!

I would like to read this one. I remember my mom watching the movie when I was little and she made me leave the room for one part of it because it was too scary, I guess.

Close to the Wind: An Extraordinary Story of Triumph Over Adversit y

In 1996, Pete Goss set off on the most grueling race in his sailing career, the Vendee Globe, a non-stop, single-handed yacht race around the world.

He met every challenge over the next seven weeks before everything started to go wrong. Then, on Christmas day, his radio picked up a Mayday of a sinking French competitor 160 miles away. He turned into the hurricane force winds to rescue a near-dead man on a life raft and this is the story of how that all came to be.

I wasn’t sure about this as I added it to the list but it sounds really interesting!

Adrift: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea

I watched this movie over the winter and now I really want to read the book. This is a crazy survival story (a true survival story) and while most of it isn’t actively sailing, it’s still definitely a sailing book.

Tami and her fiance Richard have their whole lives ahead of themselves when they set sail from Tahiti to San Diego.

Less than two weeks into their voyage, though, they sail directly into one of the worst hurricanes recorded in history. Richard ties himself to the boat and sends Tami to safety below. Hours later, all is quiet and she’s awakened to find the boat in ruins and Richard nowhere in sight.

This is the miraculous story of her forty-one days alone with no mast or sails and little hope of rescue.

The Incredible Voyage

This is Tristan Jones’s six-year voyage alone on his small boat, The Sea Dart ranging from the Dead Sea to Lake Titicaca, covering a distance more than twice the circumference of the globe.

He refuses to let any disasters he faced get in his way including hauling his boat over the Andes, facing the current of the mighty Amazon , and capsizing off the Cape of Good Hope.

This one sounds like a combination of a sailing adventure book and a trekking adventure book.

An Embarrassment of Mangos

This is the story of two driven Canadians desperate for a break from their professional lives who quit their jobs and moved onto a 42-foot sailboat. They set sail for a two-year journey through the Caribbean where they dropped anchor in 16 countries, on 47 islands, exploring secluded beaches and local markets.

If you want a sailing book to have you dreaming of dropping everything to live on a boat, this is probably the one for you.

A Sail of Two Idiots: 100+ Lessons and Laughs from a Non-Sailor Who Quit the Rat Race, Took the Helm, and Sailed to a New Life in the Caribbean

Renee and Michael had no boating experience and had to learn everything the hard way. They managed to make it from Miami to Grenada, dropping anchor at the island of their dreams.

If you’re curious about sailing around the world, or living on a sailboat at all, this is perfect for you! It’s part lessons learned, part adventure.

Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea

This is a firsthand account of Steven Callahan’s seventy-six days adrift in his inflatable raft when his sailboat capsized just six days in.

I read this one over the summer and it was pretty interesting! It had some slow moments, but it’s definitely worth reading.

This is a true story about 16-year old Robin sailing around the world alone on a 24-foot sloop over five years. 33,000 miles later, he returns home to California with a wife, a daughter, and enough stories to fill a book. This book.

Off The Grid: How I quit the rat race and live for free aboard a sailboat

Mark went from working 60 hours a week to living off the grid on a 39-foot sailboat, usually on the move or anchored in the water.

He was able to clear up debts and free his spirit while meeting a colorful cast of characters along the way. Now he is sharing the stories here along with how to make this happen for yourself.

An Island to Oneself

Tom Neale was a New Zealander bushcraft and survival enthusiast who spent 16 years in three stints living along on the island of Anchorage in the Swarrow atoll in the Cook Islands and these are his stories.

Plunge: One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary

When Lisebet trades the life she knows for living on a sailboat, she succumbs to seasickness and a growing desire to be alone.

She enjoys the impulsiveness and alternative lifestyle but must face personal storms, US immigration, adverse weather, and doubts about her newfound love.

Eight Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

Nick heard fellow bus passengers discussing the improbable plan to sail the 2,500 miles from Northern Chile to Easter Island in a boat made of reeds. They wanted to revive the pre-Incan boat building method while having an incredible adventure.

Nick talked his way on board to find himself plagued with uncertainty, especially when the crew was made of a tree surgeon, a jewelry salesman, and two ducks. Where’s the navigator? Does anyone here know how to sail? Where is the life raft?

This is perfect for fans of adventure and sailing books.

And the Sea Will Tell

If you want a book about sailing, a book about murder, and a super long book, look no further.

Alone with her new husband on a tiny Pacific atoll, a young woman finds an aluminum container washed up on shore next to a gold tooth in a scorched human skull.

The rest of the story is a complex and puzzling true-crime mystery that only Vincent Bugliosi was able to draw together with hundreds of conflicting details of what happened when four people found hell in a tropical paradise.

I don’t love long books but I might have to give this one a shot someday!

The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float

Farley left Toronto for Newfoundland where he heard boats looking for buyers are as common as cod. He doesn’t realize the ship he purchased half-drunk in the middle of the night requires every nautical repair known to man.

The Happy Adventure sank regularly, leaked like a sieve, and had a working engine only on occasion. These are their stories from the Newfoundland coast to Lake Ontario and everything they encountered along the way.

Sailing to the Edge of Time: The Promise, the Challenges, and the Freedom of Ocean Voyaging

John is a practical sailing philosopher with hundreds of thousands of nautical miles under his belt. The narrative of his adventures around the world, from Belize to Yemen, are interwoven with practical tips and hard-earned insights of how to make the most of our lives.

Island of the Lost: An Extraordinary Story of Survival at the Edge of the World

Here is another sailing survival story but in 1864. Captain Thomas Musgrave wrecked on a forbidding piece of land 285 miles south of New Zealand.

On the opposite side of the island, at the same time, another ship ran aground in a storm. The two crews face the same fate with twenty miles of treacherous and impassable cliffs between them.

One crew turns on itself and to cannibalism while the other bands together to build a cabin and find a way to escape.

I don’t usually like this-far-back historical survival/exploration stories but this one sounds really interesting. It was pieced together with historical records and survivor’s journals.

A World of My Own: The First-Ever Non-Stop Round the World Voyage

This is the story of Robin’s sailing journey, the first-ever non-stop, single-handed sail around the world.

This one is probably interesting and sounds like a classic sailing book, but I just can’t with the description on Amazon. It’s a lot of words but really doesn’t tell me what this is about.

Godforsaken Sea: Racing the World’s Most Dangerous Waters

On November 3, 1996, sixteen sailors set out from the Bay of Biscay on the Vendee Globe Race (mentioned above) through some of the most treacherous and isolated waters on Earth.

Six completed the course, six withdrew or were disqualified, three were pulled from sinking boats, and one disappeared without a trace.

Sailing Alone Around the World

Joshua Slocum was the first person to sail single-handedly around the world (I feel like I’ve written that like, ten times in this post). Along the way he was introduced to many dignitaries.

Honestly, this description is like, ten miles long and tells me even less about the book than the one above, but if you like books about sailing around the world and historical accounts, this could be good for you.

One Girl One Dream

Here we have another first, this is the youngest sailor to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe. Not only did she face the seas on her own, but also doubts and hostile resistance from officials.

This is her story of what it was like sailing around the world alone. This one sounds pretty good and it’s only $0.99 on Kindle so I think I’ll give it a shot!

Have you read any of these books about sailing around the world? Which ones? Are there any other sailing books I should check out?

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Author: Megan Johnson

I'm Megan, a cheesehead at heart currently residing in the Sunshine State. You can probably find me reading, watching Forensic Files, or both. View all posts by Megan Johnson

Many, many years ago I read a couple of books (two volumes) from an author and I would like to find those books again, but they were borrowed. All I remember is the author was in Europe and sometime after WWII bought a Coast Guard type rescue boat and rebuilt it into a sailing vessel. I remember he sailed up by Greenland in the late fall, became stuck in the ice during the winter, had problems with a polar bear and found help with some natives. I don’t know if he sailed around the world, but he probably did. He somehow got his boat to Lake Titicaca in South America and later sailed up the Amazon with help from a younger lad. They both barely made it back down the river with numerous medical problems. I believe in later years he received help and acknowledgement from a major sailing club. If you have any idea of the author or book titles would you please let me know who he was.

Ohh that sounds very interesting! I’ll do my best to find it and report back!

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Books for sailors: our pick of the best new releases

• Julia Jones
• April 21, 2022

Yachting Monthly literary contributor Julia Jones reviews all the latest new releases to pick the best books for sailors this summer

Credit: Getty

Looking for inspiration for your holiday reading list?

From solo sailing adventures to practical seamanship , here are the best books for sailors to read over the summer.

The Temptress Voyages

Edward Allcard’s first two books Single-Handed Voyage (1950) and Temptress Returns (1951) chronicle his pioneering voyages both ways across the Atlantic .

He bought the elderly 34’ yawl Temptress as an antidote to postwar malaise, then set out to put himself and his yacht to the test.

He began his 81-day single-handed crossing to New York in May 1949, spending hours at the tiller or hove-to.

This arduous existence represented freedom.

He felt regret as well as triumph when he reached America, then regret when he was eventually obliged to leave.

The return voyage almost cost his life but later, when he was joined by Otilia the stowaway, he also discovered friendship.

These two volumes of struggle and self-discovery are classics of their time.

The Temptress Voyages by Edward Allcard, Lodestar, £12

Buy The Temptress Voyages at Amazon (UK)

Buy The Temptress Voyages at Foyles (UK)

Old Man Sailing

Old Man Sailing has become a word-of-mouth bestseller among sailing titles.

In March 2020 John Passmore was content on his Rival 32 Samsara , the wrong side of the Lowestoft Harbour bridge.

Three months lockdown was imminent. He shifted his berth within the hour.

Then, after some careful provisioning he moved to the Walton Backwaters to complete preparations, observe quarantine and pick a weather window before leaving for the Azores northabout Shetland.

When he returned, six weeks and 3,629 miles later, his action had caught the public imagination.

Passmore, a former journalist, is an accomplished writer able to shape his anecdotes and remain wryly entertaining as well as thought-provoking throughout.

These qualities will ensure Old Man Sailing continues to be read long after lockdown has faded from memory.

Old Man Sailing by John Passmore, Samsara Press, £10.24

Buy Old Man Sailing at Amazon (UK)

Buy Old Man Sailing at Amazon (US)

Buy Old Man Sailing at Audible

Addicted to More Adventure

A new collection of Bob Shepton’s adventures is an immediate pleasure.

Perhaps, as he’s a chaplain by trade, it’s not surprising that there is also a message: ‘Risk is good, enjoy it’.

Ellen Massey Leonard’s afterword spells out the essential connection between risk and joy. ‘Bob has found joy throughout his life in climbing unclimbed cliffs […] and in reaching some of the world’s most remote wildernesses under sail.’

In many of the voyages described here his role is to help others achieve similar experiences.

As well as leading a west-east return through the North-West passage, he acts as a delivery skipper and a sailing master and conveys other, younger, mountaineers to make those thrilling first ascents that are now beyond his reach.

Addicted to More Adventure by Bob Shepton, Amazon, £15

Buy Addicted to More Adventure at Amazon (UK)

Buy Addicted to More Adventure at Amazon (US)

Buy Addicted to More Adventure at Waterstones (UK)

A River in Borneo

Richard Woodman insists that this is his last novel and it’s one of his best, which is why it has been included in our books for sailors list.

A River in Borneo is set in the Malaysian and Indonesian waters he explored as a junior officer in the 1960s Merchant Navy.

The sailing scenes are pure delight as Captain Harry Kirton handles his elderly brigantine as if she were a yacht.

The central action is set in the mid 19th century and Kirton must learn to navigate the sensitivities of different ethnic groups within his crew with the same skill that he negotiates the intricate island passages between the Sulu and Celebes Seas.

Moulded by pain, Kirton is one of Woodman’s most psychologically interesting characters. If this is Woodman’s swansong, it’s a good way to go.

A River in Borneo by Richard Woodman, McBooks Press, £21.95

Buy A River in Borneo at Amazon (UK)

Buy A River in Borneo at Amazon (US)

Buy A River in Borneo at Waterstones (UK)

The Sea is not made of Water

This is a book with the wow factor.

It’s an astonishingly wide-ranging tour-de-force which finally reaches the assertion that the sea ‘is a world to come alongside, to be-with in ways that go beyond the predatory’.

Whilst most sailors will have little trouble with this concept, Nicolson works his way towards it from a coast-based perspective.

Although he does sail out towards Lismore Lighthouse in the Sound of Mull, in a 16ft wooden lugger, his interest is in observation of the inter-tidal rocks, weeds, creatures and legends.

Writing on tides he highlights the Newtonian theory that what we experience is not the sea being pulled about the surface of the earth, but the turning of the earth under the surface covering of the sea – a concept both awe-inspiring and giddying.

The Sea is not made of Water by Adam Nicolson, Harper Collins, £20

Buy The Sea is not made of Water at Amazon (UK)

Buy The Sea is not made of Water at Amazon (US)

Buy The Sea is not made of Water at Waterstones (UK)

Buy The Sea is not made of Water at Audible

Continues below…

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The escapism of sailing thrillers can be a real draw, especially over the holiday period. Julia Jones reviews some of…

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The best sailing books of 2021? Julia Jones reviews the latest maritime reading

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Struggling to find the perfect gift for your sailing mad youngster? Yachting Monthly literary reviewer Julia Jones picks the best…

The Five Year Voyage: Exploring Latin American Coasts and Rivers

When the wanderlust returned he had a partner, Ginny, equally eager for adventure, so adapted a slightly larger boat.

Thurston was an adapted Sea Pearl 21, a two-masted trailersailer , drawing only 9 inches.

They added a cabin top, drinking water ballast, stowage and a sliding seat rowing system.

Two years later, having travelled from Florida to Panama, they added a Honda 2hp outboard.

This enabled them to spend a further three years exploring the coastline and great rivers of South America as far as Buenos Aires.

On the way they married and had a baby.

This is an intensely impressive small boat voyage. It’s also grippingly readable.

The Five-Year Voyage : Exploring Latin American Coasts and Rivers by Stephen Ladd, Seekers Press, £15.99

Buy The Five Year Voyage at Amazon (UK)

Buy The Five Year Voyage at Amazon (US)

Essential Boat Electronics

Electrics are the ‘number 1 problem on any boat’ states the blurb.

While some may wish to challenge this, the fact remains that recent decades have seen an unprecedented increase in the complexity of systems on even the most modest cruising yacht.

Often these systems have been overlaid on one another as new needs have been identified or earlier installations found inadequate.

This useful guide avoids too much theory but encourages better organisation and an understanding of personal priorities.

Even those of us who are privately determined to use professionals wherever possible, it would be well advised to read this book and keep it on board, for the moments when self-reliance is unavoidable.

This is not a problem that’s set to go away.

Essential Boat Electronics 3rd edition by Oliver Ballam and Pat Manley, Fernhurst Books, £16.99

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The Shetland Sea Murders

The Shetland Sea Murders is the 9th book in an established series featuring sailor Cas Lynch, but can be read as a standalone thriller.

The story starts will Lynch running her last charter of the season, which is disrupted by a VHF radio call from the Shetland coastguard.

What follows is two apparently unrelated murders, and soon Lynch herself is under threat.

Fans of Ann Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope series will throughly enjoy the plot’s twists and turns.

It will certainly keep you entertained!

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The Dinghy Cruising Companion

This is the second edition of an important book, and deserves inclusion in our list of books for sailors.

Roger Barnes’s writing recalls Maurice Griffiths’s titles of the 1930s – Magic of the Swatchways and Ten Small Yachts – where the romance of solitude and the challenge of self-reliance took people and their boats to unexpected anchorages, as well as into the warmth of the pub at the end of the day.

Like Griffiths, Barnes writes beautifully but also offers sound, experience-based advice and discusses the qualities of different types of vessel as well as rigs, equipment and modifications.

It’s arguable we would all be better sailors if we reminded ourselves more often of the interplay of wind and waves experienced from inside the hull of a dinghy .

The Dinghy Cruising Companion (2nd edition) by Roger Barnes, Adlard Coles, £16.99

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35 Best Books for Sailors: Adventures, Sailing Stories, and Guides

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If you’re a sailor, you know that there’s nothing quite like the open sea. The sun on your face, the wind in your hair, and the waves crashing against your boat’s hull – it’s a feeling that can’t be captured anywhere else.

We’ve put together a list of our favorite sailing books that inspire that passion and some of the best sailing guides to get you out on the water.

From sailing adventure novels to non-fiction books about sailing around the world, there’s something for every sailor and armchair adventurer on this list. We’ve also included sailing books for cruisers and liveaboard sailors that share information and stories about the sailing lifestyle.

So whether you’re looking for a new book to read on your next sailing trip or just curious about life on the ocean, be sure to check out our picks for the best books for sailors.

Sailing Adventure Books – Non-Fiction

Non-fiction sailing books offer sailors a glimpse into the actual dangers and excitement of life at sea. Some of the most fantastic adventure stories are about life on the open ocean. These books of survival, exploration, and determination will leave a lasting impression and a feeling of respect for the sea.

1. Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea

By Steven Callahan

Adrift is a non-fiction book by Steven Callahan that tells the story of his 1982 sailing expedition, during which he was stranded in a lifeboat for 76 days.

The book chronicles his story as he fights for survival against all odds. This is an original, true adventure story that should be on every sailor’s reading list.

2. The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst

By Nicholas Tomalin

The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst is a non-fiction book by Nicholas Tomalin that tells the story of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst, a man who attempted the Golden Globe Race around the world in 1968.

The book follows Crowhurst’s journey, revealing this solo race’s mental toll on a sailor.

3. The Proving Ground

By Bruce Knecht

The Proving Ground is about the 1998 world-renowned Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. A distance of only 630 nautical miles, it is considered one of the most challenging races in the world, but it would also become fatal in this particular year.

A massive storm with 80-knot gusts and enormous waves tore apart the racing yachts killing six sailors and stranding 55 others. The book follows the stories of three of the yachts fighting for survival and showcases how those people of different backgrounds reacted in the face of disaster.

This story of courage, determination, and tragedy has been described as the ‘Perfect Storm’ version of a sailing race. Even if you know nothing about yacht racing or sailing, you can still find this book interesting and entertaining to read.

4. The Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage

By Alfred Lansing

The Endurance is a non-fiction book by Alfred Lansing that tells the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to Antarctica. The book follows the journey of the Endurance, a ship that was caught in pack ice and eventually destroyed.

This book is one of the most remarkable survival stories ever told. It is made even more interesting since the wreckage of the Endurance was just recently found in March of 2022 over 10,000 feet below the Weddell Sea.

5. In the Heart of the Sea

The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

In the Heart of the Sea is a non-fiction book by Nathaniel Philbrick that reveals the true story of the whaleship Essex – the ship that was the inspiration for the timeless classic Moby-Dick.

In 1820, the Essex was attacked by a giant sperm whale, and the crew was forced to abandon ship. They sailed for over 90 days in small boats before finally being rescued. This is a sailing book of true survival and the unforgivable nature of the sea.

6. The Perfect Storm

A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger

The Perfect Storm is a non-fiction book by Sebastian Junger that tells the story of the 1991 Perfect Storm, a hurricane that caused massive damage along the East Coast of the United States.

The book follows the lives of the fishermen who were caught in the storm, and it paints a vivid picture of how perilous a storm at sea can be.

A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea by Tami Oldham Ashcraft

Adrift is an autobiography by Tami Oldham Ashcraft about two adventurous souls and their sailing passage from Tahiti to California. During this trip, Tami and her fiancé encounter a cataphoric hurricane that severely damages the sailboat.

This book is a true sailing survival story of a woman dealing with loss while struggling against impossible odds.

8. The Silent World

By Jacques Cousteau

The father of scuba diving first introduced us to the mysteries of the underwater world in his book The Silent World. This book was published before Cousteau’s TV series and literally dived into the beginning of scuba and underwater adventure.

This book will delight sailors who are also divers and interested in exploring and discovering the deep sea as it was first explored through scuba in the 1950s.

9. Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft

By Thor Heyerdahl

The Kon-Tiki expedition was a famous 1947 voyage from South America to Polynesia on a raft built from balsa wood and bamboo. The team consisted of six men. The voyage was designed to test Heyerdahl’s theory that the ancient Polynesians could have settled in South America, and it proved to be a success.

This book is another fascinating true story of sailing expeditions and exploration in the 20th century.

Sailing Adventure Books – Fiction

Sailing adventure books are a great way to get lost in a story while enjoying the open seas. These novels often follow the journey of a sailing vessel or crew fighting for survival on the sea or a dangerous voyage in uncharted waters. They’re perfect for anyone who loves adventure and suspense or wants to escape from the real world.

These are some of our favorite fictional books on sailing adventures.

10. The Old Man and the Sea

By Ernest Hemingway

The Old Man and the Sea is a classic novel by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1952. The novella tells the story of an aged Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin fish for three days and nights in the Gulf Stream before finally killing it. He sets himself against both his own past, represented by his young brother, and the present, in the form of the marlin.

It’s a simple (and relatively short) story, but with a closer look, you can see why this book earned Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.

11. Moby-Dick

By Herman Melville

One of our favorite sailing novels is also a classic by anyone’s standards. Moby-Dick tells the story of a sailor’s quest to hunt down a giant white whale.

The book captures the essence of life on the open ocean and, in turn, captures who sailors are as people, both adventurous and determined. This is one of the great sailing stories that should be on your must-read list.

12. Master and Commander

The Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian

Master and Commander is the first book in the Aubrey-Maturin series, a series of historical fiction novels set during the Napoleonic Wars. The book follows the life of Captain Jack Aubrey, a British naval officer, and his friend Dr. Stephen Maturin, a ship’s surgeon.

The Aubrey-Maturin series offers a glimpse into the life of a naval officer during the Age of Sail. It’s a story of friendship and adventure, and it’s sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.

You can also check out the movie of the same name, which made our Top 15 Sailing Movies list .

13. The Life of Pi

By Yann Martel

The Life of Pi is a novel by Yann Martel that tells the story of a young boy who is stranded on a lifeboat with a tiger in the Pacific Ocean.

The story follows Pi as he attempts to survive for 227 days on the lifeboat, using his wits and animal instincts to keep himself alive. It’s an intense and harrowing story, but one that ultimately speaks to the human spirit and the will to survive.

14. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

By C.S. Lewis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the fifth novel by C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia series that tells the story of King Caspian’s voyage to find the seven lost lords of Narnia. The book follows the journey of the Dawn Treader, a ship that King Caspian captains.

Lewis’s ability to create interesting characters and settings makes this book a joy to read. If you are looking for a story with a fun sailing adventure, this is a good book to get lost in!

Books About Sailing Around the World

These books are true stories about sailors who circumnavigated the globe. From the first solo sail around the world to sailing around the world in a 12-foot boat – these books are packed with some of the best sailing stories of all time!

15. Sailing Alone Around the World

By Joshua Slocum

Sailing Alone Around the World is a sailing classic written by Joshua Slocum. The memoir recounts Slocum’s journey as the first person to solo sail around the world.

This book follows Captain Slocum’s three-year, 46,000-mile journey beginning in 1895 as he encounters an exciting number of challenges, including dangerous coral reefs, pirates, and even Indians. This book is the original true-story sailing adventure novel!

16. Maiden Voyage

By Tania Aebi

Maiden Voyage is an autobiography that tells the story of an 18-year-old whose father gives her a choice between college and circumnavigating the globe solo in a 26-foot sailboat.

The book chronicles her remarkable journey around the world and provides a story of inner strength and determination that is sure to inspire anyone who reads it.

17. Gipsy Moth Circles the World

By Francis Chichester

Gipsy Moth Circles the World is a book about the author’s solo circumnavigation in 1966 on his 53-foot ketch via Cape Horn. At the time, he was one of only nine boats to sail around the world on this route and set a new record for speed on his 226-day journey.

This book is an authentic mariner’s sailing story, providing all the details of what it was like sailing solo on this voyage – from constant sail changes to weather and day-to-day activities. The fact that the author was 65-years-old on the journey makes the feat even more impressive.

By Robin Lee Graham

Dove is a sailing autobiography by Robin Lee Graham that tells how at 16-years-old he began an around-the-world sailing exhibition in 1965. During this trip on a 24-foot sloop, he became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo.

The book chronicles his 33,000-mile journey, from exploring gorgeous tropical islands to finding his wife.

19. 500 Days: Around the World on a 12 Foot Yacht

By Serge Testa

Follow along with Testa as he sets the world record for the smallest boat to circumnavigate. During his 500 days sailing on an incredibly tiny yacht built by the author himself, he recounts his sailing stories with humor sprinkled throughout.

There’s no doubt Testa is a very self-sufficient and determined sailor, and he might even convenience you to start your sailing journey on a smaller sailboat!

20. The Long Way

By Bernard Moitessier

The Long Way is a book by Bernard Moitessier that tells the story of his 1969 participation in the first Golden Globe Race. This race is a non-stop circumnavigation during which Moitessier sails around three capes, including Cape Horn. Follow along with the author and the many challenges he faces, including terrible weather, loneliness, fatigue, and maintenance issues.

The Long Way exploits the struggles of solo sailing passages and shows the rewards behind such a challenging feat.

Best Books on Sailing for Beginners

If you’re new to sailing or living on a boat, you might wonder where to start. These books will teach you how to sail, maintain a sailboat, and live on a sailboat. We’ve also listed excellent guides to cruising on a sailboat, including what boat to buy and how to outfit it.

Here are some of the best books for beginner sailors and liveaboards.

21. Sailing Made Easy

By The American Sailing Association

Sailing Made Easy is a book by the American Sailing Association that provides a comprehensive guide to sailing for beginners. The book covers everything from the basics of sailing to more advanced topics, and it includes many helpful illustrations and photos.

Sailing Made Easy is the guidebook for sailing school with the American Sailing Association and its ASA1 course. It’s an essential resource for anyone who wants to learn how to sail!

22. Don Casey’s Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual

By Don Casey

Don Casey’s Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual is the ultimate guide to sailboat maintenance. Casey is considered the ‘go-to’ expert for answers about repair and maintenance in the sailboat community.

With six full sections on sailboat maintenance, this book includes everything from how to repair sails and other sailboat fabrics, to how to repair fiberglass. Casey includes many helpful illustrations and photographs along the way to make it easy to understand each step of the project.

Don Casey’s Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual is an essential resource for anyone who owns or plans to own a sailboat. Not only will it help you keep your boat in top condition, but it will save you money in the long run.

23. The Boat Galley Cookbook

By Carolyn Shearlock & Jan Irons

The Boat Galley Cookbook is a cookbook that was written specifically for sailors cooking in a sailboat galley.

The author, Carolyn, is well known in the cruising community for her blog The Boat Galley, and is considered an authority on cooking onboard.

The book includes over 800 recipes for all kinds of meals, snacks, and desserts, and it provides instructions on how to prepare them while sailing. The authors have also included helpful tips on food storage and preparation and advice on how to make things like yogurt and bread aboard.

The Boat Galley Cookbook is an essential resource for anyone who loves to sail and wants to enjoy delicious food while doing so. It’s also an excellent gift for any sailor in your life!

24. The Essentials of Living Aboard a Boat

By Mark Nicholas

This book is chock-full of realistic and useful information for anyone who wants to learn how to live on a boat. Nicholas covers everything from the basics of living aboard to more advanced topics, such as insurance and liveaboard marinas. He also goes in-depth on boat buying and budgeting.

This is truly an excellent resource for the new boat owner who has a goal to liveaboard.

25. Get Real, Get Gone

How to Become a Modern Sea Gypsy and Sail Away Forever by Rick Page

Rick Page’s book, Get Real, Get Gone, is about escaping the rat race by sailing away on a boat – and not needing to be a millionaire to do it.

Page provides helpful tips, from choosing the right boat and preparing for departure to dealing with challenging weather conditions and staying safe at sea.

Rick Page’s philosophy is to keep things simple so you can get out on the water as soon as possible. The author focuses on simplicity onboard, frugal sailing, and sustainable traveling. This book is an incredible resource for anyone looking to make their dream of sailing away into the sunset a reality.

26. Capable Cruiser

By Lin & Larry Pardey

This book is an updated extension of the Pardeys’ book ‘The Self-Sufficient Sailor.’ This comprehensive cruising guide is even more jam-packed with information on all aspects of cruising, from boat selection and outfitting to weather forecasting and provisioning.

The authors have over 50 years of combined cruising experience and are somewhat legends in the cruising community. Their motto of “go small, go now” is a well-known sailing quote and has gotten many sailors out on the water sooner with a simple setup that allows them to live their cruising dreams!

27. Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual

By Nigel Calder

The Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual is a book that covers in detail the mechanical and electrical systems of a boat.

The author, Nigel Calder, has included information on everything from maintaining your diesel engine, wiring your boat, servicing your winches, troubleshooting your batteries, and much more.

Nigel is so good at answering your mechanical and electrical issues we took to just saying “let’s see what Nigel says” whenever we had a problem on our sailboat.

This book is an essential resource for boat owners and sailors.

28. The Annapolis Book of Seamanship

By John Rousmaniere

The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is considered the bible of sailing. It is a comprehensive guide covering topics such as sailing basics, sail trim, navigation, weather, boat maintenance, safety, anchoring, and more.

This guide is updated regularly and is an essential book to have onboard your sailing vessel.

Best Blue Water Sailing Guides

If your goal is blue water sailing, these three books are some of the most highly acclaimed and respected resources available today. They get you started with what sailboat to buy, the gear you need, route and passage planning, and more. Don’t leave shore without them!

29. World Cruising Routes

By Jimmy Cornell

This book is the most comprehensive guide on sailing routes around the world. Often referred to as the blue water cruising bible, it includes detailed information on weather conditions and currents around the world and the best times to make passages. You’ll even find details on where to provision, have repair work done, and other essential information.

World Cruising Routes is a must-have resource for any sailor interested in blue water sailing.

30. The Voyager’s Handbook: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising

By Beth Leonard

The Voyager’s Handbook is a book that covers everything you need to know about long-distance cruising. From buying the right blue water vessel to weather forecasting, passage planning, safety and emergency preparation, etc. This book presents a guide to cruising on either a shoestring budget or a larger allotment.

The author, Beth Leonard, has sailed around the world herself, and she provides detailed information on every topic and skill needed to successfully complete a long voyage on a sailboat.

31. How to Sail Around the World

By Hal Roth

Hal Roth has been sailing for more than 50 years and has logged more than 200,000 nautical miles. In his book, he shares his vast knowledge of sailing and very detailed information on blue water sailboats, passage planning, single-handing a small boat, and more.

He also covers topics such as:

• How to buy a boat
• How to learn navigation skills
• What you need in order to sail around the world safely

If you are planning to circumnavigate or sail around part of the world, this is a great sailing blook to have at your disposal.

Best Sailing Books About Cruising

These books are written by cruisers living aboard and contain many sailing adventure stories to inspire your own liveaboard adventure! If you are looking for an accurate and sometimes humorous description of what it’s like living on a sailboat, these books are an excellent place to start.

32. A Sail of Two Idiots

100+ Lessons and Laughs from a Non-Sailor Who Quit the Rat Race, Took the Helm, and Sailed to a New Life in the Caribbean by Renee Petrillo

A Sail of Two Idiots is a book written by Renee Petrillo that tells the story of her journey with her husband to go from zero experience as sailors to living on a boat in the Caribbean.

Renee shares her sailing adventures and lessons learned with humor, intelligence, and insight. Her book will make you laugh, cringe, and want to set sail on your own adventure. This book is recommended for beginner sailors or anyone who aspires to go cruising.

33. An Embarrassment of Mangoes

A Caribbean Interlude by Ann Vanderhoof

Ann Vanderhoof’s book, An Embarrassment of Mangoes, is a delightful account of her time spent living on a boat in the Caribbean.

Vanderhoof provides readers with a charming and humorous look at the people, culture, and food of the Caribbean. With stories that focus on their adjustments to life on a sailboat, intertwined with recipes and cooking tips around local ingredients in the islands.

An Embarrassment of Mangoes is a must-read for any foodies dreaming of living the cruising lifestyle!

34. Escape from the Ordinary

By Julie Bradley

Julie Bradley’s book, Escape from the Ordinary, tells the story of her and her husband’s decision to leave their life in the U.S. behind and sail around the world.

Bradley provides readers with an inspiring and honest look at the highs and lows of living a life of adventure as they travel to exotic places all over the globe.

35. Plunge: One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary

By Liesbet Collaert

If you’re looking for an inspiring and honest account of one woman’s journey to find a life less ordinary onboard a sailboat, you need to read Plunge.

Collaert provides readers with a compelling and candid look at the challenges and rewards of living a cruising lifestyle. From working remotely on a sailboat to the challenges of a relationship on a boat – Liesbet covers everything from a realistic perspective.

If you are considering diving into the world of sailboat living, Plunge will give you an accurate depiction of the lifestyle’s high highs and low lows.

The Best Books About Sailing

The best books for sailors provide readers with an inspiring and honest look at the challenges and rewards of a life of adventure.

Whether you want an inspiring account of one woman’s journey around the world or a humorous look at going off the grid and living aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean, these books will give you the inspiration you need to take the plunge.

RELATED ARTICLES

• 11 Best Sailing Instagram Accounts to Inspire You to Sail Away
• 17 Best Sailing Movies & Documentaries
• 25 Epic Sailing Songs for Sailors & Modern-Day Pirates
• 15 Best Sailing YouTube Channels and Popular Sailing Vlogs

Want to find more articles for sailing inspiration?

Check out our lists of sailing movies, quotes, music, and more that inspire this lifestyle.

Like this post? Save it on Pinterest for later.

Morgan, the founder of The Home That Roams, has been living nomadically for over five years. She began her journey traveling across the U.S. in a motorhome and cruising on a liveaboard sailing catamaran. Currently, she lives full-time in a travel trailer, sharing resources on RV living and boat life to help others downsize their lives and thrive in an alternative lifestyle.

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Best sailing books: 25 tales inspired by the sea

A list of the best sailing books including memoirs, novels and biographies, constituting the most fascinating nautical tales ever penned

After recently compiling a list of the best sailing movies we’ve seen, I was prompted into some related reading. Fresh from a delivery of sailing bestsellers (and less-sellers), I’ve put together a list of the best sailing books.

The list covers everything from epic voyages, tales of survival, investigative biographies and sailing manuals – with a few coffee table reference books thrown in.

Best sailing books

The below list is in no particular order. If you have any suggestions that you feel deserve a place on this list of best sailing books, please add them in the comments below.

Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum

In 1895, Joshua Slocum set out to prove that a man could sail alone around the world. Some 46,000 miles and three years later, he completed the first single-handed circumnavigation of the globe in his 34ft sloop, the Spray.

A Voyage For Madmen by Peter Nichols

In 1968, nine sailors set off on the most daring race ever: to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe non-stop. It was a feat that had never been accomplished and one that would forever change the face of sailing. Ten months later, only one of the nine men would cross the finish line.

The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst by Nicholas Tomalin and Ron Hall

One of the best sailing books I’ve ever read. Donald Crowhurst was a contestant in the above round the world race. Hopelessly out of depth, he attempted to pull off one of the greatest hoaxes of our time.

The Last Grain Race by Eric Newby

This was one of the first sailing books I ever read and it got me hooked. In 1939, a young Newby set sail aboard Moshulu, the largest sailing ship still employed in the transportation of grain from Australia to Europe as part of what was known as ‘the grain race’. His story of the passage has become a classic.

Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft by Thor Heyerdahl

The adventure of Thor Heyerdahl and his companions on their raft across the Pacific has gone down in legend as a feat of endurance and courage. This is that story in Heyerdahl’s own words.

The Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousmaniere

Since the publication of the widely hailed first edition in 1983, this book has set the standard. Used throughout the world as a textbook in sailing schools, the Annapolis Book of Seamanship thoroughly and clearly covers the fundamental and advanced skills of modern sailing.

A Race Too Far by Chris Eakin

Chris Eakin recreates the drama of the epic inaugural Golden Globe race. He talks to all those touched by the event: the survivors, the widows and the children of those who died.

Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea by Steven Callahan

I’m currently halfway through this gripping tale and it is already one of the best sailing books I’ve read. Steven Callahan’s dramatic account was on the NYT bestseller list for 36 weeks. In many ways, it’s the model for the new wave of adventure books. At the time, he was the only man known to have survived more than a month at sea alone.

438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea by Jonathan Franklin

In 2012, Salvador Alvarenga left the coast of Mexico for a two-day fishing trip. After 14 months, he washed ashore having drifted over 9,000 miles.

Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian

The first of Patrick O’Brian’s famous Aubrey/Maturin novels, regarded by many as the greatest series of historical novels ever written. There were 20 completed – and one unfinished – in the series set during the Napoleonic Wars.

Gipsy Moth Circles the World by Francis Chichester

First published in 1967, just months after the completion of Chichester’s historic journey, the book was an instant international best-seller. It inspired the first solo around-the-world race and remains a timeless testament to the spirit of adventure.

Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi

Tania Aebi was an unambitious 18-year-old in New York City. She was going nowhere until her father offered her a challenge: choose college or a 26ft sloop. The only catch was that if she chose the sailboat, she’d have to sail around the world alone. Off she went.

DK Complete Sailing Manual by Steve Sleight

DK are renowned for producing beautiful reference books and this sailing manual does not disappoint. Now in its fourth edition, the book covers the basics of sailing, mastering navigation and maintaining your boat.

The Ashley Book of Knots by Clifford W. Ashley

First published in 1944 and reprinted many times since, this magnificent, fully illustrated book of knots is collated by Geoffrey Budworth with the help of other members of the  International Guild of Knot Tyers .

Swell: A Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening by Liz Clar

Clar chronicles her 2006 solo voyage across the South Pacific in search of great surf. She recounts her story in gripping detail, telling tales of self-awareness, solitude, connection to the earth and surfing.

Once is Enough by Miles Smeeton

This timeless classic is an exciting true story of survival against all odds. Smeeton and his wife sailed their 46ft ketch, Tzu Hang, in the wild seas of Cape Horn, following the tracks of the old sailing clippers through the world’s most notorious waters.

Last Man Off: A True Story of Disaster and Survival on the Antarctic Seas by Matt K. Lewis

The waters of Antarctica, 1998. A 23-year-old Lewis has just started his dream job aboard a deep sea fishing boat. A storm hits. With the captain missing and the crew forced to abandon ship, Lewis leads the escape onto three life rafts, where the battle for survival begins.

A World of My Own: The First Ever Non-stop Solo Round the World Voyage by Robin Knox-Johnston

In1968, a tiny ketch called Suhaili slipped almost unnoticed out of Falmouth. Ten and a half months later, Suhaili came romping joyously back to Falmouth to a fantastic reception for Robin Knox-Johnston who’d become the first man to sail single-handedly around the world non-stop.

The Proving Ground by Bruce Knecht

This is the story of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart boat race, the most dramatic in yacht racing history. Of the 115 boats that started, just 43 would finish. Knecht recreates those dramatic hours and the gut-wrenching fear of those caught in the eye of the storm, battling for their lives.

The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2017-2020 by Royal Yachting Association

The essential manual includes the updated International Code and Race Signal flags. Water-proof editions are also available.

The Long Way (La Longue Route) by Bernard Moitessier

The Long Way is Bernard Moitessier’s own incredible story of his participation in the first Golden Globe Race, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation rounding the three great capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn.

Left for Dead: 30 Years On – The Race is Finally Over: The Untold Story of the Tragic 1979 Fastnet Race by Nick Ward & Sinead O’Brien

The second edition is updated with a new chapter describing Nick’s eventual completion of the Fastnet Race 30 years after his first, ill-fated attempt.

Love with a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

This sometimes hilarious, often harrowing, and always poignant memoir is set against a backdrop of the world’s most beautiful and remote destinations. Equal parts love story and travel memoir, the book is witty, charming, and proof that some risks are worth taking.

Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr.

A memoir first published in 1840, written shortly after a two-year sea voyage starting in 1834. To this day, the book is regarded as a valuable historical resource describing 1830s California.

Godforsaken Sea: Racing the World’s Most Dangerous Waters by Derek Lundy

In 1996, 16 sailors set out from the Bay of Biscay to embark on the Vendee Globe – a single-handed yacht race through the world’s most treacherous and isolated seas. Only six completed the course, six others withdrew, three were plucked from sinking boats and one disappeared without a trace.

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Top 15 Expert Sailing Books to Read in 2021

November 13, 2020 by Travis Turgeon Leave a Comment

With so many books on the market to prepare you for sailing, it can be hard to know where to start. In this guide, we provide a list of the most beneficial sailing books by category so that you can begin with exactly what you need. 

Click a Category to Jump Ahead

• Inspiration
• On-Board Reference
• Field Guides
• Fishing  
• Medical  

Sailing Books for Beginners

The Craft of Sail, by Jan Adkins :

For those with little to no sailing experience, Jan Adkins introduces the world of sailing perfectly. Published in May of 1973, this book has held its worth over the years for good reason. Adkins clearly describes the basics of sailing physics using simple language and illustrations, making it the perfect book for learners of all ages. Although first-time sailors may find themselves spending several hours studying a single page, there is no better resource to learn the ropes thoroughly and clearly.

Wooden Boat Magazine still uses the book to teach its “Elements of Seamanship” course, which teaches first-time sailing to adults, making it a no-brainer for anyone learning to sail.

Sailing for Dummies, by J.J. and Peter Isler :

Sailing for dummies, like the rest of the “For Dummies” series, was written with the virgin sailor in mind. This book’s authors are sailing champions and experts on the water, in addition to having learned to navigate the seas since they were kids in California. At points during this book, you’ll feel like you’re learning skills that you shouldn’t have lived without for this long. The satisfaction you receive from something as simple as learning to read a compass is terrific.

From learning the different types of sailboats, to finally setting sail, Sailing for Dummies is a useful resource for any newbie sailor. Jumping out of your comfort zone has never been so easy. 

Plan to Sail Books

World Cruising Routes, by Jimmy Cornell :

One of the most recommended sailing books of all time, World Cruising Routes covers over 1,000 different routes from every ocean on the globe. From the tropical waters of the South Pacific to the icy seas of the Arctic, this book will guide you surely through the process of planning your journey.

The eighth and newest edition of this cruising book is revised to acknowledge the effects of today’s changing climates and conditions of the sea. Learn how to navigate some of the most challenging waters and approach ports of entry around the world without feeling out of your element. With 64 pages, including colored maps and GPS images, this planning guide is both practical and enjoyable to read. 

Ocean Passages and Landfalls, by Rod Heikell and Andy O’Grady :

Another highly recommended world cruising handbook, filled with valuable information to make your way around the globe. As with “World Cruising Routes,” this book addresses changing climates, seasons, and the troubles of crossing some of the most challenging oceans to navigate.

One big difference between the two sailing books is the informal conversational tone that Heikell and O’Grady take on, giving it an authentic style missed in Jimmy Cornell’s book. The information included in this book is first-hand knowledge, priceless for planning a cruising journey. The outline of each section is perfect, especially for giving route descriptions and country-relevant information in each course. 

Inspiring Sail Books

Fifty Places to Sail Before you Die, by Chris Santella :

Perhaps surprisingly one of the best ways to get inspired for a sailing trip is by first exploring the world’s locations through books. This book contains the most recommended sailing destinations from the best-known names in the sailing world. From professional adventurists to sailboat racing champions, this book is an absolute gem of recommendations.

While many readers will say that the descriptions are not as in-depth as they would like, it is certainly a good reference point to get you started. We suggest using it as a compass. Choose your direction, and follow up in detail on your own. One thing is for sure, the suggestions in this book will not steer you down the wrong path. 

The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst, by Nicholas Tomalin :

In 1968, for the first time in history, an around-the-world solo yacht race was about to begin. One of the voyagers taking part in the race was Donald Crowhurst, an adventurous sailor from Britain. Approximately eight months after the beginning of the race, Donald’s boat was discovered adrift in the mid-Atlantic. The ship was intact, but Crowhurst was not aboard. Although the exact details are unknown, this book tells the believed events that led to his death during the race. While a sobering book regarding the dangers at sea, it inspires adventure and exploration for all. 

Get Real, Get Gone: How to Become a Modern Sea Gypsy and Sail Away, by Rick Page :

It’s common to think that only the wealthiest of us can hop a yacht and cruise the globe. While true that having that kind of money can help to sail luxuriously, this book helps redefine the idea of sailing entirely. Authors Rick and Jasna’s lifestyle is by no means ultra-luxurious; In fact, they are quite frugal. Filled with both practical and whimsical advice, this book is the perfect resource for the budget-conscious dreamer.

If you are held back by the idea that you need to have millions of dollars to cruise the world, pick up this book and give it a read. By the end, you’ll be on your way to planning an epic journey of your own. 

On-Board Reference Guides to Sailing

Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual, by Nigel Calder :

Talk to any well-versed sailor, and they will recommend this book for onboard cruising. The amount of technical work that goes into owning a boat can be a sobering reality for many people, especially those who aren’t well-seasoned mechanics and electricians. However, this book is for those people, and the information included should be treated as gospel. The drawings and photographs included will guide you through every process, big or small, and help you overcome the technicalities of owning a sailboat. If it can break, this book will be there to help fix it. The money you will save on maintenance specialists alone will go unmatched. Trust us; it’s a must-have in your collection of cruising books.

The Morrow Guide to Knots: For Sailing, Fishing, Camping, Climbing, by Mario Bigon and Guido Regazzoni :

This book gives you step-by-step instructions, including illustrations to tie every knot you’ll need when out at sea. The photos included make it a breeze to understand, and when more than one rope or thread is required, the book is color-coded to make things simple. There are over 600 illustrations in the book, and it even includes a section on decorative knots for the bored and creative. From the Spanish bowline to the Swivelhitch, fear knot , this book has you covered. 

Sailing Field Guides

National Audobon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World, by Randall R. Reeves :

With descriptions of every single species of marine mammal globally, there is nowhere this book won’t be useful. Written by a team of marine mammal experts, this book includes maps, illustrations, and photographs, covering over 120 marine species in detail. The images and descriptions in this book will make identifying a species in the wild easy and quick.

Reef Fish Identification, by Ned DeLoach and Paul Humann :

If you find yourself cruising through the waters of South Florida and the Caribbean, this is a must-have field guide. You will undoubtedly be spending plenty of time above coral reefs, and being able to identify the hundreds of immaculately bright reef fish is a treat. By knowing specific features, habitats, and behaviors of a species, you can actively search out your favorite fish or find new critters. Further, if you find yourself bitten or stung by one of the fluorescent fish, it will be nice to know what you’re dealing with. Look into the book after you go out diving or snorkeling, and learn the fish by memory. You’ll be a self-proclaimed biologist in no time. 

Fishing at Sail Books

Cruisers Handbook of Fishing, by Scott and Wendy Bannerot :

Written for those who have dedicated huge parts of their lives to cruising and fishing, this book is an excellent guide to catching, cleaning, and cooking fish from your liveaboard cruiser. While the book covers most of the world’s fishing environments, it covers fishing in tropical to mid-latitude waters best. Beyond fishing guides and techniques, this book also includes unique and delicious recipes to keep you and your crew on their culinary toes. Whether you are fishing from an anchor or in your dinghy, this book will become the bible to feeding yourself while living off the grid. 

Planning on a trip to the Caribbean? Make sure to read up on the fishing laws and regulations for your chosen destination. The last thing you want is to run into legal trouble during your holiday on the water.

Sailing cook books.

The Boat Galley Cookbook: 800 Everyday Recipes and Essential Tips for Cooking Aboard, by Carolyn Shearlock :

The space is tight, the ingredients are limited, and you just caught a fish you’ve never even considered preparing before. The recipes and tips in this book are sure to help out any long-term cruiser in the galley, but especially the unseasoned, first-time liveaboard chefs. In some parts of the world, you may be surprised to find that chicken will come whole, fish will come uncleaned, and you’ll need bones for your broth. Making bread and yogurt can also be a daunting task with limited utensils and resources.

Taking raw, simple ingredients and turning them into full-blown authentic dishes inspired by cuisines worldwide is easy with this onboard treasure of a book. Don’t fool yourself; you will find a use for this book guaranteed. 

Sailing Books for Families

Voyaging with Kids: A Guide to Family Life Afloat, by Behan Gifford, Sara Dawn Johnson, and Michael Robertson :

This is a touchy topic, nobody will understand that better than a family trying to prepare for life at sea. “It’s not safe” “What about school?” “You won’t ever have time for yourselves.”

These are all understandable concerns, but they are hurdles to overcome with the right planning and preparation. The nice thing about this book is the personal experience it offers.

The authors have successfully navigated this road and interviewed dozens of other families who took the same path. Normalcy is what you make it, and in reality, you won’t need to keep up with the Joneses out at sea. From choosing the right cruiser for your family and their needs to preparing a suitable education outline, this guide to family life afloat is the perfect preparation companion to get you moving in the right direction.

At-Sea Medical Sailing Books

Your Offshore Doctor: A Manual of Medical Self-Sufficiency at Sea, by Michael Beilan :

As a doctor who is also an experienced sailor, Dr. Beilan constructed a fantastic guide for staying healthy and managing sickness at sea. Far from the nearest hospital or clinic, you are your own physician on the open water. You don’t need to be a doctor by training, though.

Beyond advised fitness routines and general treatments, this book will provide anything and everything from dosages of the most common medications to treating Malaria symptoms. There is even a dedicated chapter to procedures with illustrations and explanations in case of severe emergency. Need help preparing a medical kit? This book covers it. 

Need even more inspiration? Check out this post by Discover Boating to see what their Top 10 sailing books – everything from historical non-fiction to fiction.

Need some more advice on planning for #boatlife start a conversation on our community forum and get first-hand advice from those who have experience in preparing and living life on the water..

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Secrets of Successful Cruising

By: Julie Cappelli Boat Shows , Cruising Tips

“What’s your secret sauce?” is a question I get asked frequently, and not just about the scrumptious creations I whip up in our galley, even in the lumpiest, bumpiest of seas. Usually, curious cruisers are wondering how our transition from being landlubbers to full-time sailors appears to be as smooth as the surface of the sea on your first morning in the doldrums. How did we buy the right boat? How did we take off across the Pacific a mere five months after buying said boat, with very few ripples in our plans, relationship, and lives? And my personal favorite, how the heck did my husband talk me into doing all this crazy cruising nonsense?

That last question is surprisingly the most straightforward to answer, so I’ll start there: my husband didn’t have to talk me into any of this crazy cruising nonsense. We reached the decision together and work hard to remain a team of co-captains rather than competitors trapped on a small sailing vessel with no escape from each other. To cruise successfully and harmoniously as a couple, you too must find balance between work and play, his and her passions, and safely navigate the different learning styles we all have. Which brings me to one of the most important secrets to successful cruising: men and women learn differently. And if you want to set sail for distant horizons, there is a lot of learning to do.

A good place to start is learning to sail, which shouldn’t be a secret but often seems like it is. To this day we credit our exceptional ASA 101 instructor for his relentless patience as we slowly learned the language of sailing, trying not to let the oppressive heat of the Arizona desert melt our brains or enthusiasm. Who knew there was a whole separate language, let alone code of conduct on the water to learn before we were competent enough to skipper a boat of our own?

Once you’ve learned the lingo and the basics of sailing, a great next step is purchasing a sailboat of your own. And I don’t mean the dream boat that you intend to sail away on, or even a racing dinghy. A little trailer sailor you can take out on the weekends or burn all your vacation time using will serve you much better in terms of preparing to voyage to far-flung places around the globe.

Your goal should be to learn this boat inside and out. We spent nearly two years sailing our 1976 Windrose 18, Moxie , nearly every weekend after we decided to go cruising but before we left our jobs. The quick responsiveness of a small, light boat helped us both hone our understanding of boat handling and sail trim without risking safety or sanity on a bigger boat where far greater forces are at play. Being able to take Moxie out whenever we pleased kept us engaged, motivated, and excited, even when our departure date felt forever away. Plus, you’ll earn boat ownership brownie points which could help you qualify for insurance on your next boat. Ladies, as soon as you are comfortable (or perhaps even a little before that), invite your best gal pals out for a spouse-less sail. There is no better way to build your confidence as a skipper which is essential to your success if you’ll be sailing shorthanded.

Can you fix everything on your boat with what’s in your brain and on your boat? If not, that’s your next step, and one of our greatest secrets to successful cruising: true self-sufficiency. When you are cruising in truly remote places or on an offshore passage, you are your own little island of existence in the deep blue sea. And there are responsibilities that come with that awesome reality; to yourself, to your crew, and to your boat. That’s why when you are out in the middle of the ocean your best and only resources are what’s in your brain and what’s on your boat. If you can’t fix or figure out anything that goes awry with the skills you’ve acquired or the resources you’ve stowed in the depths of your lockers, it’s highly likely that your cruise will be cut short and made more challenging by pressing maintenance needs.

It may seem counterintuitive, but investing in high-quality preparatory training is yet another secret that we find continues to pay dividends year after year. At a minimum, you should both take a sail repair workshop, sign up for a hands-on engine service workshop, and attend an electrical troubleshooting class. There simply is no substitute for hands-on learning on how to turn wrenches, properly crimp wire terminations, perfectly tension a halyard, or quickly grind in a reef. Pay close attention to the books and resources used so you can start building your onboard reference library. We find that couples who attend workshops and trainings together tend to enjoy doing boat maintenance more and are better equipped for success when it comes to repair projects. Attending events like these will also help you build your network of other like-minded soon-to-be cruisers, which becomes vitally important as your departure date draws near and the relative comfort of land life tightens its grip on your seafaring spirit.

Be sure to leave room on your calendar and in your budget to complete a liveaboard ocean sail training course that’s at least one week long. Choose an expedition-style course that teaches both traditional and electronic navigation and includes watch standing, sailing at night, and shorthanded man overboard retrieval. Many of our students wish they had prioritized this earlier in the process of preparing to go cruising, so schedule this well before you cast off the docklines for your grand adventure, and ideally before you purchase your cruising boat. It will give you a taste of what ocean voyaging is really like, help you build good boatkeeping habits, and you’ll start to learn what attributes you truly need versus want in your cruising boat.

Are you sensing a theme here? There is no better way to set yourself up for success than by spending time on boats fiddling with sail trim, enacting repairs, and learning how to cook your favorite meals in a galley that rarely stays still. You’ve got to get out there and just do it, but in an environment that allows room for growth and development. Make it your mission to return home with a solid foundation in ocean sailing and seamanship plus more salty souls to add to your cruising network.

You can’t go wrong by focusing on practical preparation, which is probably one of the best-kept secrets of cruising prep. The sooner and more often you work on becoming a self-reliant sailor, the better you will be equipped to tackle the challenges of extended cruising and boat ownership.

The timeless mantra of keeping it simple rings true for all successful long-term cruisers. Keep your boat and its systems as simple as you can. Endeavor to keep the remnants of your land life simple too, but always leave yourself a means to return when you need to. Whether it be budgeting for breaks ashore, maintaining a part-time residence you can return to, or just a nest egg reserved for when the time to plant roots again comes. It takes a lot of effort to achieve your cruising goals, and you deserve to enjoy the fruits of your hard work. Keeping it all simple and giving yourself an “out” will help you relax and appreciate the cruising life even more. Hopefully with a smile and frosty beverage in hand!

There are of course many more ingredients to create your personal recipe for successful cruising, such as identifying your individual cruising goals, selecting the right boat to match your agreed upon goals, and keeping the promise you made to yourself to actually GO.

We’ll be sharing loads more of our best secrets for successful cruising during our three-hour American Sailing Seminar at the Annapolis Boat Show on October 11 from 9am-12pm. Hope to see you there!

Learn From The Experts During This American Sailing Seminar 

SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL CRUISING

HOSTED BY GIO & JULIE CAPPELLI

Pelagic Blue Cruising Services, Owners

✓ Expert Sailors and Instructors

✓ Diverse Expertise

ANNAPOLIS, MD

FRI, OCT 11, 2024

For cruisers and aspiring cruisers intrigued by the secrets to setting sail with confidence and joy, this live seminar will address and navigate the challenges at sea, covering coastal and offshore passages, self-sufficiency in boat maintenance, and relationship dynamics with your crewmate(s).

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100th Port Huron-to Mackinac Island Sailboat Race draws large crowds

Every year John Lusk meets his friends near the Port Huron Yacht Club, setting up camp in the shade of the same tree to watch the parade of boats heading to the start of the Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island Sailboat Race.

It's a fun tradition among the friends, but every year it seemed there were a few less boats than in the previous race. That was, until this year when they sat down to watch the centennial race. The 100 year celebration seemed to breathe new life into the race, drawing more boats, more sailors and more onlookers.

"We were just talking about the number of boats and how it's a throwback to previous years," Lusk said.

Sailboats from across the country were gathered on the Black River Monday to participate in the 100th Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island Sailboat Race. According to the race's website, 316 teams were registered to compete in the centennial race, about 100 more than joined in 2023.

This year's race follows the original course created in 1925, which will take boats north along the shoreline before heading west, passing south of Bois Blanc Island and finishing west to east at the finish line between Round Island and Mackinac Island. This course is 204 nautical miles.

Kenneth Tanner, a Grosse Pointe resident joining the race as part of the California Girl's crew, said he was proud to join in the 100th race. He said he also sailed in the 100th Chicago-to-Mackinac Island Boat Race in 2008.

"It's a classic race, and to do this for the centennial race is an honor," Tanner said.

It's Bobby Bloomfield's first time participating in the race, though he has experience from other races. He joined the crew of the Siochail through an acquaintance who recommended him for the sailing team.

Bloomfield is working with one of the most experienced sailors in the race, Brian Geraghty. He's participated in the race every year it was run for 44 years and was the historian for the Bayview Yacht Club.

Geraghty said he accepted Bloomfield on the team because he's from Chatman, Ontario and likes the recruit Canadians to join the race.

Right next to the Siochail was the Contender. Scott Graham, who travelled from Florida to Port Huron to participate in the race said this year it is taking place on his 50th anniversary, so it's an uniquely special occasion.

"It's a hallmark race and it's special to be joining with my dad," Graham said.

The Contender won the M Class race in 2016, a feat they're hoping they can pull of a second time.

Down the river is another team looking to add a win under their belts, the crew of the Pirate. Captain Jeff Henderson, another Florida resident, has won the Class P Cruising race running the 1925 course nine times in almost 50 years of competing.

"Each year is better than the year before," Henderson said.

Each crew member wears a shirt with a pirate on the back saying "Give us the island and no one gets hurt," a cheeky reference to their destination in the race. Henderson said his boat brings a long history with it, having been built in France in 1992 (the crew is sure this is lucky because crew member Pierre Fleury is a French native) and that he bought it in the British Virgin Islands.

"The trick is to be lucky, and to have the right crew when it matters," Henderson said.

The race can be tracked online at https://bycmack.com/tracking/ .

Contact Johnathan Hogan at [email protected].

The most boats ever will compete in the 100th Bayview Yacht Club race to Mackinac Island

Billed on its website as the “world’s longest continuously run long-distance freshwater yacht race,” the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race is set to start Saturday.

A record-setting 334 boats have registered for the 100th year of the race, shattering the record of 316 in 1985 and a huge contrast compared with the 200 boats that raced last year, said David Stoyka, spokesman for the Bayview Yacht Club, which puts on the race.

Bayview Yacht Club says boats start leaving the Black River in Port Huron around 8 a.m. on race day and will continue leaving until around noon. From the Black River, they will proceed up the St. Clair River, under the Blue Water Bridge, into Lake Huron.

The first scheduled start time in Lake Huron is 11:30 a.m., with starts every 10 minutes until approximately 1:30 p.m. The starts may be delayed due to weather conditions.

This year, for the 100th running, the race will follow the original 1925 route and span 204 nautical miles. From the starting point, the boats will head north along the Michigan shoreline, passing south of Bois Blanc Island, sailing west to east at the finish line between Round Island and Mackinac Island, organizers said.

The range of boats are expected to finish in between 30 and 60 hours.

The sailors

Teams at all skill levels have entered the race, which draws competitors from around the world.  The highly skilled racers know they will cross the bow of competitors within inches. Still, there's always risk of a crash with the slightest miscalculation.

"Everybody recognizes this is super intense," said champion sailor  Tim Prophit , 65, of St. Clair Shores, past commodore of Bayview Yacht Club and owner of Fast Tango, a North American 40 sailboat.

The teams are vying for trophies and flags to show their accomplishments.

The J.L. Hudson Trophy is awarded to the boat with the best corrected time in Division I, and the Canadian Club Classic Trophy is awarded to the boat with the best corrected time in Division II.

How can spectators follow the race?

Spectators can go to bycmack.com during the race and click on “RaceTracking” link to watch real-time GPS positioning of all the race boats, or, on your mobile device, download the free app YB Races and select the current race.

Boats will start arriving at Mackinac Island on Sunday afternoon and continue until Monday evening, all dependent upon the wind.

Finishes can be seen from Windermere Point on Mackinac Island at the south end of Main Street.

Sailors who have completed 25 Bayview Mackinac races are called “Old Goats,” according to the club, while those who have completed 50 are called “Grand Rams.” 

"Double Goats" are sailors who have completed 25 Bayview Mackinac races and 25 Chicago Yacht Club race to Mackinac races. This year’s Chicago to Mackinac race encountered strong winds in Lake Michigan , snapping some boats’ masts and tossing one sailor overboard. No one was hurt.

Volunteers who have served for 15 years on the Race Committee are honored with the title “Old Forts,” as designated by the Race Committee.

This story includes material from a staff report by former Free Press reporter Phoebe Wall Howard and from the Bayview Yacht Club.

• Grand Rapids/Muskegon
• Saginaw/Bay City
• All Michigan

Record-breaking Maverick drops out of Bayview Mackinac race after leading

• Published: Jul. 21, 2024, 11:53 a.m.

This weekend is the 100th running of the Bayview Mackinac Race, one of the oldest freshwater sailing races in the world. This photo shows the 2023 competition. Provided by Martin Chumiecki. Martin Chumiecki

• Tanda Gmiter | [email protected]

LAKE HURON, MI - After leading the charge up Lake Huron in the 100th annual Bayview Mackinac Race, the record-breaking Maverick dropped out of the race Sunday morning with a mast failure.

A flurry of questions came from race watchers who were following the freshwater sailing race’s online tracker. It showed Maverick, which had been in the lead, taking an abrupt turn toward the shore at Rogers City.

Bayview Mackinac Race officials cleared up the mystery: “Maverick has retired. They suffered a mast failure. All are fine and are headed to Mackinac Island.”

A week ago, Maverick’s crew arrived on Mackinac Island to a cheering crowd after their record-breaking win that smashed the old Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac record by more than an hour. In that race, the big monohull beat Roy P. Disney’s 22-year-old record with a time of 22 hours, 24 minutes, 23 seconds.

This bested the Disney heir’s record set in 2002 with Pyewacket by an hour, six minutes and 11 seconds.

The Maverick team is led by Sanford Burris and William and Ward Kinney. The boat last week also claimed the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac’s Royono Trophy for the first racing monohull to finish the 115th edition.

This weekend’s Bayview Mackinac Race held the potential for Maverick to make a two-race sweep. The race, which has more than 300 sailing yachts entered, starts at the bottom of Lake Huron and heads north before making the turn to the finish line between Round Island and Mackinac Island.

Racing analysts described today’s early conditions as “champagne sailing” for the tight grouping of boats making their way past Huron’s Northern Michigan coast. Later today, a wind change was expected to have the boats hugging closer to shore.

There’s a small group in the lead now and are expected to reach the finish line by early afternoon.

You can follow the race tracker here.

READ MORE: Mackinac has an all-island team competing in this weekend’s Bayview Mackinac Race

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'The Boys in the Boat' Book to Movie Comparison

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for The Boys in the Boat.

• The film adaptation of The Boys in the Boat cuts out the entire first part of the book, including important background information.
• The focus of the film is more on coach Al Ulbrickson rather than Joe Rantz, the central character in the book.
• The film is a sports drama and sacrifices historical context for a more concise and dramatic story.

Daniel James Brown ’s The Boys in the Boat is a 2013 book that tells the story of the University of Washington’s Husky Clipper crew that overcame all of the odds to make it to the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. It’s a riveting read that explores the struggles of the Depression Era and the perseverance of the human spirit. If you’re anything like me, these kinds of true underdog stories always manage to resonate, even if you’ve never picked up a rowing oar in your life. These kinds of stories always seem to translate well to the big screen, as we all love to see people overcome, so it is no surprise that Brown’s novel made it to the silver screen in the final days of 2023.

As with all books adapted to the screen, though, changes were made to make the film more exciting and make sure it didn’t have a runtime of ten-plus hours. Whether you’ve read the book and have yet to see the film or vice versa, you’re probably wondering just how much has changed in this exciting tale of triumph. It’s more than you think.

The Boys in the Boat

A 1930s-set story centered on the University of Washington's rowing team, from their Depression-era beginnings to winning gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Release Date 2023-12-25

Director George Clooney

Cast Peter Guinness, Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner, Sam Strike

Rating PG-13

Runtime 124 minutes

Main Genre Drama

The Film Cuts Almost the Entire First Part of the Book Out

Brown’s book is divided neatly into four parts, the first of which covers the time before the creation of the team in 1993. This part delves into the early life of Joe Rantz (portrayed in the film by Callum Turner ) in great detail, outlining the way his family moved around and how misfortune struck with the beginning of the Depression, as well as his strained relationship with his father’s second wife, Thula LaFollette . This section also explores the background of coaches Al Ulbrickson and Tom Bolles, and boatmaker George Pocock, and their role in building the rowing program at the University of Washington.

This part also neatly juxtaposes the trial and choosing of the rowing team with the building of the Olympic field in Germany, a comparison not made in the film. Because most of this part of the book is background information on the key players that happened well before the formation of the Husky Clipper crew , it was most likely left out for time’s sake. However, that means that a key point in Rantz’s life — being abandoned by his father at fifteen and having to learn self-reliance , and his difficulty trusting others because of it — is not fully explored, and certain dramatic moments in the film suffer because of it.

George Clooney Says His Next Team-Up With Brad Pitt Is "Dark" and "Out There"

Al ulbrickson, not joe rantz, is the focus of the film.

The Boys in the Boat , as a film, places a little more focus on coach Al Ulbrickson ( Joel Edgerton ) than the book does. Rantz still plays a significant role, of course, but Ulbrickson’s struggle to choose the team members, anxiety over if they’re ready to race or not, and struggle to fund their Olympic dream often take center stage. However, the book focused on Rantz, who had overcome significant struggles to make the team and dealt with a great deal of harassment due to his financial situation .

The Film Is a Sports Drama, Not a Historical One

Ulbrickson makes a better central character for the film, mostly because the film is not a historical account like the book is — it’s a sports drama . A great deal of the historical context given by Brown is condensed or cut out to keep the film from running too long or muddling the core of the story, which is the races leading up to the Olympics and the Olympic race itself . This is why most of the hardships are seen on the water — the team struggling to work together, the trials and tribulations of the boys hoping to make the team, Ulbrickson’s curt pep talks — and the races receive the most interesting cinematography. It even dramatized the 1936 Olympic finish to create a more dramatic story; the race didn’t actually end in a photo finish. The teams had to wait in the boat as the judges deliberated until it was finally announced that the American team had won, their boat touching the line just six-tenths of a second before the Italian one.

It’s also why Rantz’s romance with Joyce Simdars ( Hadley Robinson ) is given more focus. Their relationship is also changed from the book; Rantz had actually proposed to Simdars in April 1932 . They didn’t reunite in college, though it does make for a more exciting story for moviegoers as it gives Rantz a good send off to the Olympic Games.

The Movie Leaves Out the Race To Meet FDR

The Poughkeepsie race was a big one in the film, as the University of Washington hadn’t won the race in some time. While the race itself was tense and the Husky Clipper crew came out victorious, the film didn’t include the fact that before the race, they rowed up the river to Hyde Park , where President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s estate was located. They found it and knocked on the door, only to find out that Roosevelt wasn’t home. Roosevelt’s son invited the team in, though, and they had a good talk about rowing.

No, The Berkeley Coach Didn’t Give the University of Washington Team $300

Speaking of a more exciting story, the film has a scene where the coach of the University of Berkeley team comes to Ulbrickson and asks how short he is on funds to get the team to Berlin. Ulbrickson says they’re short $300 - give or take - and the Berkeley coach writes the check then and there for him, saying his boys deserve to go. It’s one of those scenes that just make you feel good and believe in the spirit of friendly competition… except for the fact that it never happened . The team actually raised all the money they needed through fundraising and corporate donations from the businesses of Washington. This addition was meant to still up a little more drama, but the original story was just fine , in my humble opinion. After all, most people didn’t have money to spare at the time; banding together with a quarter here and a dollar there to make a team of blue-collar boys’ dream come true really captures the spirit that Brown talks about so passionately.

The Boys in the Boat is now in theaters.

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Sports | Photo gallery from the start of the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race

The start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024, was delayed a bit by lack of wind, but what was scheduled to be a record number of participants — 332 boats, from 17 different states, were scheduled to depart from the starting line in southern Lake Huron, breaking the record of 315 from 1985 — headed off to the finish line between Mackinac and Round islands.

The race was scheduled to run on the original 1925 course, rather than the Cove Island or Shore courses that it has followed for many years.

The "Diablo" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024, was delayed a bit by lack of wind, but what was scheduled to be a record number of participants — 332 boats, from 17 different states, were scheduled to depart from the starting line in southern Lake Huron, breaking the record of 315 from 1985 — eventually headed off to the finish line between Mackinac and Round islands. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "Good Lookin" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "Ohana" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "Gauntlet" and "Trompe Monde" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

A freighter makes its way through Port Huron, as several boats prepare for the start of their class in the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "Amante 2" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "Eagle One" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

Boats gather near the starting line for the 100th running of the Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The the winner of the Chicago to Mackinac race last week, "White Hawk" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac Race — the 100th annual running of the Port Huron to Mackinac event — on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "Freedom" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The 40-foot "Hibernia" heads to the start for the 100th running of the Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "Charrette" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "J Hawker" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "On a Whim" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

Race boats head out to the starting line for the 100th running of the Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The first groups of boats heads out from the starting line for the 100th running of the Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

The "Diablo" at the start of the Bayview Mackinac race, the 100th consecutive running of the race up Lake Huron from Port Huron to Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 20, 2024. (ADAM SHEEHAN — For MediaNews Group)

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The Tactics of Small Boat Racing (Norton Nautical Books) Paperback – December 17, 1991

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A detailed, technical, and readable study of the tactics of winning for the experienced sailor―by one of the world's leading small boat racers.

• Print length 350 pages
• Language English
• Publisher W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication date December 17, 1991
• Dimensions 6.1 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• ISBN-10 0393308014
• ISBN-13 978-0393308013
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company (December 17, 1991)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 350 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393308014
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393308013
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• #195 in Sailing (Books)
• #245 in Boating (Books)
• #2,292 in Transportation (Books)

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Cardboard boat racing one of many events of Family Day at Broadway Lake, see the photos

Crafty designs dazzle families watching cardboard boat races at 12th annual family day on broadway lake in anderson county july 20.

The 12th annual Family Day at Broadway Lake, one of the last significant free summer events in Anderson County before the first week of school, was held on an overcast Saturday morning, July 20. It featured the Carolina Show Ski Team, locally homemade cardboard boats racing to the finish, food trucks, a children's face painting and craft booth, Broadway Lake Baptist Church offering free water and snacks, and Anderson County PAWS.

The event, hosted by Friends of Broadway Lake and partly sponsored by Upstate Federal Credit Union, lasted four hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The day started with the first cardboard boat race featuring area fire departments. Flat Rock Bowen Station, Broadway Station and Homeland Park took their homemade boats, red with a black stripe through them, to the water, with their best two paddlers for each boat. The boats were designed with the rule of only using cardboard and duct tape. Every year, there is a winner, and at least one absorbs more lake water than it can handle and sinks.

John Steely, co-director, said, "Believe it or not, most boats make it. Some of them will sink, but that's part of the fun."

Chief Ronald Wood and Matt Green of Homeland Park Fire Station 3 got a big lead but never gave up and won first place in the $500 category. Chief Wood said the department's prize money goes to a fund to buy bottled water for the station.

Broadway Fire Station 8 won second place and the $300 prize with paddlers Matt Turner and Matt Dukes.

At 11 a.m., the Carolina Show Ski Team took center stage with youth and elders showing their talent. A small swimming pool with circulating water had a booth where children made a miniature creation of a cardboard boat with duct tape, minutes before the five-boat charity class boat race.

Jerry Hanson, co-director of the event, said, "It's a fun day. They love the water skiing show that we have every year, but on top of that, it's the cardboard boat races to see who finishes because sometimes they don't get that far," he added.

Ultimately, Darryl Gambrell and Lily Gambrell won Freedom Fences, the $1,000 first-place prize. Marla Doran and April McGee with Grace's Gals' Vets Helping Vets boat second place for $750, and Isaiah Pingie and Daysi Sanchez led the Anderson Free Clinic boat to third place and a $500 prize. Family Promise finished fourth, and First Light finished fifth.