Recommended Reading

[JakeLevi]

I just finished Gpysy Life by Clare Allard, a familys rebuilding and sailing a Baltic Trader, beautiful old wooden boat, starting with no amenities and an old Gray Marine sometime working diesel. Good writing, interesting pics of stops along the way .

I definitly reccommend the amazon.com used books, you can get books in very good to like new for a fraction of retail. I've gotten several books on cruising, surveying and inspecting books that has really refocused my search for a boat.

[werebeagle]

Another good source for used books is bookfinder.com. They search multiple databases, including amazon.com and alibris.com.

Charlie

[sailingforever]

If any of you are looking for something light and entertaining try Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransom. They are delightful

[Goodnewsboy]

Has anyone mentioned Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum?

[Kernix]

Awesome thread!

I just copied all suggestions into an excle file - 110 non-fiction and 29 fiction suggestions - I think - I had to make assumptions on the genre when it was not specifies - I'm going to clean up the list and put an asterisk next to any one book suggested more than once - I could use some help though:

1. Correct me if I have a fiction book in the non-fiction section and vice versa
2. there were some references that said "...anything by...." or "...the Mr So-&-so Series..." - I'll put in the author's name, but a list of 3-5 of his best would be helpful - and of course specify fiction or nonfiction

I will post the list in a little bit

Jim
aka kernix

[Kernix]

Okay - here's my list - I have all of this in an Excel spreadsheet so as corrections get posted I'll make the change - after a week or so I won't do anymore corrections and post a final list

There are 2 sections - non-fiction & fiction - I know that I got some wrong because they were not specified - each section is sorted alphabetically by title with "The" and "A" moved to the back of the title

At the top of both fiction and non-fiction are entries that start with either "..." or "???". The "..." are for when peeps just mentioned names with no examples - get back with the top ex's. The "???" is when there is just a title and I don't know the author OR genre.

Non-Fiction
...anything by Alan Villiers
...anything by Bernard Moitessier
...Anything by John Kretschmer!
...Anything by Lin and Larry Pardey!
...anything by Myles and Beryl Smeeton
...Anything by Webb Chiles!
...John Guzzwell's books
? Racing rules of sailing, The - on the web?
??? Best of Sail Trim, The by ???
??? Blue Latitudes by ???
??? Fair Wind and Plenty of It, A; a tale of a circumnavigation by ???
??? Heart of the Sea, The by ???
??? Hornblower ???
??? Sail Trim by ???
??? Slocum ????
??? Tristan Jones ???
??? Wreck of the Mary Deare, The by ???
500 DAYS by Serge Testa
A Voyage for Madmen by Nichols
After the Storm by John Rousmaniere
Alan Lewrie series by Dewey Lambdin
ALL IN THE SAME BOAT by Tom Neale
All this and Sailing Too; autobiography of Olin Stephens
And The Sea Will Tell by Vincent Bugliosi
Atlantic High by Willima F. Buckley, Jr.
Barefoot Navigator by Jack Lagan
Best Boats to Build or Buy by Ferenc Mate
Best of the Smeetons, The by Miles Smeeton - Once is Enough
Best of the Smeetons, The by Miles Smeeton - Sailors Classics
Blue Water by Dr. Bob Griffith
Blue Water Green Skipper by Stuart Woods
Boatowners Mechanical & Electrical Manual by Calder
Bowditch after it's original author. The bible of marine navigation
Championship Tactics by Jobson
Circumnavigators, The by Don Holm's
Coasting by Jonathan Raban
Commodore by James Bisset
Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual by Don Casey
Complete Sailor, The: Learning the Art of Sailing by David Seidman
Cruising at Last: Sailing the East Coast by Elliot Merrick
Cruising Life, The: A Commonsense Guide for the Would Be Voyager by Jim Trefethen
David Gerr: The Nature of Boats
Donald Street's OFFSHORE SAILING YACHT both I and II.
Endurance by Earnest Shackleton
EVERYTHING SAILING BOOK, THE by michael and Nikki Smorenburg
FASTNET FORCE 10 by John Rousmaniere
Firecrest Around the World by Alain Gerbault
FORGOTTEN FACTOR, THE by C.A.Marchaj
From a Bare Hull by Ferenc Mate
Godforsaken Sea by Derek Lundy
Gone to come back by Jan De Groot
Gpysy Life by Clare Allard
Gypsy Moth Circles the World by Sir Francis Chichester
Handbook of Knots, The by Des Pawson
Heavy Weather Sailing by Adlard Coles
HEAVY WEATHER SAILING by Adlard Coles
High Performance Sailing, by Frank Bethwaite
How to Sail Around The World: Advice and Ideas for Voyaging Under Sail by Hal Roth
ICE BIRD by David Lewis
Ice Bird by David Lewis
Kontiki by Thor Heyerdahl
Long Way, The by Moistessier
Longitude by Dava Sobel
Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi
Mermaids by John Kretschmer
Modern Seamanship by Don Dodds
Moitessier, Villiers, Adlard Coles and Hal Roth
No shoes allowed by Jan De Groot
Ocean Sailing Yacht by Don Street
Old Glory by Jonathan Raban
Passage to Juneau by Jonathan Raban
Plot Your Course to Adventure by Roger Olson
Red Sky in Mourning by Tami Oldham Ashcraft
Royce's Sailing Illustrated
Saga of the Cimba by Richard Maury
Sail Ho by James Bisset
Sail in a day by George O'day
Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum's
Sailing fundamentals by Gary Jobson
Sailing in a Spoonful of Water by Joe Coomer
Sailing Life, The by Bob Bitchin
Sailing the Pacific by Miles Hordern
Sea Change: Alone Across the Atlantic in a Wooden Boat by Peter Nichols
SEA VAGABOND'S WORLD by Bernard Moitessier
SEAWORTHINESS by C.A.Marchaj
Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat: A Guide to Essential Features, Handling, and Gear by John Vigor
Sensible Cruising: The Thoreau Approach by Don Casey and Lew Hackler
Sensible Cruising: The Thoreau Approach by Don Casey and Lew Hackler
Singlehanded Sailing: The Experiences and Techniques of the Lone Voyagers by Richard Henderson
Taking on the World by Ellen MacArthur
Tamata and the Alliance by Bernard Montessier
The Cruising Handbook by Nigel Calder
The Living Great Lakes by Jerry Dennis
There be no Dragons by Reece Palley
Tinkerbelle by Robert Manry
To Rule the Waves by Arthur Herman
Total Loss by Jack H Coote
Tramps & Ladies by James Bisset
Unlikely Passages by Reese Palley
Voyage by Stirling Hayden
Voyage for Madmen, A by Peter Nichols
Voyage for Madmen, A by Peter Nichols
Voyage For Madmen, A, by Peter Nicholls
Voyager's Handbook, The by Beth A. Leonard
Voyager's Handbook, The: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising by Beth A. Leonard
VOYAGING THE PACIFIC by Miles Horden
Wanderer by Stirling Hayden
Wanderer; autobiography of Sterling Hayden
Where is Joe Merchant by J Buffett
World's best Sailboats by Ferenc Mate

Fiction
...Anything by James Nelson - Bretheren of the Coast (pirates) series
...Anything by James Nelson - Civil War series
...Anything by James Nelson - Revolution at Sea saga
...anything by Paul Garrison...
...Bernard Cornwall author of the semi historical Sharpe series also penned a number of novels
...Claire Francis...
...Clive Cussler novels
??? A Night to Remember by ???
??? Outerbridge Reach by ???
Arthur Ransome who wrote an entire series of books on sailing aimed at children
Aubrey/Maturin series by O'Brian
Bolitho series by Kent
From a Bare Hull
Ghost Sea by Ferenc Mate
J D Sleightholme's books
Landfall by Tony Gibbs
Riddle of the Sands, The by Erskine Childers
Running Fix by Tony Gibbs
Sea Officer William Bentley, The series, by Jan Needle - A Fine Boy for Killing
Sea Officer William Bentley, The series, by Jan Needle - the Sea Nymph
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransom
the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian
the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian
the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian
The Kidd series by Julian Stockwin - Artemis
The Kidd series by Julian Stockwin - Artemis
The Kidd series by Julian Stockwin - Mutiny and Quarterdeck
The Kidd series by Julian Stockwin - Seaflower
Voyage of the Snark by Jack London

And why didn't anyone include Treasure Island by Stephenson?

[Kernix]

oops - forgor to notate mutliple references:

*Ice Bird by David Lewis
*??? Best of Sail Trim, The by ??? or Sail Trim by???
**Voyage for Madmen, A by Peter Nichols
*Voyager's Handbook, The: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising by Beth A. Leonard
*Wanderer by Stirling Hayden


*The Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian

[Kernix]

Alright here's my final cleaned up list with * next to books recommended by more than one person and I do not know if I have fiction mixed with non-fiction and vice versa - added a few more:

Non-Fiction
*Best of Sail Trim, The by Charles Mann (or Mason?)
*Heavy Weather Sailing by Adlard Coles
*Ice Bird by David Lewis
*Voyage for Madmen, A by Peter Nichols
*Voyager's Handbook, The: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising by Beth A. Leonard
*Wanderer by Stirling Hayden
2005-2008 Racing rules of sailing at http://www.sailing.org/
500 DAYS by Serge Testa
A Voyage for Madmen by Nichols
Across the Pacific in an Open Boat by Webb Chiles
Adrift by Steve Callahan
After the Storm by John Rousmaniere
Alan Lewrie series by Dewey Lambdin
ALL IN THE SAME BOAT by Tom Neale
All this and Sailing Too; autobiography of Olin Stephens
And The Sea Will Tell by Vincent Bugliosi
Annapolis Book of Seamanship, The
AT ONE WITH THE SEA by Naomi James
Atlantic High by Willima F. Buckley, Jr.
Autobiography of Alan Villiers
Barefoot Navigator by Jack Lagan
Basic Coastal Navigation by Adlard Coles
Best Boats to Build or Buy by Ferenc Mate
Best of the Smeetons, The by Miles Smeeton - Once is Enough
Best of the Smeetons, The by Miles Smeeton - Sailors Classics
Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz
Blue Water by Dr. Bob Griffith
Blue Water Green Skipper by Stuart Woods
Boatowners Mechanical & Electrical Manual by Calder
Bowditch after it's original author. The bible of marine navigation
BY WAY OF CAPE HORN by Alan Villiers
Capable Cruiser, The by Lin and Larry Pardey
Capable, The by Lin and Larry Pardey
Championship Tactics by Jobson
Circumnavigators, The by Don Holm's
Coasting by Jonathan Raban
Commodore by James Bisset
Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual by Don Casey
Complete Sailor, The: Learning the Art of Sailing by David Seidman
Cruising at Last: Sailing the East Coast by Elliot Merrick
Cruising in Seraffyn by Lin and Larry Pardey
Cruising Life, The: A Commonsense Guide for the Would Be Voyager by Jim Trefethen
CRUISING UNDER SAIL by Eric Hiscock
David Gerr: The Nature of Boats
Donald Street's OFFSHORE SAILING YACHT both I and II.
DOVE by Robin Lee Graham
Endurance by Earnest Shackleton or Lin & Larry Pardley?
EVERYTHING SAILING BOOK, THE by michael and Nikki Smorenburg
Fair Wind and Plenty of It: A Modern-Day Tall Ship Adventure by Rigel Crockett
FASTNET FORCE 10 by John Rousmaniere
Firecrest Around the World by Alain Gerbault
Flirting With Mermaids by John Kretschmer
FORGOTTEN FACTOR, THE by C.A.Marchaj
From a Bare Hull by Ferenc Mate
Godforsaken Sea by Derek Lundy
Gone to come back by Jan De Groot
Gpysy Life by Clare Allard
Gypsy Moth Circles the World by Sir Francis Chichester
Handbook of Knots, The by Des Pawson
Heavy Weather Sailing by K. Adlard Coles
High Performance Sailing, by Frank Bethwaite
Hornblower series by C.S. Forester
How to Sail Around The World: Advice and Ideas for Voyaging Under Sail by Hal Roth
ICE by Tristan Jones
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
Incredible Voyage, The by Tristan Jones
Kontiki by Thor Heyerdahl
Long Way, The by Moistessier
Longitude by Dava Sobel
Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi
MASTER OF THE MOVING SEA by Gladys Gowlland
MATE IN SAIL by James Gaby
Modern Cruising Under Sail by Don Dodds
Modern Wooden Yacht Construction by John Guzzwell
No shoes allowed by Jan De Groot
Ocean Sailing Yacht by Don Street
Old Glory by Jonathan Raban
Once is Enough by Miles Smeeton
ONCE IS ENOUGH by Myles and Beryl Smeeton
ONE HAND FOR YOURSELF, ONE FOR THE SHIP by Tristan Jones
OPEN BOAT: ACROSS THE PACIFIC by Webb Chiles
Passage to Juneau by Jonathan Raban
Plot Your Course to Adventure by Roger Olson
Principles of Yacht Design byAdlard Coles
Red Sky in Mourning by Tami Oldham Ashcraft
Royce's Sailing Illustrated
SAGA OF A WAYWARD SAILOR by Tristan Jones
Saga of the Cimba by Richard Maury
Sail Ho by James Bisset
Sail in a day by George O'day
Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum
Sailing fundamentals by Gary Jobson
Sailing in a Spoonful of Water by Joe Coomer
Sailing Life, The by Bob Bitchin
Sailing the Pacific by Miles Hordern
Sea Change: Alone Across the Atlantic in a Wooden Boat by Peter Nichols
SEA VAGABOND'S WORLD by Bernard Moitessier
SEAWORTHINESS by C.A.Marchaj
Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat: A Guide to Essential Features, Handling, and Gear by John Vigor
Sensible Cruising: The Thoreau Approach by Don Casey and Lew Hackler
SERAFIN by Lin and Larry Pardey?
SHACKELTON'S BOAT JOURNEY by E.F. Middleton
Singlehanded Sailing: The Experiences and Techniques of the Lone Voyagers by Richard Henderson
Sons of Sinbad by Alan Villiers
SOPRANINO by Colin Mudie and Patrick Ellam
Storm Tactics Handbook by Lin and Larry Pardey
Taking on the World by Ellen MacArthur
Tamata and the Alliance by Bernard Montessier
The Cruising Handbook by Nigel Calder
The Living Great Lakes by Jerry Dennis
THE OCEAN WAITS by Webb Chiles
THE WRECK OF THE MARY DEARE: *A Story of the Sea by Hammond Innes
There be no Dragons by Reece Palley
This Old Boat by Don Casey
Tinkerbelle by Robert Manry
TITLE UNKNOWN by Robin Knox-Johnson
To Rule the Waves by Arthur Herman
Total Loss by Jack H Coote
Tramps & Ladies by James Bisset
Trekka Round The World by John Guzzwell
TWO AGAINST CAPE HORN, Hal Roth
Unlikely Passages by Reese Palley
Used Boat Notebook by John Kretschmer
Voyage by Stirling Hayden
VOYAGING THE PACIFIC by Miles Horden
We Followed Odysseus by Hal Roth
Where is Joe Merchant by J Buffett
World's best Sailboats by Ferenc Mate

Fiction
*The Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER based on Lord's book
A Twist of Sand by Erskine Childers
Bolitho series by Kent
Bretheren of the Coast series by James Nelson
Civil War series by James Nelson
Come Hell or High Water by Claire Francis
Come Wind or Weather by Claire Francis
Dirk Pitt books by Clive Cussler
Dirk Pitt Revealed by Clive Cussler
Fire And Ice by Paul Garrison
From a Bare Hull
Ghost Sea by Ferenc Mate
J D Sleightholme's books
Landfall by Tony Gibbs
Red Sky At Morning by Paul Garrison
Revolution at Sea saga by James Nelson
Riddle of the Sands, The by Erskine Childers
Running Fix by Tony Gibbs
Sea Officer William Bentley, The series, by Jan Needle - A Fine Boy for Killing
Sea Officer William Bentley, The series, by Jan Needle - the Sea Nymph
Sharpe series (Masterpiece Theater) by Bernard Cornwall
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransom
The Kidd series by Julian Stockwin - Artemis
The Kidd series by Julian Stockwin - Mutiny and Quarterdeck
The Kidd series by Julian Stockwin - Seaflower
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
VOYAGE by Stirling Hayden
Voyage of the Snark by Jack London
WE DIDN'T MEAN TO GO TO SEA, Arthur Ransome

[mega98]

Great list! I would like to nominate "The Sea-Wolf" by Jack London.

"'Cooky,' Wolf Larsen called in a low voice. Thomas Mugridge turned a pitiable, scared face. 'Let go that fore-boom tackle and pass it across, and when she's willing let go the sheet and come in snug with the tackle. And if you make a mess of it, it will be the last you ever make. Understand?"

Also, Hemingway's, "Old Man and the Sea."

"He looked across the sea and knew how alone he was now. But he could see the prisms in the deep dark water and the line stretching ahead and the strange undulation of the calm. The clouds were building up now for the trade wind and he looked ahead and saw a flight of wild ducks etching themselves against the sky over the water, then blurring, then etching again and he knew no man was ever alone on the sea."

[sailhog]

Robert Stone's Outer Bridge Reach is the best novel on sailing ever written. It's loosely based on Donald Crowhurst's sad story, which was beautifully chronicled in The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst by a couple of British journalists. Both belong in every seaman's library.