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Zednotzee · 11-07-2009, 20:18

I have to agree with some of the earlier posts, re: The Ship & The Storm; A Voyage for Madmen; & any of the Pardey books.

A couple of others I've read & feel worth mentioning are Beyond Endurance by Adam Meyers, about the 1979 Fastnet race (but specifically the 3 Canadian boats that participated), Black Wave by John & Jean Silverwood, about the wreck of s/v Emerald Jane, & finally Red Sky in Mourning by Tammy Oldham Ashcroft, sailing a dismasted Trintella 44 to Hawaii.

beau · 13-07-2009, 16:49

"Around the World Cruising Guide" by Allan Phillips. Fantastic book.
He has a web site at www.wallabycreek.com

**sneuman** · 14-07-2009, 10:55

I have read a number of the circumnavigation genre and although this one doesn't strictly qualify (because the circumnavigation was never completed), I really enjoyed The Saga of Cimba (Amazon.com: The Saga of Cimba (The Sailor's Classics #2): Richard Maury: Books)

Richard Maury is a very good writer and the tale gets its gritty quality partly from when it was undertaken -- in the midst of the Great Depression.

David_Old_Jersey · 14-07-2009, 11:18

A bit of an oldie.........

The Odyssey - Homer

Only half way through, but the key seems to be not upsetting gods, especially Poseiden. And keeping an eye out for dodgy women

BlueSovereign · 14-07-2009, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBart

I recently read Dove. It is the true story of a 16 year old boy who sets sail around the world, single handed, in a 20 ft. sloop in the 60's. Pretty great story.

I read this book 25 years ago, when I primarily focussed on deep-sea sport-fishing ... it inspired me to switch to "keelers"

TaoJones · 14-07-2009, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBart

I recently read Dove. It is the true story of a 16 year old boy who sets sail around the world, single handed, in a 20 ft. sloop in the 60's. Pretty great story.

Dove is a very inspirational book, and has probably been instrumental in sowing the seed in lots of people who finally go down to the sea . . .

Sixteen when he began the voyage in 1966, Robin Lee Graham was actually 21 when he completed it in 1971. He began in a 24' Lapworth, but that vessel only got him as far as St. Thomas in the USVI. He finished the voyage in a 33' Allied Luders. His original Dove can be seen here after he made it to St. Thomas: ROBIN LEE GRAHAM'S DOVE

TaoJones

mrohr · 13-08-2009, 06:34

whoa!how about one of the greatest ever? eric hiscock,done more than many of the others combined and well written too. Sailing alone around the world? by the man who started it all Josh slocum. finally one of the greatest classics of sailing lit. Two years before the mast.

**roverhi** · 13-08-2009, 10:24

Most of Moitessier's books. 'Sailing to the Reefs' is a look at a cruising life style that is sadly long gone and 'Cape Horn' for real sailing adventure in the Southern Ocean. 'The Long Way' is a good read and a study of madness from being too long alone at sea. 'Taumata and the Alliance' is a bit preachy but a fascinating insight into colonial Viet Nam.

Aloha
Peter O.

AndrewF · 13-08-2009, 12:18

I'm not sure if someone mentioned it already but Blue Water Vagabond is a very good book.

Cheechako · 13-08-2009, 14:33

Trekka is great; home built 21 footer around the world...
An Island to Oneself is a superb book, an actual adventure written my Tom Neale, a sailor... but not so much about sailing...

bene343 · 13-08-2009, 15:00

I second Trekka - I've sailed with John Guzzwell too!

right now I'm reading 'Sailing on the Wings of Skybird'

Cheechako · 13-08-2009, 15:20

Let's not forget "two against cape horn" by Hal Roth...

**FrankZ** · 20-08-2009, 08:04

I am currently into reading The Terror by Dan Simmons. It is based on the ill-fated expedition of the Terror and the Erebus to find the northwest passage. While not much is known of the expedition after they left Baffin Bay the book, so far, is pretty good. I don't know I can call it a sailing book though, as they are currently, and for most of the book, locked into the polar ice pack and not going anywhere.