Reviews of current and new sailing titles

The Piper Calls the Tune by Euan Ross

2020-11-06T11:23:53+00:00December 11th, 2018|Books|

This is the Second Edition of a book which set out to tell the story of the famous Pipers – a One Design Class which originated in the 1960s on the Clyde, and its impressive designer David Boyd. The new edition opens up the story some with more of Boyd's significent designs, though without losing [...]

The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey by Patrick O’Brian

2019-05-21T23:43:46+01:00November 3rd, 2018|Books|

There is a peculiar appropriateness and not a little poignancy about this final episode of O'Brian's sweeping saga of Naval life – and so much else – in the early 19th century. It's an unfinished  work – barely started actually, when he died in 2000. Written after Blue at the Mizzen this is a final [...]

Messing About in Boats by John R Muir

2018-10-31T13:52:52+00:00October 15th, 2018|Books|

A charming and evocative account of leisure sailing – plus a bit of work on boats – in UK waters in the 1930s and 40s recounted with humour by naval surgeon John Muir. This is the ideal Christmas fireside antidote to Tilman, with an introduction by Sam Llewellyn and cover illustration by Martyn Mackrill. £12.00 [...]

That Hamilton Woman by Barry Gough

2020-11-06T11:24:21+00:00October 12th, 2018|Books|

This pocket hardback takes its title from a classic black-and-white Hollywood movie from 1941 starring Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier. But this is the almost incredible story of Emma Hamilton, Admiral Nelson’s famous mistress, and it shows her part in his fame and success. It's a superb read! DMH £12.99 seaforthpublishing.com  

Heavy Weather Sailing by Peter Bruce

2020-11-06T11:24:24+00:00October 2nd, 2018|Books|

Now in its 7th edition this is the bible for the offshore sailor and a good, nay essential book to digest before planning a cruise anywhere out of coastal waters. It has up to date experiences from experts advice like Ewan Southby-Tailyour, Larry and Lin Pardey and Alex Whitworth and a new foreword from Sir [...]

Forgotten Songs and Stories of the Sea by Caroline Rochford

2018-10-31T15:43:32+00:00September 28th, 2018|Books|

This is as much a compendium of fascinating stories as a collection of songs (the songs sadly have no tunes for those can read music). But still you’ll find yourself reading and reading it. It’s well written and full of stuff you almost certainly haven’t heard of! And yes it does look like maritime is [...]

Sea Charts of the British Isles by John Blake

2020-11-06T11:24:28+00:00September 24th, 2018|Books|

With previously unseen records from the Admiralty Library, the National Maritime Museum, the Pepys Library, UK Hydrographic Office and National Archives this book travels clockwise around the UK using historical charts and many accompanying illustrations which used to adorn traditional charts (and which were a worthwhile pasttime to create for many a sea officer). The [...]

World Cruising Routes 8th Edition by Jimmy Cornell

2020-11-06T11:24:36+00:00August 17th, 2018|Books|

The latest in a line of editions that began in 1987 sees Jimmy rusing in his introduction on how he made a successful transit of the North West passage in 2015 which he attributes to global warming and the loss of arctic ice.  "few sailors would disagree that globaly weather conditions appear to be undergoing [...]

Good Little Ship by Peter Willis

2018-08-16T07:38:37+01:00August 16th, 2018|Books|

This is a book about Arthur Ransome's favourite cruising yacht - the 1931 seven ton 28ft Hillyard-built Nancy Blackett, named after Ransome's most famous character, the leading Amazon, Nancy from the Swallows and Amazons book series. The bermudan cutter is also the inspiration behind Ransome's most successful sea adventure story We Didn't Mean to Go [...]

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