best books about sailboat racing

Published on March 21st, 2016 | by Editor

Top Picks: The Best Books for Sailboat Racers

Published on March 21st, 2016 by Editor -->

by Deborah Bennett Elfers I can be a little obsessive when it comes to racing sailboats, having read absolutely every sailboat racing book I could find. I’ve read some truly awful books, which did little more than make me even more confused than I was when I started, some rather good books, which made me realize how much I didn’t yet know, and a mere handful of really terrific books which catapulted my understanding of sailboat racing, and helped me to move up the fleet.

Here’s a list of the better books – most basic appearing first – with a brief review of each…

The Complete Sailor, David Seidman I’ve read this book from cover to cover, several times. There are so many little nuggets in here for the new sailor, but it’s also a handy reference guide for the more experienced. I use this book when teaching sailing, as it’s easily readable, and has some of the best basic sailing explanations I’ve seen anywhere.

Getting Started in Sailboat Racing, Adam Cort & Richard Stearns This book was my bible as I was first learning to race. I can’t tell you how many times I read it through, from cover to cover. I had started off with some other, more advanced books, but much of the information in those books was too complicated for a racing novice. This was the perfect introduction to sailboat racing for a newbie, with great graphics, and an easy-to-read format.

Winning in One-Designs, Dave Perry I think that this is one of the best guides to sailboat racing there is — it’s eminently readable, and organized so well that you can refer back to the appropriate sections when you’re trying to improve a particular weakness. You can use it like a “workbook”, as I did in my second season of racing, and I improved quite a lot by implementing the suggestions and techniques outlined in the book.

Start to Win, Eric Twiname This is a classic book, so well-regarded among sailboat racers that it was re-published 30 years after the author’s death. It is a clear, concise treatise on how to improve your racing. Easy to use, even for the more novice racer.

Sailing Smart: Winning Techniques, Tactics & Strategy, Buddy Melges & Charles Mason This book abounds with lessons on racing tactics and boat handling, sportsmanship, and is sprinkled liberally with the authors’ tales of races won (and lost). The book is clearly organized, and Melges’s personality shines through the pages. I’ve read this one again and again.

Sail, Race & Win: How to Develop a Winning Attitude – Eric Twiname This book is perhaps my favorite of all the books, in that Twiname teaches us how to self-coach, and explores the winning mindset – mirroring closely my own approach to improving my sailing, one learned from and adapted from many years of training as an opera singer.

Note : A few of these books are “old classics” so you will have to be careful to reference the current version of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

Tags: Books , Deborah Bennett Elfers , education

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5 Favorite Sailing Books to Build Racing Skills

Build Racing Skills with these 5 Books

To build racing skills, it’s always good to refresh your understanding of key concepts and skills, so you can take them up a notch, or least not slip backwards.  Here are five books that have enough solid content to keep me coming back for more.

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32 Best Sailing Books For Current and Future Yachtsmen

Heading out on a sailing adventure? Need some inspiration away from the YouTube creators we often featured? Then you’re in the right place.

We have rounded up the best books for sailing enthusiasts. You’ll find highly respected books on racing, cruising and sailboat maintenance for your next adventure on the open seas!

1. Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 69th Edition

One of the best sailing books available, the Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 69th Edition is a comprehensive book with descriptions, illustrations, and pictures for every situation.

Whether the need is a guide for it all or looking for some tips, the book has an easy-to-use index that makes it simple to find information. 

2. The Complete Sailing Manual  

The Complete Sailing Manual by Steve Sleight is a detailed book written by sailors for sailors. 

It delves into the latest advancements in sailing, keeping the reader updated and ready to handle any situation.

3. Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die

Searching for a new, exciting place to sail can be exhausting. Chris Santella has an extensive list of options to bring back that exhilaration.

The handy guide gets inspiration by asking well-known sailors and athletes about their favorite places to sail.

4. The Ultimate Book of Everyday Knots  

Every sailor needs to know how to tie a good knot, and Geoffrey Budworth has a fantastic instruction tool to start.

This book has illustrations of common knots used in sailing and other sports, with directions to ensure every tie is a success.

5. Bargain Boats and Budget Cruising  

Sailing can be an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. Todd Duff has expert advice to keep the cost down.

This guide goes through the process of finding an economical boat and refitting it, so you can enjoy the water without breaking the bank.

6. Illustrated Sail & Rig Tuning  

Sometimes a picture can be just what’s needed, and Ivar Dedekam has detailed illustrations for everything relating to sailing.

This handy guide explains the necessities of sailing and the theories to get the most out of any boat.

7. The Alaska Cruise Handbook  

The wild waters of Alaska are a worthy goal for any sailor. With insights from Joe Upton, planning a journey through the Alaskan coast is more than practical.

Plan ports and explore the natural beauties of Alaska from the comfort of a personal sailboat.

8. The Sailing Bible

Jeremy Evans, Pat Manley, and Barrie Smith put together an extensive work covering the basics of sailing to niche activities like racing.

Even the most seasoned sailors can find something in one of the best sailing books around to enrich their knowledge, and beginners will feel ready to hit the water.

9. World Cruising Essentials  

Taking on a long voyage can seem like a daunting task. Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Essentials makes the trip doable. This happens to be my favorite book on this list!

Learn about everything to prepare for the cruise and get crucial tips for spending the days at sea.

10. Landfalls of Paradise  

Exploring the Pacific Islands can be a dreamy escape, and Earl R. Hinz’s writing makes it a carefree journey.

This guide has updated charts and descriptions to help make any sailing through the Pacific Islands easy to plan and execute. 

11. The Voyager’s Handbook  

Extended trips are one of the most fulfilling ways to experience life on the open seas, and Beth Leonard has a handbook to achieve it. Another personal favorite!

It not only covers the essentials needed on the boat but explains practical tips for keeping boat life enjoyable.

12. The World’s Best Sailboats: Boxset Vol.1&2  

Ferenc Máté’s The World’s Best Sailboats has detailed pictures, illustrations, and descriptions of the finest boats in the world. Enjoy appreciating the fine craftsmanship while learning what makes certain boats excel.

This volume isn’t only fun to flick through as its information can be invaluable when selecting a boat.

13. The Big Book of Boat Canvas  

Customizing a boat can be a fun way to make the vessel feel like home. One option is canvas, and Karen Lipe is here to explain multiple sewing projects.

From practical objects like sail covers to interior cushions, the options are endless in this handbook.

14. Sailing: The Basics  

Newcomers will appreciate Dave Franzel’s book as it helps people get on the water and become sailors in no time. It follows his fundamental principle that time in the water is key to learning, so it gets through the essentials fast.

Get from the docks to the water in record time, and feel confident doing it.

15. The Blue Book of Sailing  

Adam Cort hopes to take the reader of any experience level and turn them into true sailing experts. Through simple lessons, it explains everything needed to sail.

Some basic knowledge of sailing can be necessary for reading, but anyone will benefit from the tips.

16. BoatSense: Lessons and Yarns from a Marine Writer’s Life Afloat  

Combining narrative and guidebook, the unique BoatSense: Lessons and Yarns from a Marine Writer’s Life Afloat gives realistic tips based on Doug Logan’s experience.

The true tales from this sailor aren’t just for fun, as they pleasantly explain crucial teachings that are usually exclusive to years of sailing.

17. The International Marine Book of Sailing  

The International Marine Book of Sailing by William Robinson is great for beginners looking to learn everything. 

This book has handy illustrations and other valuable insights neatly organized to get the reader ready to sail as soon as possible.

18. The Ashley Book of Knots  

This comprehensive book covers around 3,900 types of knots with brief descriptions, drawn guides, and other information. 

This manual not only covers basic knots but includes complex versions that can be used on the boat or to impress friends.

19. The Handbook Of Sailing  

For visual learners, Bob Bond has thousands of diagrams and color photos to explore the basic techniques of setting sail. 

The guidebook has helpful descriptions to accompany the pictures and assists the reader through any situation.

20. Sailing America  

See the beauties of the United States from coast to coast in this picture collection from Onne van der Wal. Enjoy the views from the sea without even sailing across thousands of miles.

Whether it’s for inspiration or to admire the expert photography, any sailor can appreciate the beautiful landscapes in this book.

21. The Annapolis Book of Seamanship  

Another comprehensive guide that covers everything from the basics to handling extreme conditions. John Rousmaniere is on hand to get the reader for any sailing situation.

This book progresses from the simplest tasks to the most challenging endeavors, with traditional techniques mixed with newer innovations.

22. Desirable and Undesirable Characteristics of the Offshore Yachts 

Searching for a sea-worthy vessel can be a challenging task, but Steven L. Davis aims to make it much easier.

This guidebook examines trends and other information to prepare the reader for the boat market. That data will be invaluable to understanding what to look for when choosing their own.

23. Sailing Is Fun!: A Beginners Manual For Young Sailors  

Kids looking to sail can learn the basics from Charles D. Dawson. His book uses only simple terms, making it easy for children to follow.

It stresses water safety to keep youngsters safe, and it’s an invaluable tool for anyone wanting to pass on sailing traditions.

24. The Best Used Boat Notebook  

A cost-effective way to get into sailing is through a used boat, and The Best Used Boat Notebook from John Kretschmer gives every tip needed. 

This detailed guide breaks down the specifics any potential boat owner should know.

25. The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands 

Explore the crystal waters of the Virgin Islands with help from Simon Scott’s experience. 

It also includes a handy chart that folds out to aid your plans for the sailing voyage.

26. Marina’s Best  

A significant portion of sailing is in marinas, and anyone hoping to manage their marina can get the knowledge necessary from Dr. Amos Raviv.

This work guides the reader through everything necessary to run a marina and ensures sailors understand the rules and regulations of marina use.

27. Crewing to Win

Racing sailboats is an intense sport, and it relies on crew teamwork. To build the best team, try reading Crewing to Win by Saskia Clark.

This handbook explains how to form a team, set goals, and keep things running smoothly out on the water.

28. Building Outrigger Sailing Canoes

Outrigger canoes are a unique and traditional form of sailing, often handmade by indigenous Hawaiians .

Building Outrigger Sailing Canoes by Gary Dierking helps explain the best way to create an outrigger canoe with contemporary methods.

29. Reeds Skipper’s Handbook  

Owning a small index of essential knowledge can be invaluable at sea, and Malcolm Pearson’s Reeds Skipper’s Handbook is just that.

This book is an indispensable guide for any experienced sailor, as it’s easy to reference and find exactly what you’re looking for.

30. The Best of Sail Trim  

This volume is a compilation of the best articles from SAIL magazine, collected for ease of access. Explore tips ranging from cruises to racing.

The information in this book is easy and enjoyable to read while giving plenty of priceless tips.

31. Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules: 2021-2024 Rules  

Get into racing with this complete guide Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules: 2021-2024 Rules. Written by the Olympic sailor Paul Elvstrom, learn all the ins and outs to win first place.

This book has a quick reference guide for racing flags and ways to help plan the best course.

32. Maneuver and Dock Your Sailboat Under Power  

Docking a boat can be one of the most challenging tasks a sailor can undertake. Maneuver and Dock Your Sailboat Under Power by Grant Headifen prepares the reader for docking in any condition.

Feel confident sailing into the marina with one of the best sailing books focused on navigation, and never risk bumping into the docks again.

Home » Blog » Gear » 25 sailing books every sailor should read

25 sailing books every sailor should read

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: January 26, 2023

THE BEST SAILING BOOKS INSPIRE YOU TO GET OUT THERE

Whether you’re looking to do some armchair sailing during the off-season or stock up your floating library with sailing stories for summer cruising, these are the best sailing books for adventure and inspiration.

In this list, you’ll find books about sailing around the world, first-hand accounts of daring Antarctic adventures, true crime nautical thrillers, and meditative musings about life at sea. Be sure to let us know your favorite sailing books in the comments below.

If you’re looking for reference books on boat maintenance and how to sail, check out our post on the nautical books we’ll never go to sea without .

A quick note that this post contains affiliate links (so if you purchase through a link we’ll earn a small commission). All the opinions are our own.

Best books about sailing around the world

1. the long way – bernard moitessier.

This is the book that inspired us to buy a boat and go sailing! Bernard Moitessier was a French sailor who raced in the 1968 Golden Globe, the first single-handed around the world race.

He sails from England alone for several months and when it seems he is just about to win…(well, I won’t spoil it for you!). His account is a great adventure story and also a deep meditation on zen philosophy.

2. Sailing Alone Around the World – Joshua Slocum

Joshua Slocum’s  Sailing Alone Around the World  is a really interesting account of the first solo-circumnavigation. It would be an interesting account even if it were written today but is especially so due to the fact that the events he recounts take place prior to the 20th century.

In many ways, Slocum was the first cruiser and the trouble he gets himself into, the people he meets, and the places he goes are things to which we can all relate.

3. A World of My Own – Robin Knox-Johnston

Robin Knox-Johnston’s account of his non-stop solo-circumnavigation of the world. He presents a vivid and  vulnerable portrait of a sailor attempting to accomplish what most thought impossible.

It’s a testament to the ability of the human mind to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and heartening for fellow sailors who will encounter situations that put their own courage to the test. It’s a great read and details one of the most incredible feats of the modern era.

4. Dove – Robin Lee Graham

Dove is a book for those who dream of sailing around the world.

In 1965, 16-year-old Robin Lee Graham set off from California in 24-footer on a solo round-the-world voyage. After 5 years and 33,000 miles, he returns with a wife and daughter. His adventures in between are recounted in this best-selling book.

5. Gipsy Moth Circles The World – Francis Chichester

In August 1966, Francis Chichester set out from Plymouth on his 53-foot ketch “Gypsy Moth VI”. He would become the first person to make a one-stop round the world circumnavigation.

Chichester’s journey set records, earned him a knighthood, and fueled the ambition of the next generation of sailors, to become the first to sail around the world non-stop in the 1968 Golden Globe Race.

6. Maiden Voyage – Tania Aebi with Bernadette Brennan

At 18 years old, Tania Aebi was going nowhere, until her father presented her with an ultimatum: she could go to college or get a boat. She chose the latter and for the next two and a half years and 27,000 miles, she sailed the world with only her cat as a companion.

Sailing adventure books

7. an island to oneself – tom neale.

New Zealander, Tom Neale travels to Suwarrow, a remote South Pacific atoll, and spends 16 years living alone and off the land. If you’ve ever fantasized about living on a remote South Pacific Island, this book is for you.

8. Sailing & Mountain Exploration Books  – H.W. Tilman

Considered one of the greatest adventurers of our time, Tilman has sailed and climbed in some of the world’s most remote and environments. His sailing books are must-reads for those who dream of straying from the beaten path and sailing in high-latitudes.

9. Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft – Thor Heyerdahl

Kon-Tiki was the first book about sailing that I ever read.  And really it is more about adventuring than sailing. The sheer foolhardiness of building a balsa wood raft and sailing it 4000 miles from Peru to Tahiti is enough to pique the interest of any adventurous soul.

It’s fascinating to read the various ways that the four men on the raft handled the, at times, boring, stressful, exciting, and survival situations in which they were placed.

Sailing thriller books

10. and the sea will tell – vincent bugliosi.

In this terrifying true story, two couples sail to a remote Pacific atoll, but only one couple makes it off the Island alive. As told by the defense lawyer, Vincent Bugliosi (who also prosecuted Charles Manson), the investigation that follows is a riveting true-crime murder mystery.

And the Sea Will Tell reconstructs the events and recounts the trial that follows. The first half of the book is a real page-turner. The second half delves into technical aspects of the court case which makes for a less compelling read (unless perhaps you’re a lawyer!).

11. The Perfect Storm – Sebastian Junger

A real-life thriller, this book is likely to scare you out of ever leaving land, but it will also give you an appreciation of the sheer power of weather in the Atlantic Ocean.

Junger tells the story of the Perfect Storm, a record topping storm that hit the east coast of North America in the fall of 1991. It follows the accounts of the crews of the fishing boat, a sailboat, and the U.S. Coast Guard as they battle to survive the severe conditions.

12. Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea – Steven Callahan

A staggering survival story written by Steven Callahan about 76 days spent in a life raft in the Atlantic Ocean.

Only six days out, Callahan’s small sloop capsizes and he’s left battling for survival in an inflatable raft. “Adrift” was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than thirty-six weeks when it first came out.

13. Godforsaken Sea – Derek Lundy

Godforsaken Sea  recounts the running of the 1996-97 Vendée Globe. On 3 November 1996, sixteen sailors set out to race around the world single-handed. Only six completed the course. The book explores what compels a sailor to go to sea why the Vendée Globe racers were willing to risk everything.

Sailing and cruising stories

14. the curve of time – m. wylie blanchet.

The story of a single mother in the 1920s with 3 children and a dog, exploring Vancouver Island’s inside passage.

In 1926 Muriel “Capi” Wylie Blanchet, a Vancouver Island resident, tragically lost her husband Geoffrey when he took their 25 ft cabin cruiser “Caprice” out on a solo camping trip and never returned. Rather than sell the boat, she took her three young children and dog on summer sojourns, exploring the pristine BC coast with nothing but her wits to rely on.

She documents her many adventures: piloting through whirlpools, run-ins with bears and cougars, climbing thousand-foot cliffs, and exploring abandoned First Nations villages. Her account is both inspiring and a reminder to slow down, appreciate the beauty of nature, and be present with those you love.

One of the few books to make our list of best sailing books that doesn’t take place on a sailboat!

15. Seraffyn’s European Adventure – Lin and Larry Pardey

Lin and Larry Pardey are living proof that you don’t need to be wealthy to see the world. They traveled for 26 years (covering the equivalent of 5 circumnavigations) in their home-built cutters, Seraffyn and Taleisin.

In Seraffyn’s European Adventure the young couple journey in their 24ft boat to the Baltic, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany. Without engine, electronics, or gadgetry these scrappy sailors accomplish remarkable things through sheer endurance and resourcefulness.

Their stories are as salty as it gets and their message is freedom: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

16. The Log from the Sea of Cortez – John Steinbeck

An account of the six-week scientific expedition made by John Steinbeck in 1940 with marine biologist Ed Ricketts, collecting marine specimens as they travel through the Sea of Cortez.

The book recounts bizarre sea creatures, funny anecdotes about the eccentric crew, and Steinbeck/Ricketts’ life philosophies. A good read if you’re planning to visit Mexico.

17. The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float – Farley Mowat

If you’ve ever cursed your boat, you’ll sympathize with the exasperated (but ever hopeful) Mowat in “The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float”.

Seeking adventure, Mowat hopes to buy a boat , a proud and seaworthy vessel, and roam the seven seas. Instead, he gets the worst boat ever and nearly goes mad trying to keep it from sinking.

18. Passage to Juneau – Jonathan Raban

Raban sails from Seattle to Juneau in a small boat, deftly describing the history of First Nations, Captain Vancouver, and life at sea as he travels up the coast.

More than just a travelogue, Raban recounts personal challenges: his relationship with his father, and being a good dad to his young daughter Julia. The Pacific Northwest history is absolutely fascinating and Raban is a deep and thoughtful soul who you can’t help but empathize with.

19. The Incredible Voyage – Tristan Jones

With wit and style, Tristan Jones tells the story of his 6-year voyage where he sailed a distance equal to twice the circumference of the world. His adventures include capsizing off the Cape of Good Hope, starving in the Amazon, and dodging snipers on the Red Sea.

20. Looking for a Ship – John McPhee

John McPhee, considered one of the pioneers of creative nonfiction, recounts a 42-day journey from Charleston down the Pacific coast of South America on one of the last American merchant ships, the S.S. Stella Lykes.

21. My Old Man and the Sea – David Hays, Daniel Hays

An account of an ambitious father-son project: build a boat and take on Cape Horn. With nothing more than a compass, sextant, and pet cat, the father and son duo are tested on an incredible voyage. Told in alternating sections by father and son.

Best Nautical Novels

22. Moby Dick – Herman Melville

No list of classic sailing novels would be complete without Moby Dick.

The story follows a whaler captain’s quest for revenge against the giant sperm whale, Moby Dick. Written by Herman Melville in 1851, it’s considered one of the “Great American Novels”.

23. The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway

24. Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

Published in 1969, this nautical novel was the start of a 20-book series. Set at the turn of the 19th century, the story follows a young Jack Aubrey, who has recently been promoted to the rank of Master and Commander.

Sailing logbook

25. Sailing logbook

The best sailing stories are the ones you create!  Pick up one of these hardcover logbooks to record your nautical travels.

Looking for more great sailing stories? Check out our posts on sailing vlogs and sailing podcasts .

Do you have any suggestions for other inspirational sailing books? We’d love to get your recommendations – please leave them in the comment box below.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Monday 1st of April 2019

Hi there! Great post, but my all time favorite is “South Sea Vagabonds” by John Wray!

Niah Vaughan

Saturday 16th of March 2019

The Loneliest Race by Paul Gelder. Is a must read.

Wednesday 27th of March 2019

Thanks Niah. I've been thinking about writing a post on sailing race books - there are some many good ones!

Michael Robertson

Friday 15th of March 2019

Overlooked on this list and many others is the great "The Water in Between" by Kevin Patterson.

Yes indeed - that's a great recommendation.

Jean Baillargeon

Hi Fiona n Robin, Hope you’re not missing the heat of the SP too too much. If I may suggest a few more books for your great list.

Anything by Moitessier of course, specially «Vagabond des mers du Sud» (telling of his learning to sail in Vietnam as a young man), and «Tamata et l’Alliance», (his last book written during his years living in French Polynesia) Quick english titles list here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=moitessier+bernard&crid=DQW3GY4NSYPS&sprefix=Moitessier%2Caps%2C446&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_10

Anything about Éric Tabarly, there are one or two bios and he wrote one account of his winning the BOAC. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tabarly&crid=C9Q57RE444SF&sprefix=Tabarly%2Caps%2C872&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_5

And my welsh mother in law would be very disappointed in me if I did not recommend Tristan Jones’ books. His are tall tales that sometimes strech believability, but they sure a great read. Typical welsh storyteller with a knack for spinning a good yarn with priceless tongue in cheek humour. Also of interest to handicapped sailors, Jones lost a leg to diabetes on one of his crossings, but kept sailing for many years afterwards. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tristan+jones+books&crid=11M2GS14E6MD4&sprefix=tristan+jones%2Caps%2C1327&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_13

These are great! Thank you Jean. Hope you're finding lots of time for reading on the boat in paradise :)

Darlene Kristi

You did miss a riveting true story, which won the National Outdoor Book Award for best book of the year! Journey of A Hope Merchant - from Apartheid to the Elite World of Solo Yacht Racing. by Neal Petersen

Wow this sounds fascinating! We'll check it out. Thanks Darlene.

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Best Sailing Books

Set sail on a literary voyage with these top sailing books, featuring narratives full of adventure, technical know-how, and the allure of the sea. they have been charted based on their recommendations by seasoned sailors and leading nautical publications..

11 Best Books About Sailing Around the World: Circumnavigation Books

More people have climbed to the summit of Mt. Everest than have circumnavigated the globe by sail. It is an exclusive club. Deep in the recesses of most sailors minds, they will admit that they have the dream to sail around the world. Most will never do it.

For those that plan and prepare long enough, have a capable vessel, and have trained to have the skills to do so it is an achievable goal. The 11 books listed below are stories of pioneers who have done so. As early as the late 1800’s to not that long ago, there is adventure to be found out there on the high seas for anyone daring enough to try.

The Long Way – Bernard Moitessier

Bernard Moitessier is a sailing legend. He was one of the contestants in the first solo, non-stop around the world sailing race called the Golden Globe Race. For seven months the Frenchman battled rough conditions, broken gear, fear and loneliness. He was in the lead and sure to reach the finish line first.

Moitessier decided near the end of the race that he was done, and sailed to Tahiti. This is the incredible story of his entire journey.

Sailing Alone Around the World – Joshua Slocum

Joshua Slocum was the first person to sail around the world alone. He did it in 1900 way before any modern electronic navigation tools and instruments. In the late 1800’s Captain Slocum purchased and began refitting the derelict sloop Spray. Beginning in 1895 he set sail from Massachusetts on a five year journey to circumnavigate the globe.

This is his personal memoir of his 46,000 mile journey around the world.

A Voyage for Madmen – Peter Nichols

The 1968 Golden Globe Race was the first non-stop, solo, sailing race. There were nine entries.

In A Voyage for Madmen, Peter Nichols’ documents the story of this race that lasted 10 months and had only one finisher. The others dropped out, went mad or died. Nichols version of this race is very well done and details many of the trials and tribulations of the individual sailors.

Dove – Robin Lee Graham

In 1965 Robin Lee Graham set sail to circumnavigate the globe on his 24 foot sloop. He was 16 years old. After five years and 33,000 miles under the keel Graham returned home married, with a child and a lifetime of adventure.

This is essentially his journal with added commentary. It is a wonderful book.

A World of my Own – Robin Knox-Johnston

As mentioned above, the 1968 Golden Globe Race had nine entries. It was the first non-stop, solo, around the world race and only one man finished. Robin Knox-Johnston was that man.

This is the story of his triumphs and tribulations along the way. From compromised fresh water tanks to a smashed cabin top, this was no easy cruise. It took everything he had to not give up. Knox-Johnston is a legend, this is his legendary tale.

Godforsaken Sea – Derek Lundy

The Vendee Globe is the more modern version of the 1960’s era Golden Globe, essentially a solo, non-stop race on really fast sailboats. Where the original took nine months to complete, now they do it in four, mostly in the dangerous southern ocean.

Godforseken Sea is a book following the field of the 1996-1997 Vendee Globe. One person, one boat, no stops, no assistance, this is what the sailors sign up for when they enter the Vendee Globe.

One Girl One Dream – Laura Dekker

Laura Dekker holds the record as the youngest person ever to circumnavigate, solo. But her government tried to stop her from even setting sail. Laura had to first fight the Dutch government because they were trying to legally stop her from sailing.

Laura does finally win her court battle and leaves on the journey to try to become the world’s youngest solo sailor.

Maiden Voyage – Tania Aeibi

Tania Aebi, at 18 years old, was going nowhere in life when her father presented her with two options. She was offered a college education, or a 26 foot sailboat that if she took, had to sail around the world, alone. She obviously took the latter and with it started the adventure of a lifetime.

This is her exciting tale of lightning storms, being hit by a tanker, falling in love and everything else you experience during a 27,000 mile journey.

Gipsy Moth Circles the World – Francis Chichester

In August of 1966, 65 year old Frances Chichester set out from Plymouth, UK in his 53 foot ketch “Gipsy Moth” alone. At that point in time only a few solo sailors had tried to circumnavigate by way of Cape Horn, the most dangerous cape to round in the world.

His journey only took 226 days. He stopped once in Sydney and established new records for speed and endurance along the way. Chichester was awarded a knighthood upon his return.

Go Anyway – Lyn Foley

Lyn and Jim Foley had a dream to go sailing. They worked long and hard over 18 years to be able to buy the boat, sold everything they owned, and moved aboard. Right before they were about to set sail Jim was Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. They went anyway.

This is their story of more than 35,000 miles at sea, 39 countries, rough storms and beautiful anchorages. Through it all Jim fighting against Parkinson’s.

500 Days: Around the World on a 12 Foot Yacht – Serge Testa

Serge Testa designed and built his tiny 12 foot boat “Acrohc” to set one record, to circumnavigate the smallest boat. Solo sailing a well founded normal size yacht is a feat in an of itself, imagine doing so in a 12 foot boat.

His account of this thrilling journey is both humorous and gripping. He recounts harrowing storms as well as beautiful landfalls and encounters with whales.

If you are interested in following along on our journey, sign up for the Ship Log and every time I publish a new log entry we’ll send you an email, usually once or twice a month.

Jason Koslow

Skipper of SY Wild Rose

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

18 of the Best Books on Sailing

I know–we’re all “connected” and glued to YouTube and online forums. But the truth is, you can’t replace a book. That’s right, a real, honest-to-God, turn the pages and read something, book-book!

The best books on sailing can be divided into a few categories. First, the non-fiction, fun-to-read ones make the best books on sailing adventures. Then there are the non-fiction sailing stories–the stories of solo racing, around-the-world travel logs, or survival at sea.

But, as a boater, you will also want to pick up some of the best books on sailing and seamanship. You’ll likely keep these titles as references onboard for when something breaks or you need a quick refresher!

So, without further ado, here’s a list of the best books on sailing stories for the ages.

Table of Contents

Best books on sailing stories – sailing adventure books, best books on the history of sailing – sailing books of the past, best books on solo race sailing, best books on sailing adventures and best books on sailing voyages, best books on sailing for beginners, best books on sailing and seamanship – books that should be on every boat bookshelf, what’s your favorite sailing book.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Flirting with Mermaids: The Unpredictable Life of a Sailboat Delivery Skipper John Kretschmer

Kretschmer is a celebrity in the sailing circuit, having worked for decades as a delivery skipper and now operating a popular offshore teaching charter on his Kauffman 47 Quetzal . He’s written for many major sailing magazines and has several excellent books about hurricanes and storm sailing.

But this book is a little more informal and a little more intimate. Kretschmer weaves personal anecdotes with sailing know-how to create an engaging tale that’s both fun to read and informative. The result is one of the best entertaining books on sailing that you can find.

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An Embarrasement of Mangoes Anne Vanderhoof

This is a real-life tale of a foodie gone cruising. Anne and her husband set out in a 42-foot sailboat from the US east coast, bound for the Caribbean. Each stop in the 16 countries and 47 islands along the way brings the sort of nautical misadventures you’d expect.

But the thing that brings this book home for me is the idea of taking one’s passions with them when traveling. I, too, am a devout foodie. Vanderhoof shares not her cruising dreams but also the culture and the ingredients that make each spot special–and even includes recipes.

From catching shrimp on the ICW to enjoying a Bahamian cracked conch for the first time, this one kept me turning pages the whole way through.

Float Plan Trish Doller

After facing a devastating loss, Anna decides a sailing trip is just the ticket she needs. She needs her own adventure and to see if salt water is indeed the cure for everything, all while her family questions her plans and worries for her safety at sea.

After an eventful sail to the Bahamas, Anna hires a captain to show her the ropes. The story is a delightful mix of rom-com, adventure, and travel as Anna discovers the highs and lows of the sailing lifestyle.

Swell: A Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening Liz Clark

Swell is the modern sailing story of a young surfer from California who sets out on the adventure of a lifetime, cruising through Mexico and, eventually, the South Pacific Ocean. Clark tells her story with enviable honesty, chronicling her journey of personal growth as well as her sailing adventure.

Liz has been sailing her 40-foot Cal Swell for over ten years now, visiting many exotic islands and meeting people that fellow sailors only dream about. Many times she’s alone, or in the company of only her cat. Swell touches on every aspect of her journey, from relationship drama to technical boat problems that had her stuck in Tahiti for more than a year.

Sailing Alone Around the World Joshua Slocum

I love this book for its historical perspective. Dreaming of casting off the lines and sailing into the sunset isn’t a new thing. Slocum was the first to circumnavigate by himself, setting out from 1893 to 1894 on his small sailboat Spray .

As you might imagine, cruising was a little different back then. One of the best books on the history of shipbuilding sailing, it offers a fascinating glimpse into what it was like in the late 19th century. Most of the spots visited were not set up for yachts, after all, and there was no Panama Canal. Join Slocum as he cruises the Magellan Straights and makes his way, navigating by stars (newsflash: the was no GPS back then, either!)

This classic is a free download on Kindle.

The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float Farley Mowat

Mowat’s humor will pull you into this story, a perfect read for anyone considering buying a fixer-upper sailboat. His tales of the dangerous hand-crank diesel motor and the leaky wooden boat might seem archaic, but anyone who’s owned a boat will rejoice in understanding that it’s always been this way–it’s just what boats do.

This is also, for a change, a northern adventure that sets out from the shores of Newfoundland. If ever there’s a place where you’d like your boat to float, it’s where the water is that cold!

Unfortunately, this is one of the only books on the list that has yet to make it to a Kindle or ebook version. You can pick up a paperback for under $10, though.

The Long Way (The Pivitoal Novel of the Golden Globe Race) Bernard Moitessier

Some books have inspired sailors for decades, and many of those sailors point to Moitessier’s The Long Way as one of the most impactful. It’s the story of the first Golden Globe Race–a solo, around-the-world, non-stop route by way of all three Great Capes in the Southern Ocean.

Moitessier’s story is one of surviving solo at sea, with knock-downs, gear failures, storms, and doldrums. In the end, he sailed 37,455 miles before he touched land.

Maiden Voyage Tania Aebi

At 18, Aebi became the youngest person and the first American woman to sail around the world alone. This book is her story and follows her 1985 journey of two-and-a-half years and 27,000 miles.

Bumfuzzle Patrick Schulte

Catamarans have made their mark on the world, and their impressive sailing performance and layouts continue to draw in new cruisers. Meet the young couple Ali and Pat, who decide over drinks that they should sail around the world on one.

One year later, they found the boat and set sail. With no sailing background or boating experience, the couple spent four years sailing around the world. They learn what they need along the way, get into trouble, and get out of trouble.

The most interesting thing about the book is that they are not conventional sailors–they aren’t into technicalities. They want to travel, and their catamaran lets them do it. This is a major shift for many sailors, and the couple makes it clear right off the bat that they don’t subscribe to the “norms.”

Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson

If you haven’t read the original pirate yarn Treasure Island since grade school, do yourself a favor and find a Kindle copy to reread. You might find buried treasures in this long-forgotten “kids” story.

And if the OG pirate tale piques your interest, consider hopping over to our ultimate list of best sailing movies and give Black Sails a watch. The show tells the back story of some characters from the book, like Long John Silver and Captain Flint.

Sailing Made Easy ASA

This is the textbook for ASA 101, the entry-level sailing course from the American Sailing Association. There are plenty of other books like it, but this one is super easy to learn from and designed by experts. It’s full of full-color graphics and diagrams and teaches using the building blocks method. Start with simple sailing terms and sailing knots , and work your way up to sail trim and handling the boat with easy, step-by-step instructions.

If you’re debating about getting into sailing without any experience, this book is a great place to start. So give it a read, and maybe you’ll want to make it interactive by taking the course from your nearest sailing school.

Coastal Cruising Made Easy ASA

This is the textbook for ASA 102, Coastal Cruising. It takes the introductory information from 101 and expands on it, giving you the confidence to navigate farther from the marina and tackle some longer journeys. You’ll learn more about navigation, planning a big trip, and fine-tuning your sailing skills.

• Full color, richly illustrated, 176-pages

Related: Best Boat for Beginners

Some books belong on the shelf in every boat, even if you’re tight on space. Of course, digital bookshelves count, but some of these references are invaluable to be able to pick up and flip through.

Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual Don Casey

For beginners contemplating living on a sailboat , you cannot go wrong with this how-to guide that covers every part of boat ownership. Even if you aren’t looking at a fixer-upper, this book will walk you through the hows and whys of boat ownership and maintenance.

This hardcover is a collection of five smaller books, making it the ultimate compendium for your shelf. Here are the five titles included to give you an idea of the wide-ranging topics.

• Inspecting the Aging Sailboat
• Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair
• Sailboat Refinishing
• Sailboat Electrics Simplified
• Troubleshooting Marine Diesels
• Canvaswork and Sail Repair

The great thing about this text is that it grows with the reader. Section one teaches you how to perform your own survey on a vessel, an invaluable step to consider before making an offer and hiring a professional surveyor.

The Boat Galley Cookbook: 800 Everyday Recipes and Essential Tips for Cooking Aboard Carolyn Shearlock and Jan Irons

Before you even get to the great recipes, this book contains great information you should have on hand in a cruising boat. Substitutions, how to store things without a refrigerator (or with a tiny one!), and what to look for in foreign markets are just a few examples.

The recipes are practical for the boater, with one-pan dishes and lots of potluck favorites. But there are also helpful tips on how to do things landlubbers may never have thought about, like baking bread in a tiny galley or cleaning a fresh-caught lobster.

Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual Nigel Calder

Calder’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual is the bible of boat maintenance for DIY and cruising owners. It provides the theory and the basics, industry-standard how-to guides, and basic troubleshooting steps.

The importance of this book cannot be overstated. While many things on boats seem straightforward, particularly to folks already DIY savvy, there is still much to learn. Calder provides a baseline of how things should be done and a good summary of the regulations and ABYC standards for things like electrical wiring and plumbing.

The Voyager’s Handbook Beth A. Leonard

If you’re wondering over the how-tos of making the splash into the cruising world, Leonard’s Voyager’s Handbook is an excellent resource. The book considers some of the important topics that few people discuss openly. For example, exactly how much does it cost to sail around the world? What sort of boat do you need, and how should it be outfitted?

Of course, these are hard questions to answer because everyone does it differently. Leonard tackles these difficult issues by dividing the cruising world into sectors–the budget cruisers, the middle-of-the-road folks, and the luxurious living large set.

No matter which group you put yourself in, this book helps you plan for the adventure. Whether you need help finding the right boat and outfitting it, weather forecasting and heavy-weather sailing, and managing emergencies, Leonard’s is a resource you should keep close at hand.

World Voyage Planner Jimmy Cornell

If you dream of crossing oceans, this book is for you. This is the original how-to guide for sailing around the world. Or around the Atlantic, or Pacific, or where ever you want to go. It includes the basics and the most popular routes, including things you need to think about along the way and an overview of how it’s done. If you’ve ever wondered things like “ how long does it take to sail across the Atlantic ,” then this is the book where you’ll find your answers.

This book is part of Cornell’s World Cruising Series of textbooks. Each book looks similar but has a slightly different purpose.

• World Cruising Routes — Details over 1,000 sailing routes for every major passage around the globe, including climate, storms, and ocean current considerations
• World Voyage Planner — Overview of the most common voyages and how to plan them in the most favorable conditions with background information on global climate and cruising destinations
• World Cruising Destinations — Descriptions and histories for 184 countries, including legal formalities for sailors, climate, and facilities

Sailing a Serious Ocean: Sailboats, Storms, Stories, and Lessons Learned from 30 Years at Sea John Kretschmer

The title sums this great read up well. Kretschmer has made his living for years as a delivery skipper (read his yarns in the above-mentioned Flirting with Mermaids ). But he also teaches wannabe voyagers and gives lectures on what makes a great bluewater boat. After all, he’s sailed a lot of them first-hand.

Sailing a Serious Ocean recounts some of his biggest lessons to students, including what makes a sound, bluewater boat, and how to deal with storms at sea.

Whether you like a good adventure yarn, some historical drama, or a how-to reference that will be used daily, there are many great options.

One parting thought–the helpfulness of a Kindle onboard cannot be overstated. The basic Kindle Paperwhite is worth a look if you’re an avid reader, and it will always be one of the best gifts for boaters . It’s waterproof (!!!), and its battery lasts weeks without a recharge. In short, it’s the perfect travel companion and allows you to free up space on your shelf–something every boater needs.

• Kindle Paperwhite – Now with a 6.8” display and thinner borders, adjustable warm light, up to 10 weeks of battery life, and 20% faster page turns.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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• Books for Sailors: Navigating the World of Sailing Literature

Introduction

Sailing is a timeless pursuit that has captured the imagination of adventurers and seafarers throughout history. Whether you're an experienced sailor or simply fascinated by the nautical world, there's no better way to immerse yourself in the joys and challenges of sailing than through books. In this article, we will explore a selection of must-read books for sailors, ranging from practical guides to thrilling tales of seafaring exploits. So, grab a life jacket and join us as we navigate through the pages of these captivating sailing books.

Books for Sailors: Discovering Literary Gems

1. "the annapolis book of seamanship" by john rousmaniere.

Considered a classic in the sailing world, "The Annapolis Book of Seamanship" serves as an authoritative guide for sailors of all levels. It covers a wide range of topics, including navigation, boat handling, safety procedures, and more. With detailed illustrations and comprehensive explanations, this book is an invaluable resource for honing your sailing skills and knowledge.

2. "A Voyage for Madmen" by Peter Nichols

"A Voyage for Madmen" recounts the gripping true story of the first solo nonstop around-the-world yacht race. Follow the journeys of nine daring sailors as they set out on a treacherous adventure that tests their resilience and determination. This captivating book combines elements of history, adventure, and human spirit, making it a compelling read for any sailing enthusiast.

3. "Heavy Weather Sailing" by Peter Bruce

For sailors who dare to face the elements, "Heavy Weather Sailing" provides essential insights and strategies for navigating stormy seas. Authored by experienced offshore sailors, this book offers practical advice on handling extreme weather conditions, boat preparation, and crew safety. It is a valuable resource for those seeking to build confidence in challenging sailing situations.

4. "Sailing Alone Around the World" by Joshua Slocum

Embark on a remarkable solo adventure with "Sailing Alone Around the World." Joshua Slocum's captivating memoir chronicles his historic solo circumnavigation of the globe aboard the sloop Spray. This extraordinary tale of determination, exploration, and encounters with diverse cultures will transport you to a bygone era of sailing and inspire your own seafaring dreams.

Read   our  top  notch   articles  on  topics  such as  sailing ,  sailing   tips  and  destinations  in  our   Magazine .  

5. "The Complete Sailor" by David Seidman

"The Complete Sailor" is an essential guide for both novice and experienced sailors alike. Covering a wide range of topics, including boat handling, sail trim, navigation, and safety, this book is a comprehensive resource for mastering the art of sailing. With clear explanations and helpful illustrations, it's a valuable companion for sailors at any stage of their journey.

6. "Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Henry Dana Jr.

"Two Years Before the Mast" is a captivating memoir that offers a vivid portrayal of life at sea during the 19th century. Written by Richard Henry Dana Jr., this book recounts his experiences as a common sailor on a merchant ship traveling along the California coast. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the challenges, hardships, and camaraderie of a sailor's life.

7. "The Racing Rules of Sailing" by World Sailing

For those interested in competitive sailing, "The Racing Rules of Sailing" is an indispensable guide. Published by World Sailing, this book outlines the official rules and regulations for sailboat racing. Whether you're a participant or a spectator, understanding these rules will enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of the sport.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our range of charter boats and head to some of our favorite sailing destinations .

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Books for Your Boat

• By Cruising World Staff
• Updated: December 11, 2012

With the publication of Cornell’s Ocean Atlas, that’s no longer the case. By employing the latest technology and weather information compiled via satellite over the last two decades and by quadrupling the number of roses on their clearly illustrated collection of transoceanic charts, the Cornells have not only updated a valuable resource but also substantially broadened it. For more background info, visit their website . -Herb McCormick

Understanding, Installing, and Operating HF Marine Radio Transceivers by Martin Dunsmuir (2011; $30; White Squall Consulting ). Setting up a reliable high-frequency system can be daunting for those of us unfamiliar with the various products and the specific cabling, antennas, modems, and software required. In this self-published manual, the author takes the mystery out of the process. Dunsmuir is an expert, and he provides regular seminars to such groups as the Blue Water Cruising Association.

This work fills in all the blanks. It begins with a section on high-frequency radio theory and quickly moves on to hardware choices, licensing, antennas, grounding, and troubleshooting. The last section is invaluable advice for solving problems offshore. The style is direct, up-to-date, and written specifically for cruisers. -Peter A. Robson

If you like your nautical literature penned by the light of a swaying kerosene cabin lamp, this is the book for you. What’s amazing isn’t that Don was my favorite guidebook writer when I was a teenager, but that he continues to be today, when I’m in my 60s. They don’t make ’em like Don anymore. Five stars. -Cap’n Fatty Goodlander

“I believe,” he says, “that 50 years from now, historians will place GPS on the short list of inventions, alongside the clock, electricity, and the Internet, that are truly indispensible.” The same could be said for this well-focused and eminently readable nugget of a book. -Lynda Morris Childress

Situated on the U.S. East Coast, the fleet, known as the Hooligan Navy, reported year-round on the presence of submarines, picked up victims of ships attacked by U-boats, and engaged U-boats in unevenly matched fights.

Narrator Spencer King capably delivers the tale, in which the author employs a style of framed narration by having a grandfather recount his experiences in the fleet to his granddaughter.

It’s a perfect way to contrast the youth of that era with the youth of today, and sailors particularly will appreciate Miller’s accuracy and attention to detail, undoubtedly a byproduct of his decades as an engineer in the aerospace industry. -Rick Martell

Optimizing the Trailerable Sailboat by Paul Esterle ($28; 2010; available from www.lulu.com ). Owners of small, trailerable sailboat for daysailing or camp-cruising will find here a compendium of simple-to-implement, ingenious yet practical ideas for maximizing enjoyment, functionality, and creature comforts on small boats. Virtually every topic from ballast to the trailer stand is covered in this work, and it’s all spiral-bound for quick, frequent reference. -Lynda Morris Childress

His best recommendation? Focus on the essentials, then go sailing. -Mark Pillsbury

Written from the refreshing perspective of someone who chose the cruising life not as a retiree but as someone who decided to break away from the workaday world, this gorgeous book is a step-by-step guide for anyone, but especially 30-somethings and 40-somethings, thinking about taking the leap. -Jen Brett

Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region by Donald and Lillian Stokes ($12; 1996; Little, Brown and Company ). When the first frigate bird soars above your boat or a brown booby lands on your wind generator, you’ll wish you had a bird book aboard. We prefer books with full color photos and information about habitat and range all in one place, and this one fills that bill. -Jan S. Irons

_ Usborne Spotter’s Guide: Flags of the World _by William Crampton ($8; 2003; Usborne Books ). Before leaving U.S. waters, we rarely had the opportunity to puzzle over the national identity of boats we encountered. Now we seem to consult our flag book daily to identify neighbors in our anchorages.

-Jan S. Irons

Backyard Stars: A Guide for Home and the Road ($5; 1998; Klutz ). This book answers such general questions as “What is that bright star?” Skies in the tropics are so dazzling that you’ll want to know where and when to spot planets, stars, meteor showers, and comets so you can relax on deck and take in the heavenly show.

Spanish for Cruisers: The Boater’s Complete Language Guide for Spanish-Speaking Destinations by Kathy Parsons ($32; 2nd ed., 2008; Aventuras Publishing Company). Parsons not only provides the words and easy pronunciations but also accompanying pictures. If all else fails and no one understands your Spanish, you can simply point at what you need!

-Lynda Morris Childress

-Herb McCormick

As well, the adventures of the crew of Moon Wind, a 26-foot Chris-Craft Pawnee exploring the shores of southeastern New England in search of the mystical land of Mass, where they speak a different language, will keep you turning the pages. -Rick Martell

-Elaine Lembo

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Best sailing books: 25 tales inspired by the sea

A list of the best sailing books including memoirs, novels and biographies, constituting the most fascinating nautical tales ever penned

After recently compiling a list of the best sailing movies we’ve seen, I was prompted into some related reading. Fresh from a delivery of sailing bestsellers (and less-sellers), I’ve put together a list of the best sailing books.

The list covers everything from epic voyages, tales of survival, investigative biographies and sailing manuals – with a few coffee table reference books thrown in.

Best sailing books

The below list is in no particular order. If you have any suggestions that you feel deserve a place on this list of best sailing books, please add them in the comments below.

Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum

In 1895, Joshua Slocum set out to prove that a man could sail alone around the world. Some 46,000 miles and three years later, he completed the first single-handed circumnavigation of the globe in his 34ft sloop, the Spray.

A Voyage For Madmen by Peter Nichols

In 1968, nine sailors set off on the most daring race ever: to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe non-stop. It was a feat that had never been accomplished and one that would forever change the face of sailing. Ten months later, only one of the nine men would cross the finish line.

The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst by Nicholas Tomalin and Ron Hall

One of the best sailing books I’ve ever read. Donald Crowhurst was a contestant in the above round the world race. Hopelessly out of depth, he attempted to pull off one of the greatest hoaxes of our time.

The Last Grain Race by Eric Newby

This was one of the first sailing books I ever read and it got me hooked. In 1939, a young Newby set sail aboard Moshulu, the largest sailing ship still employed in the transportation of grain from Australia to Europe as part of what was known as ‘the grain race’. His story of the passage has become a classic.

Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft by Thor Heyerdahl

The adventure of Thor Heyerdahl and his companions on their raft across the Pacific has gone down in legend as a feat of endurance and courage. This is that story in Heyerdahl’s own words.

The Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousmaniere

Since the publication of the widely hailed first edition in 1983, this book has set the standard. Used throughout the world as a textbook in sailing schools, the Annapolis Book of Seamanship thoroughly and clearly covers the fundamental and advanced skills of modern sailing.

A Race Too Far by Chris Eakin

Chris Eakin recreates the drama of the epic inaugural Golden Globe race. He talks to all those touched by the event: the survivors, the widows and the children of those who died.

Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea by Steven Callahan

I’m currently halfway through this gripping tale and it is already one of the best sailing books I’ve read. Steven Callahan’s dramatic account was on the NYT bestseller list for 36 weeks. In many ways, it’s the model for the new wave of adventure books. At the time, he was the only man known to have survived more than a month at sea alone.

438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea by Jonathan Franklin

In 2012, Salvador Alvarenga left the coast of Mexico for a two-day fishing trip. After 14 months, he washed ashore having drifted over 9,000 miles.

Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian

The first of Patrick O’Brian’s famous Aubrey/Maturin novels, regarded by many as the greatest series of historical novels ever written. There were 20 completed – and one unfinished – in the series set during the Napoleonic Wars.

Gipsy Moth Circles the World by Francis Chichester

First published in 1967, just months after the completion of Chichester’s historic journey, the book was an instant international best-seller. It inspired the first solo around-the-world race and remains a timeless testament to the spirit of adventure.

Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi

Tania Aebi was an unambitious 18-year-old in New York City. She was going nowhere until her father offered her a challenge: choose college or a 26ft sloop. The only catch was that if she chose the sailboat, she’d have to sail around the world alone. Off she went.

DK Complete Sailing Manual by Steve Sleight

DK are renowned for producing beautiful reference books and this sailing manual does not disappoint. Now in its fourth edition, the book covers the basics of sailing, mastering navigation and maintaining your boat.

The Ashley Book of Knots by Clifford W. Ashley

First published in 1944 and reprinted many times since, this magnificent, fully illustrated book of knots is collated by Geoffrey Budworth with the help of other members of the  International Guild of Knot Tyers .

Swell: A Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening by Liz Clar

Clar chronicles her 2006 solo voyage across the South Pacific in search of great surf. She recounts her story in gripping detail, telling tales of self-awareness, solitude, connection to the earth and surfing.

Once is Enough by Miles Smeeton

This timeless classic is an exciting true story of survival against all odds. Smeeton and his wife sailed their 46ft ketch, Tzu Hang, in the wild seas of Cape Horn, following the tracks of the old sailing clippers through the world’s most notorious waters.

Last Man Off: A True Story of Disaster and Survival on the Antarctic Seas by Matt K. Lewis

The waters of Antarctica, 1998. A 23-year-old Lewis has just started his dream job aboard a deep sea fishing boat. A storm hits. With the captain missing and the crew forced to abandon ship, Lewis leads the escape onto three life rafts, where the battle for survival begins.

A World of My Own: The First Ever Non-stop Solo Round the World Voyage by Robin Knox-Johnston

In1968, a tiny ketch called Suhaili slipped almost unnoticed out of Falmouth. Ten and a half months later, Suhaili came romping joyously back to Falmouth to a fantastic reception for Robin Knox-Johnston who’d become the first man to sail single-handedly around the world non-stop.

The Proving Ground by Bruce Knecht

This is the story of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart boat race, the most dramatic in yacht racing history. Of the 115 boats that started, just 43 would finish. Knecht recreates those dramatic hours and the gut-wrenching fear of those caught in the eye of the storm, battling for their lives.

The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2017-2020 by Royal Yachting Association

The essential manual includes the updated International Code and Race Signal flags. Water-proof editions are also available.

The Long Way (La Longue Route) by Bernard Moitessier

The Long Way is Bernard Moitessier’s own incredible story of his participation in the first Golden Globe Race, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation rounding the three great capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn.

Left for Dead: 30 Years On – The Race is Finally Over: The Untold Story of the Tragic 1979 Fastnet Race by Nick Ward & Sinead O’Brien

The second edition is updated with a new chapter describing Nick’s eventual completion of the Fastnet Race 30 years after his first, ill-fated attempt.

Love with a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

This sometimes hilarious, often harrowing, and always poignant memoir is set against a backdrop of the world’s most beautiful and remote destinations. Equal parts love story and travel memoir, the book is witty, charming, and proof that some risks are worth taking.

Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr.

A memoir first published in 1840, written shortly after a two-year sea voyage starting in 1834. To this day, the book is regarded as a valuable historical resource describing 1830s California.

Godforsaken Sea: Racing the World’s Most Dangerous Waters by Derek Lundy

In 1996, 16 sailors set out from the Bay of Biscay to embark on the Vendee Globe – a single-handed yacht race through the world’s most treacherous and isolated seas. Only six completed the course, six others withdrew, three were plucked from sinking boats and one disappeared without a trace.

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Mastering Sailboat Racing Tactics: A Winning Approach

By: Zeke Quezada, ASA Sailing Races

Sailboat racing demands a unique blend of skills and expertise. The dynamic nature of racing, with its ever-changing winds and currents, requires sailors to excel in various aspects to secure victory. One of the biggest challenges is dealing with the fluid playing field upon which we play.  At North U, experts understand that sailboat racing success is built on a pyramid comprising Boat Handling, Boat Speed, and Tactics, with Tactics reigning supreme at the pinnacle.

Building the Foundation: Boat Handling and Boat Speed

Before delving into the intricacies of racing tactics, it’s crucial to lay a solid foundation. Boat Handling forms the base of the pyramid, emphasizing the importance of mastering the art of sailing. Without proficient boat handling skills, even the best tactics would falter. Next in line is Boat Speed, a universal requirement across all forms of racing. Whether it’s bicycles, bobsleds, or sailboats, speed is the essence of victory in any race.

Reaching the Summit: Racing Tactics

Atop the Racing Pyramid stands Tactics, the ultimate decider in the world of sailboat racing. Once you’ve honed your boat handling and achieved exceptional speed, mastering tactics becomes the key to clinching victories. Tactics, in its broadest sense, encompasses Strategy and Tactical execution, each playing a pivotal role in the race.

Understanding Strategy and Tactics

Strategy is the overarching plan that revolves around wind, wind shifts, and current. It is an overall gameplan detailing how a sailor would navigate the course independently while factoring in the complex interplay of natural elements. On the other hand, Tactics involve the practical implementation of the strategy and the adept handling of other boats in the race. Understanding and adhering to Racing Rules are part of Tactics, as the rules dictate your rights and obligations as you deal with other boats.

General Tactical Tips: 

• Craft a Comprehensive Strategy: Formulate a game plan based on your expectations of the wind’s behavior. A well-thought-out strategy provides a roadmap for your race.
• Get a Good Start: While a perfect start is ideal, it’s not mandatory for victory. Focus on launching at full speed from the starting line, ensuring you have clear air near the favored end. A strong start sets the tone for the race.
• Chase the Wind: Seek out areas with more wind and navigate your boat towards these pockets. Sailing in favorable wind conditions gives you a significant advantage over competitors.
• Embrace Speed: Sailing at maximum speed is a game-changer. Position your boat in a way that allows you to maintain top speed throughout the race. Sometimes, the simplest strategy is the most effective.
• Master the Shifts: Tacking and jibing strategically based on wind shifts is crucial. Upwind, tack when you’re headed away from the mark and sail on the lifts that push you towards it. Downwind, jibe when lifted away from the mark and sail on the headers, guiding you in the right direction.

Sailboat racing tactics are the culmination of strategic planning, meticulous execution, and adaptability to the ever-changing elements. By mastering the art of strategy and tactical maneuvers, sailors can elevate their racing performance. 

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Online Classes

Learn more about how to form winning racing strategies at the Racing Strategy, Tactics and Rules Online Class. This 4-session series hosted by Bill Gladstone starts October 17, 2023.

The most complete books on modern racing tactics and trim, North U takes you all the way around the course. These textbooks are an essential part of any racing sailors library.

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The Best Books On Sailing For Beginners

If you’re thinking of taking up sailing then you’re going to want to seek out the best books on sailing for beginners. The trouble is, there are so many great sailing books that it’s hard to know which are worth reading.

When we first decided we wanted to learn to sail we bought a selection of guide books on all things sailing, and to be honest I ended up feeling pretty overwhelmed. I’m definitely someone who learns by doing, so I just couldn’t wrap my head around all the different terms, the different parts and the many, many theories.

Then someone gave me a sailing autobiography book for Christmas and I realised I had learnt more from reading it than from all the information books I’d tried before that. And I actually enjoyed reading it!

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Adam on the other hand devours information and found the informative books on sailing the most helpful. He knew all the different terms for everything before we even bought a boat.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that the best sailing books for beginners depend completely on what your learning style is like, and what kind of books you prefer to read. I’ve put together a list of the books Adam and I found most helpful, so that whatever your learning style there’ll be a helpful sailing book for you!

Quick Menu – The Best Sailing Books For Beginners

Information Sailing Books

Autobiographical Books On Sailing

Something A Little Different

Information Sailing Books For Beginners

How to run away to sea.

We don’t want to brag (but we’re going to anyway!) If you’re looking for the ultimate guide to all things liveaboard then we really don’t think you’ll find better.

This guidebook/course has literally everything you could possibly need to know about living onboard – and probably some things you don’t need to know too!

It’s got printouts for boat organisation and checklists throughout your journey to beginning your life at sea, and it’s all realistic, down-to-earth advice because we’ve been there, done that and got the t-shirt! And we’ve asked input from a lot of others who have done the same!

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Sailing For Dummies

This is a classic and it’s easy to see why. Sailing for dummies is easy to understand, informative and funny. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular sailing books for beginners! If you learn well from information books then this is a great book for beginner sailors and once you’ve devoured this one then it might be time to delve into something even more technical, like the one listed below!

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The Complete Sailing Manual

This is a beast of a book. It goes into so much depth about all you need to know about the technicalities of sailing and it’s very, very informative. As I said before, this wasn’t a great book for me as it was a little overwhelming, but Adam loved reading this as a beginner sailor and still gets it out to read today.

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The Knot Tying Bible

I guess this doesn’t need much explaining! It’s a book about knots! This is the sort of information book I can get on board with (pun intended!) I love trying to work out different knots, and love it even more when they come in handy. Knots are every sailors life saver, so this book really is a sound investment.

Get Real, Get Gone – One of our Favourite Books on Sailing for Beginners

If you’re planning on living on your sailboat then this book really does have it all. It will guide you through buying a boat, the technicalities of living aboard and even covers things like how to cope with relationships on a sailboat.

This sailing book for beginners was probably mine and Adam’s favourite, because although it was informative it’s also written by a couple with personal experience of living at sea, so it has a more human touch – not just all facts!

RYA Sailing Guides

The RYA has produced some seriously useful if slightly dated handbooks for getting into sailing all the way to more serious sailing qualifications. I loved being able to go through the book and check my knowledge base so I could see that I had all the skills needed to pass my day skipper qualifications.

I also found it one of the easier to use information books around, even if it’s a little old fashioned. Adam preferred some of the more technical books though, so it might be worth trying one of each!

Autobiographical Sailing Books For Beginners

A Voyage For Madmen

The true story of the famous 1968 Golden Globe sailing race: the first single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the world.  A wonderfully told story that covers all sorts of the emotions felt from being at sea, and what it can ultimately drive men to do.

I guess for me one of the biggest challenges of sailing and living a life at sea has been the emotional side, and this really delves into that. Sailing is only part physical – the rest is how you cope under pressure, how you handle relationships, and how much you’re willing to change and grow.

Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men set sail for the South Atlantic on board a ship called the Endurance, with the goal of crossing the Antarctic over land.  The ship was trapped, then crushed in ice, where Shackleton and his men became castaways on one of the most savage regions of the world. 

This is a really gripping true story and made me thankful I was just sailing the well known cruising grounds of the Med! There’s a lot of lessons to take away from it though and it’s a great read.

Something A Bit Different

These books on sailing were super useful for us beginner sailors, but not necessarily for actually learning sailing skills. If you’re moving on board your sailboat or planning on spending lots of time on the water then you might want to think about delving into a few of these sailing books for beginners!

For Better, For Worse

This book tells the story of a family who have a bit of a midlife crisis, leave their jobs and home and move onto a sailboat on the French canals.  It’s told from both the husbands and wife’s perspectives, and is hilarious.

It’s also a really good read to prepare you for what relationships can be like on a sailboat!  If you want something light hearted and fun then this is a great read!

The Boat Cookbook

This is a great cookbook for cooking on board. It’s got lots of creative recipes that are easy to make while sailing or at anchor, and some top tips about things to store in your galley too. We’ve made most of the recipes in this book now (all of the vegetarian and fish based ones!) and they’re all delicious! It’s a great book to keep in the galley.

World Cruising Routes

This seems to be the bible where long term cruisers are concerned. If you’re planning on setting off on adventures further afield then this is the book for you! If you’re a beginner sailor then remember to start small and build confidence before tackling some of these ocean crossings!

It also details typical cruising routes around smaller areas, such as routes around parts of the Mediterranean. Although this isn’t a book I use all the time, it has come in handy when planning!

Marine Diesel Engines

I wish you didn’t have to become a marine engineer to become a sailor, but I’m afraid if you own a boat then you’ll have to roll your sleeves up at some point. This book is great to have on board for any emergencies.

Incredible Fishing Tips

If you’re going sailing then there’ll come a time when you decide to give fishing a try. Unless you’re an experienced fisherman you’re going to want some tips. Don’t just throw money at lures until something sticks (exactly what we tried and failed to do!)

Thanks for reading, and we hope you found this guide on the best sailing books for beginners useful! If you’re looking for more reading content on liveaboard life then we have tonnes of articles based on our experiences and adventures in the Cruising Tips section of this website, and we’ve also been keeping a diary of all the ins and outs of life at sea!

If you’re planning on becoming a liveaboard then we’ve got some of the best books for liveaboards (there’s obviously a bit of overlap here!)

We’d love you to share this article if you found it helpful, and follow us on social media to be kept up to date with our latest blog posts and news!

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Thanks for sharing valuable info and useful tips. Shame about cheese, I am considering life aboard a sea boat, I live on a narrow boat and eat plenty of cheese now. I found your blog encouraging and it may tip me into the sea life. How are you managing with the new brexit travel regulations? Fair winds, happy days and good fortune to you both. Pete

Hello, thanks for your comment and I’m so pleased you found the blog useful. We did the same thing, moved from the Thames onto the sea and we wouldn’t look back! The brexit regulations are a pain tbh. We have Greek residency which buys us more time here but when we leave Greece (we bought the boat to travel and have been here for 3 years already) we will be looking at 3 months in and 3 months running to a country out of the schengen zone like Croatia or south to Tunisia/Moracco. It’s very limiting! There are some residency schemes out there or long term visas. Depending on where you fancy sailing France has a good one and Portugal does a digital nomad visa that is a little more tricky to get but very appealing! We will keep you updated if we find out anything more!

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Sailboat Racing with Greg Fisher Perfect Paperback – December 1, 2000

Purchase options and add-ons.

This book is about Greg Fisher and how 'regular guys' can move up in the fleet. The book represents the experience of Coach-TCA, the intermediate level racing course offered during Thistle Midwinters in St. Petersburg by Greg Fisher and Tom Hubbell supported by a cast of leading competitor-coaches. Greg has won major regattas in many classes including Flying Scot, Thistle, Lightning, J/22, Snipe, Highlander, MC Scow, and Y-Flyer.

• Print length 166 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Hathaway-Jones Publishing
• Publication date December 1, 2000
• ISBN-10 0970357109
• ISBN-13 978-0970357106
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With 56 instructional photographs and easy-to-read bullet-point lists, 'Sailboat Racing with Greg Fisher' gives its readers the opportunity to be a fly on the wall during a tell-all chat with one of the masters. --Sailing World

About the Author

Product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hathaway-Jones Publishing (December 1, 2000)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Perfect Paperback ‏ : ‎ 166 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0970357109
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0970357106
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13 ounces
• #2,767 in Water Sports (Books)

About the author

Tom hubbell.

Tom sailed as a teenager with the Sea Scouts and earned the top rank, Quartermaster. During medical school he drove the winning boat in the MORC fleet. He then began actively racing Thistles and served as President of the class. Tom leads a racing seminar (Coach-TCA) during Thistle Midwinters and wrote about it in Sailboat Racing with Greg Fisher. He also races a C-Scow and a Laser. He crewed in the Chicago-Mackinac race. He is the US Sailing President for 2013-2015. (See USSailing.blogspot.com)

A family doctor with 36 years of ongoing practice he also teaches family medicine residents and medical students.

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35 Best Books for Sailors: Adventures, Sailing Stories, and Guides

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If you’re a sailor, you know that there’s nothing quite like the open sea. The sun on your face, the wind in your hair, and the waves crashing against your boat’s hull – it’s a feeling that can’t be captured anywhere else.

We’ve put together a list of our favorite sailing books that inspire that passion and some of the best sailing guides to get you out on the water.

From sailing adventure novels to non-fiction books about sailing around the world, there’s something for everyone on this list. We’ve also included sailing books for cruisers and liveaboard sailors that share information and stories about the sailing lifestyle.

So whether you’re looking for a new book to read on your next sailing trip or just curious about life on the ocean, be sure to check out our picks for the best books for sailors.

Sailing Adventure Books – Non-Fiction

Non-fiction sailing books offer sailors a glimpse into the actual dangers and excitement of life at sea. Some of the most fantastic adventure stories are about life on the open ocean. These books of survival, exploration, and determination will leave a lasting impression and a feeling of respect for the sea.

1. Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea

By Steven Callahan

Adrift is a non-fiction book by Steven Callahan that tells the story of his 1982 sailing expedition, during which he was stranded in a lifeboat for 76 days.

The book chronicles his story as he fights for survival against all odds. This is an original, true adventure story that should be on every sailor’s reading list.

2. The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst

By Nicholas Tomalin

The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst is a non-fiction book by Nicholas Tomalin that tells the story of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst, a man who attempted the Golden Globe Race around the world in 1968.

The book follows Crowhurst’s journey, revealing this solo race’s mental toll on a sailor.

3. The Proving Ground

By Bruce Knecht

The Proving Ground is about the 1998 world-renowned Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. A distance of only 630 nautical miles, it is considered one of the most challenging races in the world, but it would also become fatal in this particular year.

A massive storm with 80-knot gusts and enormous waves tore apart the racing yachts killing six sailors and stranding 55 others. The book follows the stories of three of the yachts fighting for survival and showcases how those people of different backgrounds reacted in the face of disaster.

This story of courage, determination, and tragedy has been described as the ‘Perfect Storm’ version of a sailing race. Even if you know nothing about yacht racing or sailing, you can still find this book interesting and entertaining to read.

4. The Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage

By Alfred Lansing

The Endurance is a non-fiction book by Alfred Lansing that tells the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to Antarctica. The book follows the journey of the Endurance, a ship that was caught in pack ice and eventually destroyed.

This book is one of the most remarkable survival stories ever told. It is made even more interesting since the wreckage of the Endurance was just recently found in March of 2022 over 10,000 feet below the Weddell Sea.

5. In the Heart of the Sea

The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

In the Heart of the Sea is a non-fiction book by Nathaniel Philbrick that reveals the true story of the whaleship Essex – the ship that was the inspiration for the timeless classic Moby-Dick.

In 1820, the Essex was attacked by a giant sperm whale, and the crew was forced to abandon ship. They sailed for over 90 days in small boats before finally being rescued. This is a sailing book of true survival and the unforgivable nature of the sea.

6. The Perfect Storm

A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger

The Perfect Storm is a non-fiction book by Sebastian Junger that tells the story of the 1991 Perfect Storm, a hurricane that caused massive damage along the East Coast of the United States.

The book follows the lives of the fishermen who were caught in the storm, and it paints a vivid picture of how perilous a storm at sea can be.

A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea by Tami Oldham Ashcraft

Adrift is an autobiography by Tami Oldham Ashcraft about two adventurous souls and their sailing passage from Tahiti to California. During this trip, Tami and her fiancé encounter a cataphoric hurricane that severely damages the sailboat.

This book is a true sailing survival story of a woman dealing with loss while struggling against impossible odds.

8. The Silent World

By Jacques Cousteau

The father of scuba diving first introduced us to the mysteries of the underwater world in his book The Silent World. This book was published before Cousteau’s TV series and literally dived into the beginning of scuba and underwater adventure.

This book will delight sailors who are also divers and interested in exploring and discovering the deep sea as it was first explored through scuba in the 1950s.

9. Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft

By Thor Heyerdahl

The Kon-Tiki expedition was a famous 1947 voyage from South America to Polynesia on a raft built from balsa wood and bamboo. The team consisted of six men. The voyage was designed to test Heyerdahl’s theory that the ancient Polynesians could have settled in South America, and it proved to be a success.

This book is another fascinating true story of sailing expeditions and exploration in the 20th century.

Sailing Adventure Books – Fiction

Sailing adventure books are a great way to get lost in a story while enjoying the open seas. These novels often follow the journey of a sailing vessel or crew fighting for survival on the sea or a dangerous voyage in uncharted waters. They’re perfect for anyone who loves adventure and suspense or wants to escape from the real world.

These are some of our favorite fictional books on sailing adventures.

10. The Old Man and the Sea

By Ernest Hemingway

The Old Man and the Sea is a classic novel by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1952. The novella tells the story of an aged Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin fish for three days and nights in the Gulf Stream before finally killing it. He sets himself against both his own past, represented by his young brother, and the present, in the form of the marlin.

It’s a simple (and relatively short) story, but with a closer look, you can see why this book earned Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.

11. Moby-Dick

By Herman Melville

One of our favorite sailing novels is also a classic by anyone’s standards. Moby-Dick tells the story of a sailor’s quest to hunt down a giant white whale.

The book captures the essence of life on the open ocean and, in turn, captures who sailors are as people, both adventurous and determined. This is one of the great sailing stories that should be on your must-read list.

12. Master and Commander

The Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian

Master and Commander is the first book in the Aubrey-Maturin series, a series of historical fiction novels set during the Napoleonic Wars. The book follows the life of Captain Jack Aubrey, a British naval officer, and his friend Dr. Stephen Maturin, a ship’s surgeon.

The Aubrey-Maturin series offers a glimpse into the life of a naval officer during the Age of Sail. It’s a story of friendship and adventure, and it’s sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.

You can also check out the movie of the same name, which made our Top 15 Sailing Movies list .

13. The Life of Pi

By Yann Martel

The Life of Pi is a novel by Yann Martel that tells the story of a young boy who is stranded on a lifeboat with a tiger in the Pacific Ocean.

The story follows Pi as he attempts to survive for 227 days on the lifeboat, using his wits and animal instincts to keep himself alive. It’s an intense and harrowing story, but one that ultimately speaks to the human spirit and the will to survive.

14. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

By C.S. Lewis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the fifth novel by C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia series that tells the story of King Caspian’s voyage to find the seven lost lords of Narnia. The book follows the journey of the Dawn Treader, a ship that King Caspian captains.

Lewis’s ability to create interesting characters and settings makes this book a joy to read. If you are looking for a story with a fun sailing adventure, this is a good book to get lost in!

Books About Sailing Around the World

These books are true stories about sailors who circumnavigated the globe. From the first solo sail around the world to sailing around the world in a 12-foot boat – these books are packed with some of the best sailing stories of all time!

15. Sailing Alone Around the World

By Joshua Slocum

Sailing Alone Around the World is a sailing classic written by Joshua Slocum. The memoir recounts Slocum’s journey as the first person to solo sail around the world.

This book follows Captain Slocum’s three-year, 46,000-mile journey beginning in 1895 as he encounters an exciting number of challenges, including dangerous coral reefs, pirates, and even Indians. This book is the original true-story sailing adventure novel!

16. Maiden Voyage

By Tania Aebi

Maiden Voyage is an autobiography that tells the story of an 18-year-old whose father gives her a choice between college and circumnavigating the globe solo in a 26-foot sailboat.

The book chronicles her remarkable journey around the world and provides a story of inner strength and determination that is sure to inspire anyone who reads it.

17. Gipsy Moth Circles the World

By Francis Chichester

Gipsy Moth Circles the World is a book about the author’s solo circumnavigation in 1966 on his 53-foot ketch via Cape Horn. At the time, he was one of only nine boats to sail around the world on this route and set a new record for speed on his 226-day journey.

This book is an authentic mariner’s sailing story, providing all the details of what it was like sailing solo on this voyage – from constant sail changes to weather and day-to-day activities. The fact that the author was 65-years-old on the journey makes the feat even more impressive.

By Robin Lee Graham

Dove is a sailing autobiography by Robin Lee Graham that tells how at 16-years-old he began an around-the-world sailing exhibition in 1965. During this trip on a 24-foot sloop, he became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo.

The book chronicles his 33,000-mile journey, from exploring gorgeous tropical islands to finding his wife.

19. 500 Days: Around the World on a 12 Foot Yacht

By Serge Testa

Follow along with Testa as he sets the world record for the smallest boat to circumnavigate. During his 500 days sailing on an incredibly tiny yacht built by the author himself, he recounts his sailing stories with humor sprinkled throughout.

There’s no doubt Testa is a very self-sufficient and determined sailor, and he might even convenience you to start your sailing journey on a smaller sailboat!

20. The Long Way

By Bernard Moitessier

The Long Way is a book by Bernard Moitessier that tells the story of his 1969 participation in the first Golden Globe Race. This race is a non-stop circumnavigation during which Moitessier sails around three capes, including Cape Horn. Follow along with the author and the many challenges he faces, including terrible weather, loneliness, fatigue, and maintenance issues.

The Long Way exploits the struggles of solo sailing passages and shows the rewards behind such a challenging feat.

Best Books on Sailing for Beginners

If you’re new to sailing or living on a boat, you might wonder where to start. These books will teach you how to sail, maintain a sailboat, and live on a sailboat. We’ve also listed excellent guides to cruising on a sailboat, including what boat to buy and how to outfit it.

Here are some of the best books for beginner sailors and liveaboards.

21. Sailing Made Easy

By The American Sailing Association

Sailing Made Easy is a book by the American Sailing Association that provides a comprehensive guide to sailing for beginners. The book covers everything from the basics of sailing to more advanced topics, and it includes many helpful illustrations and photos.

Sailing Made Easy is the guidebook for sailing school with the American Sailing Association and its ASA1 course. It’s an essential resource for anyone who wants to learn how to sail!

22. Don Casey’s Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual

By Don Casey

Don Casey’s Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual is the ultimate guide to sailboat maintenance. Casey is considered the ‘go-to’ expert for answers about repair and maintenance in the sailboat community.

With six full sections on sailboat maintenance, this book includes everything from how to repair sails and other sailboat fabrics, to how to repair fiberglass. Casey includes many helpful illustrations and photographs along the way to make it easy to understand each step of the project.

Don Casey’s Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual is an essential resource for anyone who owns or plans to own a sailboat. Not only will it help you keep your boat in top condition, but it will save you money in the long run.

23. The Boat Galley Cookbook

By Carolyn Shearlock & Jan Irons

The Boat Galley Cookbook is a cookbook that was written specifically for sailors cooking in a sailboat galley.

The author, Carolyn, is well known in the cruising community for her blog The Boat Galley, and is considered an authority on cooking onboard.

The book includes over 800 recipes for all kinds of meals, snacks, and desserts, and it provides instructions on how to prepare them while sailing. The authors have also included helpful tips on food storage and preparation and advice on how to make things like yogurt and bread aboard.

The Boat Galley Cookbook is an essential resource for anyone who loves to sail and wants to enjoy delicious food while doing so. It’s also an excellent gift for any sailor in your life!

24. The Essentials of Living Aboard a Boat

By Mark Nicholas

This book is chock-full of realistic and useful information for anyone who wants to learn how to live on a boat. Nicholas covers everything from the basics of living aboard to more advanced topics, such as insurance and liveaboard marinas. He also goes in-depth on boat buying and budgeting.

This is truly an excellent resource for the new boat owner who has a goal to liveaboard.

25. Get Real, Get Gone

How to Become a Modern Sea Gypsy and Sail Away Forever by Rick Page

Rick Page’s book, Get Real, Get Gone, is about escaping the rat race by sailing away on a boat – and not needing to be a millionaire to do it.

Page provides helpful tips, from choosing the right boat and preparing for departure to dealing with challenging weather conditions and staying safe at sea.

Rick Page’s philosophy is to keep things simple so you can get out on the water as soon as possible. The author focuses on simplicity onboard, frugal sailing, and sustainable traveling. This book is an incredible resource for anyone looking to make their dream of sailing away into the sunset a reality.

26. Capable Cruiser

By Lin & Larry Pardey

This book is an updated extension of the Pardeys’ book ‘The Self-Sufficient Sailor.’ This comprehensive cruising guide is even more jam-packed with information on all aspects of cruising, from boat selection and outfitting to weather forecasting and provisioning.

The authors have over 50 years of combined cruising experience and are somewhat legends in the cruising community. Their motto of “go small, go now” is a well-known sailing quote and has gotten many sailors out on the water sooner with a simple setup that allows them to live their cruising dreams!

27. Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual

By Nigel Calder

The Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual is a book that covers in detail the mechanical and electrical systems of a boat.

The author, Nigel Calder, has included information on everything from maintaining your diesel engine, wiring your boat, servicing your winches, troubleshooting your batteries, and much more.

Nigel is so good at answering your mechanical and electrical issues we took to just saying “let’s see what Nigel says” whenever we had a problem on our sailboat.

This book is an essential resource for boat owners and sailors.

28. The Annapolis Book of Seamanship

By John Rousmaniere

The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is considered the bible of sailing. It is a comprehensive guide covering topics such as sailing basics, sail trim, navigation, weather, boat maintenance, safety, anchoring, and more.

This guide is updated regularly and is an essential book to have onboard your sailing vessel.

Best Blue Water Sailing Guides

If your goal is blue water sailing, these three books are some of the most highly acclaimed and respected resources available today. They get you started with what sailboat to buy, the gear you need, route and passage planning, and more. Don’t leave shore without them!

29. World Cruising Routes

By Jimmy Cornell

This book is the most comprehensive guide on sailing routes around the world. Often referred to as the blue water cruising bible, it includes detailed information on weather conditions and currents around the world and the best times to make passages. You’ll even find details on where to provision, have repair work done, and other essential information.

World Cruising Routes is a must-have resource for any sailor interested in blue water sailing.

30. The Voyager’s Handbook: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising

By Beth Leonard

The Voyager’s Handbook is a book that covers everything you need to know about long-distance cruising. From buying the right blue water vessel to weather forecasting, passage planning, safety and emergency preparation, etc. This book presents a guide to cruising on either a shoestring budget or a larger allotment.

The author, Beth Leonard, has sailed around the world herself, and she provides detailed information on every topic and skill needed to successfully complete a long voyage on a sailboat.

31. How to Sail Around the World

By Hal Roth

Hal Roth has been sailing for more than 50 years and has logged more than 200,000 nautical miles. In his book, he shares his vast knowledge of sailing and very detailed information on blue water sailboats, passage planning, single-handing a small boat, and more.

He also covers topics such as:

• How to buy a boat
• How to learn navigation skills
• What you need in order to sail around the world safely

If you are planning to circumnavigate or sail around part of the world, this is a great sailing blook to have at your disposal.

Best Sailing Books About Cruising

These books are written by cruisers living aboard and contain many sailing adventure stories to inspire your own liveaboard adventure! If you are looking for an accurate and sometimes humorous description of what it’s like living on a sailboat, these books are an excellent place to start.

32. A Sail of Two Idiots

100+ Lessons and Laughs from a Non-Sailor Who Quit the Rat Race, Took the Helm, and Sailed to a New Life in the Caribbean by Renee Petrillo

A Sail of Two Idiots is a book written by Renee Petrillo that tells the story of her journey with her husband to go from zero experience as sailors to living on a boat in the Caribbean.

Renee shares her sailing adventures and lessons learned with humor, intelligence, and insight. Her book will make you laugh, cringe, and want to set sail on your own adventure. This book is recommended for beginner sailors or anyone who aspires to go cruising.

33. An Embarrassment of Mangoes

A Caribbean Interlude by Ann Vanderhoof

Ann Vanderhoof’s book, An Embarrassment of Mangoes, is a delightful account of her time spent living on a boat in the Caribbean.

Vanderhoof provides readers with a charming and humorous look at the people, culture, and food of the Caribbean. With stories that focus on their adjustments to life on a sailboat, intertwined with recipes and cooking tips around local ingredients in the islands.

An Embarrassment of Mangoes is a must-read for any foodies dreaming of living the cruising lifestyle!

34. Escape from the Ordinary

By Julie Bradley

Julie Bradley’s book, Escape from the Ordinary, tells the story of her and her husband’s decision to leave their life in the U.S. behind and sail around the world.

Bradley provides readers with an inspiring and honest look at the highs and lows of living a life of adventure as they travel to exotic places all over the globe.

35. Plunge: One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary

By Liesbet Collaert

If you’re looking for an inspiring and honest account of one woman’s journey to find a life less ordinary onboard a sailboat, you need to read Plunge.

Collaert provides readers with a compelling and candid look at the challenges and rewards of living a cruising lifestyle. From working remotely on a sailboat to the challenges of a relationship on a boat – Liesbet covers everything from a realistic perspective.

If you are considering diving into the world of sailboat living, Plunge will give you an accurate depiction of the lifestyle’s high highs and low lows.

The Best Books About Sailing

The best books for sailors provide readers with an inspiring and honest look at the challenges and rewards of a life of adventure.

Whether you want an inspiring account of one woman’s journey around the world or a humorous look at going off the grid and living aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean, these books will give you the inspiration you need to take the plunge.

Want to find more articles for sailing inspiration?

Check out our lists of sailing movies, quotes, music, and more that inspire this lifestyle.

Like this post? Save it on Pinterest for later.

Morgan, the founder of The Home That Roams, has been living nomadically for over five years. She began her journey traveling across the U.S. in a motorhome and cruising on a liveaboard sailing catamaran. Currently, she lives full-time in an travel trailer, sharing resources on RV living and boat life to help others downsize their lives and thrive in an alternative lifestyle.

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Books for sailors: our pick of the best new releases

• Julia Jones
• April 21, 2022

Yachting Monthly literary contributor Julia Jones reviews all the latest new releases to pick the best books for sailors this summer

Credit: Getty

Looking for inspiration for your holiday reading list?

From solo sailing adventures to practical seamanship , here are the best books for sailors to read over the summer.

The Temptress Voyages

Edward Allcard’s first two books Single-Handed Voyage (1950) and Temptress Returns (1951) chronicle his pioneering voyages both ways across the Atlantic .

He bought the elderly 34’ yawl Temptress as an antidote to postwar malaise, then set out to put himself and his yacht to the test.

He began his 81-day single-handed crossing to New York in May 1949, spending hours at the tiller or hove-to.

This arduous existence represented freedom.

He felt regret as well as triumph when he reached America, then regret when he was eventually obliged to leave.

The return voyage almost cost his life but later, when he was joined by Otilia the stowaway, he also discovered friendship.

These two volumes of struggle and self-discovery are classics of their time.

The Temptress Voyages by Edward Allcard, Lodestar, £12

Buy The Temptress Voyages at Amazon (UK)

Buy The Temptress Voyages at Foyles (UK)

Old Man Sailing

Old Man Sailing has become a word-of-mouth bestseller among sailing titles.

In March 2020 John Passmore was content on his Rival 32 Samsara , the wrong side of the Lowestoft Harbour bridge.

Three months lockdown was imminent. He shifted his berth within the hour.

Then, after some careful provisioning he moved to the Walton Backwaters to complete preparations, observe quarantine and pick a weather window before leaving for the Azores northabout Shetland.

When he returned, six weeks and 3,629 miles later, his action had caught the public imagination.

Passmore, a former journalist, is an accomplished writer able to shape his anecdotes and remain wryly entertaining as well as thought-provoking throughout.

These qualities will ensure Old Man Sailing continues to be read long after lockdown has faded from memory.

Old Man Sailing by John Passmore, Samsara Press, £10.24

Buy Old Man Sailing at Amazon (UK)

Buy Old Man Sailing at Amazon (US)

Buy Old Man Sailing at Audible

Addicted to More Adventure

A new collection of Bob Shepton’s adventures is an immediate pleasure.

Perhaps, as he’s a chaplain by trade, it’s not surprising that there is also a message: ‘Risk is good, enjoy it’.

Ellen Massey Leonard’s afterword spells out the essential connection between risk and joy. ‘Bob has found joy throughout his life in climbing unclimbed cliffs […] and in reaching some of the world’s most remote wildernesses under sail.’

In many of the voyages described here his role is to help others achieve similar experiences.

As well as leading a west-east return through the North-West passage, he acts as a delivery skipper and a sailing master and conveys other, younger, mountaineers to make those thrilling first ascents that are now beyond his reach.

Addicted to More Adventure by Bob Shepton, Amazon, £15

Buy Addicted to More Adventure at Amazon (UK)

Buy Addicted to More Adventure at Amazon (US)

Buy Addicted to More Adventure at Waterstones (UK)

A River in Borneo

Richard Woodman insists that this is his last novel and it’s one of his best, which is why it has been included in our books for sailors list.

A River in Borneo is set in the Malaysian and Indonesian waters he explored as a junior officer in the 1960s Merchant Navy.

The sailing scenes are pure delight as Captain Harry Kirton handles his elderly brigantine as if she were a yacht.

The central action is set in the mid 19th century and Kirton must learn to navigate the sensitivities of different ethnic groups within his crew with the same skill that he negotiates the intricate island passages between the Sulu and Celebes Seas.

Moulded by pain, Kirton is one of Woodman’s most psychologically interesting characters. If this is Woodman’s swansong, it’s a good way to go.

A River in Borneo by Richard Woodman, McBooks Press, £21.95

Buy A River in Borneo at Amazon (UK)

Buy A River in Borneo at Amazon (US)

Buy A River in Borneo at Waterstones (UK)

The Sea is not made of Water

This is a book with the wow factor.

It’s an astonishingly wide-ranging tour-de-force which finally reaches the assertion that the sea ‘is a world to come alongside, to be-with in ways that go beyond the predatory’.

Whilst most sailors will have little trouble with this concept, Nicolson works his way towards it from a coast-based perspective.

Although he does sail out towards Lismore Lighthouse in the Sound of Mull, in a 16ft wooden lugger, his interest is in observation of the inter-tidal rocks, weeds, creatures and legends.

Writing on tides he highlights the Newtonian theory that what we experience is not the sea being pulled about the surface of the earth, but the turning of the earth under the surface covering of the sea – a concept both awe-inspiring and giddying.

The Sea is not made of Water by Adam Nicolson, Harper Collins, £20

Buy The Sea is not made of Water at Amazon (UK)

Buy The Sea is not made of Water at Amazon (US)

Buy The Sea is not made of Water at Waterstones (UK)

Buy The Sea is not made of Water at Audible

Continues below…

Sailing thrillers to escape with this holiday

The escapism of sailing thrillers can be a real draw, especially over the holiday period. Julia Jones reviews some of…

The best sailing books & cruising guides of 2021

The best sailing books of 2021? Julia Jones reviews the latest maritime reading

Best children’s books for youngsters who sail

Struggling to find the perfect gift for your sailing mad youngster? Yachting Monthly literary reviewer Julia Jones picks the best…

The Five Year Voyage: Exploring Latin American Coasts and Rivers

When the wanderlust returned he had a partner, Ginny, equally eager for adventure, so adapted a slightly larger boat.

Thurston was an adapted Sea Pearl 21, a two-masted trailersailer , drawing only 9 inches.

They added a cabin top, drinking water ballast, stowage and a sliding seat rowing system.

Two years later, having travelled from Florida to Panama, they added a Honda 2hp outboard.

This enabled them to spend a further three years exploring the coastline and great rivers of South America as far as Buenos Aires.

On the way they married and had a baby.

This is an intensely impressive small boat voyage. It’s also grippingly readable.

The Five-Year Voyage : Exploring Latin American Coasts and Rivers by Stephen Ladd, Seekers Press, £15.99

Buy The Five Year Voyage at Amazon (UK)

Buy The Five Year Voyage at Amazon (US)

Essential Boat Electronics

Electrics are the ‘number 1 problem on any boat’ states the blurb.

While some may wish to challenge this, the fact remains that recent decades have seen an unprecedented increase in the complexity of systems on even the most modest cruising yacht.

Often these systems have been overlaid on one another as new needs have been identified or earlier installations found inadequate.

This useful guide avoids too much theory but encourages better organisation and an understanding of personal priorities.

Even those of us who are privately determined to use professionals wherever possible, it would be well advised to read this book and keep it on board, for the moments when self-reliance is unavoidable.

This is not a problem that’s set to go away.

Essential Boat Electronics 3rd edition by Oliver Ballam and Pat Manley, Fernhurst Books, £16.99

Buy Essential Boat Electronics at Amazon (UK)

Buy Essential Boat Electronics at Amazon (US)

The Shetland Sea Murders

The Shetland Sea Murders is the 9th book in an established series featuring sailor Cas Lynch, but can be read as a standalone thriller.

The story starts will Lynch running her last charter of the season, which is disrupted by a VHF radio call from the Shetland coastguard.

What follows is two apparently unrelated murders, and soon Lynch herself is under threat.

Fans of Ann Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope series will throughly enjoy the plot’s twists and turns.

It will certainly keep you entertained!

Buy The Shetland Sea Murders at Amazon (UK )

Buy The Shetland Sea Murders at Amazon (US)

Buy The Shetland Sea Murders at Waterstones

Buy The Shetland Sea Murders at Audible

The Dinghy Cruising Companion

This is the second edition of an important book, and deserves inclusion in our list of books for sailors.

Roger Barnes’s writing recalls Maurice Griffiths’s titles of the 1930s – Magic of the Swatchways and Ten Small Yachts – where the romance of solitude and the challenge of self-reliance took people and their boats to unexpected anchorages, as well as into the warmth of the pub at the end of the day.

Like Griffiths, Barnes writes beautifully but also offers sound, experience-based advice and discusses the qualities of different types of vessel as well as rigs, equipment and modifications.

It’s arguable we would all be better sailors if we reminded ourselves more often of the interplay of wind and waves experienced from inside the hull of a dinghy .

The Dinghy Cruising Companion (2nd edition) by Roger Barnes, Adlard Coles, £16.99

Buy The Dinghy Cruising Companion at Amazon (UK)

Buy The Dinghy Cruising Companion at Amazon (US)

Buy The Dinghy Cruising Companion at Waterstones (UK)

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Visit the Yachting Monthly Book Club for more of the best sailing books released this year.

If you have recommendations for books for sailors – get in touch at [email protected]

Enjoyed reading Books for sailors: our pick of the best new releases?

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The Best Boat Books and Sailing Novels to Read On Board

Looking for the best sea-inspired books to read on board? We round up the best boat books and sailing novels to read at sea on a superyacht holiday.

Life of Pi  by Yann Martel

Martel’s fantasy novel tells the story of Piscine Molitor ‘Pi’ Patel, adrift at sea and sharing a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. In 2012,  Life of Pi was adapted into one of the best boat movies .

The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo  by Robert Quinn

A gambler, inventor and fraudster with 36 aliases, Charles Wells famously bet his worldly possessions, including his yacht,  Palais Royal , at the Casino de Monte-Carlo in 1891 – and broke the bank. This fascinating account details his improbable life and investigates whether he really was just lucky at the tables.

Typhoon  by Joseph Conrad

This novella is best read while safe on shore – the description of the tropical storm in the title is unnervingly real. Conrad is thought to have drawn from his own experiences of riding out a cyclone aboard the steamer  John P Best.

The Endurance  by Caroline Alexander

In 1914, Ernest Henry Shackleton set off to cross the Antarctic continent, but his ship, Endurance , was crushed and sunk by the pack ice of the Weddell Sea. The rescue of his men involved an extraordinary journey of 800 miles across the South Atlantic in the tiny lifeboat James Caird . Alexander tells the story with gusto, her book marvellously enriched by expedition photographer Frank Hurley’s images.

Moby Dick  by Herman Melville

Herman Melville's 1851 tome tells the tale of Ahab, the captain of a whaler obsessed with getting revenge on a white whale that destroyed his ship on a previous voyage. The novel is notable for its accurate portrayal of whale hunting techniques, while issues such as class, race, status, religion and good and evil are explored through the whaler's diverse crew.

A Night to Remember  by Walter Lord

The tale of the maiden and final voyage of RMS Titanic is one of heroism as well as horror, and although it has been told many times, no one has done it better than Lord. This is the classic account, published when the disaster was still within living memory, and Lord – a hardworking historian from Baltimore – was able to speak to those who had survived the sinking of the White Star Line’s grandest ship.

The Voyage of the Narwhal  by Andrea Barrett

In 1845 Sir John Franklin set off on an expedition to find the elusive Northwest Passage, the fabled sea route to the Pacific through the frozen Arctic Ocean. His ships, Erebus and Terror , were lost; Franklin and his men seemingly vanished into thin air. In Barrett’s novel, naturalist Erasmus Darwin Wells sails from Philadelphia in 1855 aboard the Narwhal with the aim of discovering Franklin’s fate. This is a gripping novel that recreates the atmosphere aboard a 19th century ship venturing into the unknown with chilling accuracy.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

On the day of his wedding, Edmond Dantès, first mate of the Pharaon , is falsely accused of treason and imprisoned on a grim fortress off the coast of Marseille. The classic tale tells of Dantès' exhilarating escape aboard a smuggling ship and his plans for the ultimate revenge.

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

In Fitzgerald's classic from the roaring twenties, Gatsby experiences his first taste of the high life on board a yacht. As a young man Gatsby encounters a sloop named Tuolomee , a yacht that belongs to copper magnate Dan Cody. Cody invites him aboard and hires him on the spot as “steward, mate, skipper, secretary." Gatsby sailed for "five years, during which the boat went three times around the Continent.”

Tuolomee may be a fictional name, but the boat she was based on was real: Ventura , an 18.5-metre cutter-rigged sloop designed by Nathanael Herreshoff and so splendid that she now has national landmark status in the US. Fitzgerald once went aboard as a guest of its original owner, George F Baker, the co-founder of the First National Bank of the City of New York (now Citibank), whom Time magazine once described as “twice as rich as JP Morgan”.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Dreaming of sailing your superyacht to a private island ? Robinson Crusoe , which tells the story of a man set ashore on an island after a storm, is the perfect classic to read on board.

Longitude  by Dava Sobel

At London’s Royal Observatory you will find John Harrison’s marine chronometers. These masterpieces of engineering, invented by carpenter and clockmaker Harrison, were the first timepieces accurate enough to allow seamen to calculate their position in the open sea. American author Dava Sobel made Harrison’s quest to solve the problem of longitude into this compact, gripping narrative. Every sailor owes a debt to John Harrison and his clocks – and Sobel tells his story with panache.

The Odyssey  by Homer

The Odyssey is the second oldest piece of literature in the Western world, and the original sea-faring story. The epic poem sees the hero Odysseus coming up against sirens, a sea monster named Scylla and the god Poseidon in his decade-long effort to return home.

Casting Off  by Emma Bamford

Feeling stuck in a rut, London journalist Emma Bamford bought a one-way ticket to Borneo to work as crew on a yacht with a man she’d never met – and his cat. Her first memoir and its sequel, Untie the Lines , tell of her adventures sailing in South East Asia and the Caribbean.

Swallows and Amazons  by Arthur Ransome

For families stuck at on shore, get your children’s imaginations racing with this charming classic. In the English Lake District in 1929, five children join forces to defeat the treacherous Captain Flint with the help of their dinghies Swallow and Amazon . With a strong message of friendship and an emphasis on the importance of remembering the dangers of the sea, this is a must for any youngster.

The Old Man and the Sea  by Ernest Hemingway

One for those with a passion for the best sportfish yachts , Hemingway's novel follows the exploits of an ageing Cuban fisherman, Santiago, as he battles to catch a huge marlin off the Gulf Coast of Florida.

The Riddle of the Sands  by Erskine Childers

When British Foreign Office official Carruthers joins his acquaintance Davies for a yachting holiday on the Baltic Sea, he expects a leisurely sunshine cruise. Instead he finds himself quickly learning to sail a much smaller boat before discovering the invitation was a ruse to get him to help Davies investigate suspicious goings on by the Germans in the Frisian Islands. A fast-paced thriller that will have you yearning for a chase in one of the  world’s fastest tenders .

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea  by Jules Verne

Just invested in one of the  best superyacht submarines ? Let your imagination run away with you with Jules Verne’s underwater epic. The 1870 novel is most notable for Verne’s remarkable description of Captain Nemo’s  Nautilus , which accurately predicted features of modern submarines that were still decades away from being invented.

Selkirk’s Island  by Diana Souhami

Souhami tell the story of Alexander Selkirk, a young Scotsman engaged in privateering during the early 18th century. Following a dispute with the captain of C_inque Ports_, a 16-gun, 90-ton vessel, Selkirk was put ashore on an uninhabited island some 400 miles west of Chile. There he remained utterly alone for four years, until he was found by another vessel.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Another great story for sailing families, Treasure Island  tells the story of an adventurous boy who gets hold of a map and sets off on a ship in search of buried treasure. Among the crew, however, is the treacherous Long John Silver who is determined to keep the treasure for himself.

The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin

The Voyage of the Beagle  is an account of the five years (1831-36) Darwin spent as a naturalist on HMS Beagle cruising through the coastal waters around South America. Embarking on the journey at the age of 22, Darwin visited Tahiti, Australasia and the Galápagos. Had he not made the journey, his theories of transmutation might never have been formulated.

Lake Success by Gary Shteyngart

Gary Shteyngart’s uproariously funny Lake Success follows a status-obsessed New Yorker on a journey of self-discovery. Of course, there’s a boat in it. Indeed, its denouement hinges on a video made on a yacht off the coast of Sardinia.

This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson

For great entertainment value and a more controversial take on the whole Darwin enterprise, try Harry Thompson’s epic fictionalised retelling of the voyage.

Rites of Passage by William Golding

When it comes to the minutiae of life aboard, Golding, who served in the Navy during the Second World War, is writing from experience: the routine, the closed society and, most evocatively, the relentless movement, are key features of his novel.

Master & Commander by Patrick O’Brian

O’Brian’s 21 novels are set during the Napoleonic wars, and they follow the friendship between a Royal Navy officer and a surgeon as they serve on a succession of warships. Start with the first book and see how many you can get through...

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Date-based ticket with start dates from April 2 through September 22, 2024. Ticket must be used within 7 days of selected start date.

Fun in the Theme Parks

Discover new experiences and classic favorites in all 4 Walt Disney World theme parks when you purchase a 4-Park Magic Ticket. Read More

Discover new experiences and classic favorites in all 4 Walt Disney World theme parks when you purchase a 4-Park Magic Ticket.

As a reminder, the 4-Park Magic Ticket provides one visit to each of the 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks (one theme park per day).

• NEW! Stroll along a lush trail where you can explore the wonders of water and discover its playful personality at Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana .
• NEW! Watch the skies come alive in Luminous The Symphony of Us , a nighttime spectacular with fireworks, fountains, lights and music.
• Spring into fresh flavors, lively entertainment and fun for all ages at EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival —now through May 27, 2024.
• Sip, savor and celebrate a world of flavor at EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival —returning in fall 2024.
• Bring the whole family to zip, dash and scurry through Gusteau's kitchen as you take in the sights, sounds and even smells from Remy's world on Remy's Ratatouille Adventure .
• Board an ancient Norwegian vessel and be whisked away to the kingdom of Arendelle during a Frozen Ever After adventure.
• Soar across the sky during a hang-gliding adventure on Soarin' —with spectacular sights, pleasant scents and the graceful sensation of flight that take you to incredible heights.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

• Celebrate the magic of nature at Pandora - The World of Avatar . Here, you can fly on the back of a banshee on Avatar Flight of Passage, hike amid floating mountains in the Valley of Mo'ara and take a mystical boat ride into a bioluminescent rainforest on the Na'vi River Journey.
• Set off in an open-air vehicle across a lush African savanna teeming with exotic animals on Kilimanjaro Safaris.
• Witness Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond! —a vibrant stage show set in the underwater world of Finding Nemo .
• Speed through the Himalayas on a runaway train while avoiding the clutches of the Yeti on Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain .
• Behold Festival of the Lion King —a larger-than-life show filled with pageantry, puppetry and classic songs from The Lion King .
• Splash your way through a lush Asian jungle on Kali River Rapids .

Magic Kingdom Park

• Leave the real world behind for a high-stakes race across the Grid—the dark, computerized world from TRON —on TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise.
• Explore iconic attractions and experiences in 6 incredible lands—including Seven Dwarfs Mine Train , a swaying family coaster ride that will have you racing through a diamond mine.
• Be dazzled by music, dancing and vivid pageantry during the Festival of Fantasy Parade —a grand tribute to the tales and inhabitants of Fantasyland.
• Meet some of your favorite Disney pals , enjoy a royal reception from Disney princesses and so much more. You may even spot Mirabel or Bruno from the animated film Encanto !
• Take off on an exhilarating coaster ride on Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad .
• Rediscover beloved classic Disney attractions such as Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion and more.
• Feast your eyes on a nighttime fireworks spectacular featuring lights, lasers and special effects.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Live your adventure in a galaxy far, far away at Star Wars : Galaxy's Edge ! Experience 2 thrilling attractions, build your own droid or lightsaber, savor Batuu's tasty food and beverages, shop for themed merchandise and more!
• Discover big fun for kids and grown-ups alike at Toy Story Land . Take a wild ride on Slinky Dog Dash and go for a whirl on Alien Swirling Saucers.
• Pack your imagination, switch tracks and take a ride on the cartoon side like never before when you hop aboard Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
• Hurtle up and down on a haunted elevator ride at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™.
• See some favorite Characters around the park—including Toy Story Characters, Disney Junior pals, Frozen friends and Star Wars Characters.

Stay in the Magic... and Save!

Turn your visit into an unforgettable vacation with a special offer at select Disney Resort hotels. Read More

Turn your visit into an unforgettable vacation with a special offer at select Disney Resort hotels.

Stay in the magic with the Disney Resorts Collection—and save with this offer:

Spring and Early Summer Room Offer

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels when you stay 5 nights or longer, valid for stays most nights through July 7, 2024. Other savings may be available for shorter stays. View offer details .

Why Stay in the Magic?

When you book this room offer, you can enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation filled enchantment.

As a Disney Resort hotel Guest, you can:

• Experience the same legendary storytelling, detail and service found in the Walt Disney World theme parks
• Stay close to the theme parks
• Enjoy extra time in the theme parks — view details about this benefit for Disney Resort hotel Guests
• Get around Walt Disney World Resort with ease using complimentary transportation options—like bus, boat and monorail services
• Delight in other great benefits !

Check out Walt Disney World room offers to learn more about these benefits—and save on your stay!

Make the Most of Your Day

Save time waiting in line with Lightning Lane entry .

• Admission is subject to capacity closures and other restrictions.
• Parks, attractions and other offerings are subject to availability, closures and change or cancellation without notice or liability. Admission to a theme park is not guaranteed.
• Tickets are subject to the Walt Disney World Resort Ticket Store Terms and Conditions .

Stay in the Magic at Select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels by booking a non-discounted room with a discounted 4-Park Magic Ticket now through 9/22. To book, call 407-934-7639 and speak with a vacation planning expert or call your travel agent. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.

†Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Other Offers You May Like

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It Was Enough to Make You Wish You Lived in a Boxcar

Gertrude Chandler Warner’s “The Boxcar Children,” celebrating its 100th year, depicts the delights of concocting scrumptious meals.

“Benny discovered his beloved ‘pink cup.’” This illustration appeared in color in the first edition of the original 1924 version of “The Boxcar Children.” Credit... Dorothy Lake Gregory

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By Anna Holmes

Anna Holmes, founder of the website Jezebel and a former columnist for the Book Review, has written about numerous children’s books for The Times and about Margaret Wise Brown for The New Yorker.

• March 15, 2024

It was the food. It was always about the food.

At first, bread, butter, wild blueberries. Later, dried beef and “precious little vegetables” like onions, carrots, potatoes and parsnips. Later still, ginger cookies with scalloped edges, doughnuts and something called cherry slump. This was a meal, Gertrude Chandler Warner writes, “that nobody ever forgot.”

It was enough to make you wish you lived in a boxcar.

Of course, in order to live in that boxcar you would have to have lost your parents (including a father who drank himself to death) and been on the run from “authorities” (in this case, concerned adults) who might want to separate you from your siblings or hand you over to your paternal grandfather — a man you heard was cruel.

All these things would have to have happened, which is part of the appeal of Warner’s “The Boxcar Children,” celebrating its 100th year (a milestone Penguin Random House will honor with a special anniversary edition in the fall).

Warner, a grade school teacher who as a little girl loved watching the trains go by from her home in Putnam, Conn., wrote 19 installments of the series, and ghostwriters wrote over a hundred more.

The original book tells the story of the orphaned Alden siblings (Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny), who strike out on their own and find refuge in an abandoned boxcar, which they gussy up with treasures (cups, hay beds, a pitcher with a small chip in its “nose”) from a nearby dump. I first read it in 1981 or 1982, when I was 8 or 9. I found a copy, with a worn cloth cover encased in plastic, at my local library; devoured it in two, maybe three sittings; and never forgot it. (The version the publisher sent me before I wrote this essay is the “simpler” one abridged by Warner in 1942 to make it more accessible to young children.)

It’s an unassuming yet captivating book, depicting a sort of fantasy world with no (or very few) adults, a secret hideaway and the delights of junior domesticity — playing “house” and concocting scrumptious meals. It’s like reading about a group of kids who’ve gone camping without counselors.

The Alden children aren’t presented as confronting acute or sustained food insecurity. Warner only briefly mentions her fictional charges suffering from pangs of hunger, and that’s just in the beginning. (The baby of the bunch, 5-year-old Benny, is the most anxious in terms of having enough to eat.) But food — along with cleaning (dishes, clothes, the interior of the boxcar, themselves) — is a constant theme: the procuring of it, the preparation of it, the eating of it, the squirreling away of it, the anticipation of it. And, in some cases (blueberries and cherries), the literal harvesting of it. (None of the Aldens’ food is stolen from others, unless you count a few eggs from the nest of a runaway chicken that they find while traipsing through the woods.) Henry even gets their adopted dog, Watch, his own bone.

Food figures prominently in other children’s books, of course — most notably the “Little House” books, but also “Harriet the Spy” and “All-of-a-Kind Family,” whose female protagonists, from very different milieus, generations and cultural backgrounds, encounter any number of goodies while on their adventures. Harriet, who likes tomato sandwiches, milk and cake, lives near an Italian grocery, a frequent stop on her spy route; the five girls of “All-of-a-Kind Family” spend the pennies and nickels they save on treats like candies, pickles and crackers.

But the food in “The Boxcar Children” is so central, so memorable. For the Alden children the days and hours are marked not by school lessons or play dates but by meals and the position of the sun.

Bread is “fragrant,” with “crusty ends.” Cheese in wax paper is “golden.” Early in the book, Jessie, a “little housekeeper” in line with the gender roles of the time, devises a makeshift refrigerator: a small pool of water in which she stores milk (“cold as ice”) and butter (“cool and sweet”).

A couple of weeks ago, a friend who has written extensively about children’s literature, Lizzie Skurnick, 51, was visiting my home in Los Angeles and spotted a copy of “The Boxcar Children” on my coffee table. “I loved that book — the food!” she exclaimed. When I spoke to her later, she elaborated on what she meant, saying she sees food in “The Boxcar Children,” and other children’s books in which it plays a starring role, as a signifier for building social relationships and bonds and asserting autonomy.

“Each time these kids are successful with food, it’s like they’ve recreated a little bit of the adult world in their outside world,” she explained.

“In the real world, most children have food handed to them. But in children’s books, harvesting and maintaining and fixing, or scavenging or buying, one’s own food is an act of independence. So figuring out that the butter needs to go in the stream is like solving a puzzle; it’s an act of adult invention. Whereas little kids would let their butter spoil, big kids can figure out how to make a house out of an old boxcar.”

A woman of an older generation, the retired English professor Barbara Traister, 80, read “The Boxcar Children” growing up. She, too, remembers the food. “It’s such an essential thing for kids,” she told me from her home in Philadelphia. “‘What are we going to eat today?’ ‘Mom, can I have a snack?’ Children’s writers — good ones — pick up on that. Think of Winnie the Pooh. He’s always worried about his honey, and Piglet is always looking for his acorns.”

By the end of “The Boxcar Children” — the first book, that is — Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny have been reunited (or, perhaps more accurately, united) with their grandfather, who turns out to be kind rather than cruel. They’ve made a new home in the wealthy man’s mansion, where each child has a room of his or her own in which to sleep and Jessie has a big kitchen in which to cook.

Yet the children miss their old boxcar.

Soon enough, to their pleasant surprise, their beloved former home has been secretly trucked in to live out its days on their grandfather’s sprawling property.

“Everything was in place,” Warner writes. “Here was Benny’s pink cup, and here was his bed. Here was the old knife which had cut butter and bread, and vegetables, and firewood, and string, and here were the letters for Benny’s primer. Here was the big kettle and the tablecloth. And hanging on a nearby tree was the old dinner bell. Benny rang the bell over and over again, and Watch rolled on the floor and barked himself hoarse.”

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