[Halcyon1]

I have put together a list of my top ten sailing novels... So many to choose from!

Top Ten Sailing Novels - Halcyon Yachts International Yacht Delivery | Halcyon Yachts

Is yours on the list?

Have I missed any 'must-reads'?

Pete

 

[Donna_F]

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/apps-authors/115225-what-best-sailing-book-you-have-read.html

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/apps-authors/18184-recommended-reading.html

Apps & Authors - SailNet Community

 

[mbianka]

A good winter read for those of us stuck in snow covered winters is CASTAWAYS IN THE COLD
THE BIANKA LOG BLOG: A WINTERS TALE: CASTAWAY IN THE COLD
It's Fiction but, written by an an actually Arctic explorer who is also a survivor. His ship was stuck in the ice during the Second Grinnell expedition in the 1800's. No EPIRB's back then let alone VHF radios either. I believe it's available as a free download on Kindle too.

 

[lancelot9898]

The SEA WITCH by Jack London

 

[aa3jy]

No offense..but isn't 'novels' fictional accounts..I believe the OP listed true account stories of real events..or am I missing something?

 

[Halcyon1]

No offense..but isn't 'novels' fictional accounts..I believe the OP listed true account stories of real events..or am I missing something?

None taken... And yes, Novels are technically fictional stories.

When I started thinking about my top sailing books I thought some of them might have been fictional; turns out that I much prefer the real adventure stories!

Is your favourite on the list?

Pete

 

[Faster]

My favourite 'sailing novel' (a real novel) is 'Voyage' by Sterling Hayden.. It's a story set in the fading days of the Cape Horn Clippers.

 

[travlin-easy]

I read Endurance - Shackleton's Voyage, twice. Loved it both times.

Gary

 

[mbianka]

Just finishing up THE LONG WAY – Bernard Moitessier. I'm enjoying it. Though I had to chuckle when he dropped out the race and decided to head to Tahiti to "save his soul" only to find they were putting a five lane highway and knocking down all the Palm Trees along the harbor he had remembered from his past visits. As the Eagles sang: "Call someplace Paradise then kiss it goodbye"

Also enjoyed Robert Knox Johnson's book: A WORLD OF MY OWN
Francis Chichester: Gypsy Moth 4 Sails the World
Joshua Slocum's: SAILING ALONE AROUND THE WORLD is a book I have read more than once and enjoy it each time.

I also enjoyed Robert Manry's: TINKERBELLE about his Atlantic Ocean crossing in 1965 in a 13-1/2 foot sailboat.

 

[lancelot9898]

Hey Clay,

At least it(The Sea Wolf) is about sailing albeit fiction.

A good book about actual sailing is A Voyage For Madmen by Peter Nichols even though some of the participants made up some pretty good fictional stories.

 

[aa3jy]

Melville's 'Moby Dick' an American classic novel based on a true occurrence..

History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian

..and soon to be released:

 

[killarney_sailor]

If we are talking about novels (i.e. fiction), then it is Riddle of the Sands for me. I read it about every ten years and it never loses its appeal. I understand there is a movie version but have never found it.

 

[tdw]

Bruce,
I was just about to say the same thing. Something about that book simply resonates. No BS, just a rattling good yarn, splendidly told.

Oh yes ..... I'm sure it is available on DVD and there may well be a higher quality version but .....

It has its faults but not bad.

 

[VallelyJ]

Another vote for Voyage by Sterling Heyden.
JV

 

[Slayer]

a Voyage of Madmen is my favorite.

 

[scratchee]

Bruce,
I was just about to say the same thing. Seomthing about that book simply resonates. No BS, just a rattling good yarn, splendidly told.

Oh yes ..... I'm sure it is available on DVD and there may well be a higher quality version but .....

It has its faults but not bad.

I re-watched the Youtube version just last week. I can't find a streaming version anywhere (Netflix, etc.) but there is a DVD. I should check out the book, but I can also recommend the movie.

 

[Group9]

The Shipkiller

by Justin Scott (1978)

I read this in college and although it is a somewhat sad story, it was one of the books that put the idea of cruising into my head.

The Shipkiller by Justin Scott ? Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

"Overboard" by Hank Searls, another one I read about the same time (I actually first read the condensed Reader's Digest version and then the full book later).

About a guy whose wife falls overboard while on night watch and his hunt for her while reviewing their life in his head.

Overboard:A novel: Hank Searls: Amazon.com: [email protected]@[email protected]@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/[email protected]@[email protected]@41f7vO89ZwL

 

[vega1860]

Nit picking is a hobby of mine. Annoying, I know, but there it is.

Allow me then to point out that there is not one single "Novel" in your list of top ten novels. They are all non fiction works, although some, especially Slocum, may contain substantial embellishments. All great books though.

My work is done here.

 

[Minnesail]

Nit picking is a hobby of mine. Annoying, I know, but there it is.

Allow me then to point out that there is not one single "Novel" in your list of top ten novels. They are all non fiction works, although some, especially Slocum, may contain substantial embellishments. All great books though.

My work is done here.

I believe "narrative non-fiction" is the term we're looking for.

 

[HUGOSALT]

"Close to the Wind" by Pete Goss who turned back into a hurricane- force headwinds 160
miles in the southern ocean to rescue French sailor Raphael Dinelli during 1996 Vendeé Globe non-stop, single- handed, round-the- world race. He was awarded France's highest honour "the Legion d'Honneur". Amazing picture of Dinelli standing knee deep in the southern ocean on his sunken boat before Aussie's or NZ coast guard dropped him a liferaft.
Also, "In the Heart of the Sea", story of the loss of whaleship Essex which Melville based Moby Dick and then "Two years Before the Mast" by Dana.