Visit our Popular Forums

brian and clare · 08-10-2007, 17:24

for some old school adventure, the cruise of the snark by jack london tells the true story of his sailing the south pacific after he got famous. When you read how much his 38 foot? boat cost to build back then it makes you happy to live in a world full of old fiberglass boats. Then read Mark twains accounts in his book about sailing around the world on a steamer. Written within a few years of each other, but you get the distinct impression that Jack london would be a lot more fun at the bar. :O)

SkiprJohn · 08-10-2007, 18:49

My all time favorite for keeping you glued to the book was "Shipkiller" but I don't know if you can find it. Not a true story but neither are many that have been recommended. "Icebird" is a true story if you like the idea of cold weather sailing.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

brian and clare · 08-10-2007, 18:55

OHHH Shipkiller. SOOO COOL I have been looking for a copy of that for a while. Not everyday you have a sailor toting missles to destroy an oil tanker. The bit where he almost goes crazy in the doldrums. SOOO cool. Anyone know who wrote it?

Microship · 08-10-2007, 19:23

North to the Night by Alvah Simon

Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi

-Steve

SkiprJohn · 08-10-2007, 21:39

Shipkiller by Justin Scott. It'll keep you on the edge of your bunk.

JohnL

Triton318 · 09-10-2007, 06:21

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

A great read, especially the part where they're in the small boats. One of my favorites. From Amazon.com:

"In the summer of 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton set off aboard the Endurance bound for the South Atlantic. The goal of his expedition was to cross the Antarctic overland, but more than a year later, and still half a continent away from the intended base, the Endurance was trapped in ice and eventually was crushed. For five months Shackleton and his crew survived on drifting ice packs in one of the most savage regions of the world before they were finally able to set sail again in one of the ship's lifeboats. Alfred Lansing's Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage is a white-knuckle account of this astounding odyssey."

TAREUA · 09-10-2007, 08:45

Not a book, but here are three well written and often very funny blogs I've enjoyed a lot:
http://www.svsereia.com/

http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=234

http://www.netizenx.com/default.asp

Anyone else have any favorites?

Reluctantsailor · 01-11-2007, 13:46

A friend of ours (not into sailing) gave us An embarrassment of Mangoes by Ann Vanderhoof - she said it changed the way she thinks about a lot of things.
My husband who isn't a reader couldn't put it down and finished it in a week (the last book he read took three months so that says something) - its the story of a Toronto couple who takes off cruising for two years on a 42 foot sailboat in the mid 1990's down to the Caribbean (even includes recipes that the writer created while onboard).

I am just starting to read it and so far it is good...

jdoe71 · 01-11-2007, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triton318

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

A great read, especially the part where they're in the small boats. One of my favorites. From Amazon.com:

Or South, by Shackleton himself. Great read about tough people and events.

Ishmael · 01-11-2007, 15:45

Amazon.com: Sails Full and by: Books: Dom Degnon

It's the story of the circumnavigation the author, Dom Degnon, did aboard his boat, Taku (which I think was a Formosa). His son, Peter, was an instructor at the sailing club I belonged to in Boston many years ago, and was living aboard the boat while he worked there. It's a good read.

Morgan Paul · 01-11-2007, 16:07

The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst

Latitude9.5 · 02-11-2007, 09:01

Dunno if this is along the same lines, but I've read and re-read the Mutiny on the Bounty Trilogy (it's actually all three bounty novels in one). defintely recommend it.