Posted: 06 Sep 2011 at 8:41pm
If you're like me, when you aren't sailing or sanding or varnishing, you are reading about sailing. I can't get enough when it comes to sailing books: sailing biographies, circumnavigation stories, cruising in small boat stories. I love small sailboat books.

How about we make a list of favorite sailing books? I'd love to hear your suggestions.

I'll start with a short list and anyone can join in with suggestions. (I wonder if I should make a rating system... 5 stars means fabulously re-readable and one star means probably won't read it again. Of course my personal book ratings may be utterly different from yours.)

1.) Bernard Moitessier. (All his books get 5 stars)
2.) Sea Change by Peter Nichols (5 stars)
3.) True Spirit by Jessica Watson (4 stars)
4.) Sou'West in the Wanderer IV by Eric Hiscock
5.) Trekka Around The World by John Guzzwell (5 stars)
6.) Alone Through The Roaring Forties by Vito Dumas (5 stars)
7.) Sailing Small edited by Stan Grayson (5+ stars)
8.) Tinkerbelle by Robert Manry (5 stars)

I'll look forward to any additions to the list.
Warmly, J
Dolphin#175


Posted: 07 Sep 2011 at 9:39am
Good list. I too am a fan of Moitessier, and Guzzwell.

I'd add these to the list:

Sailing Alone Around the World, Joshua Slocum. Right out of the 19th century culturally, yet very readable. A classic.

The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst, by Tomalin and Hall. Brilliant book on one of the most compelling sea stories of the 20th century. I couldn't put this book down.


Erik Evens
Los Angeles, CA
"Robin Lee", Yankee Dolphin #118


Posted: 09 Sep 2011 at 10:40pm
2 days ago I finished North to the Night by Alvah Simon...he and his wife purposefully sailed to the Arctic and froze in for the winter. I know, it sounds irresponsible and reckless, but I get it...his motivation. Excellent read.


Posted: 09 Sep 2011 at 10:41pm
also, speaking of Erik's recommendation about Crowhurst, have you seen the documentary about him...Deep Water? It is blood-curdling and jaw-dropping. A must see. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePAfjxI4rws


Posted: 11 Sep 2011 at 1:32pm
I did see Deep Water, in the theater her in Los Angeles. Great documentary.
Erik Evens
Los Angeles, CA
"Robin Lee", Yankee Dolphin #118


Posted: 11 Sep 2011 at 3:39pm
Fisheries Supply
Defender
West Marine
Jamestown Distributors
Overtons

These make up my most read category.

The joys of owning a good old boat!
Beautiful boats and fair winds!
Sailinmike
Dolphin #300
Grande Finale


Posted: 13 Sep 2011 at 8:55am
Mike: Ha! Couldn't agree more.

(Dolphin #175 appreciates all my catalog reading. She got her new Gauhauer customized traveler put on yesterday and it is gorgeous.)

Erik: Thanks for the quick reading list. Yes, I've read the Crowhurst stuff; interesting study of psychology. Haven't seen the flick yet.

Any more book suggestions?

Warmly, J
Dolphin #175


Posted: 13 Sep 2011 at 8:35pm
We've covered most of the passage memoirs I've read. I have also read a few of Larry and Lin Pardey's books, which were great and informative. I remember "The Cost-Conscious Cruiser" being especially good, and filled with great tips and info.

Two books that never leave my nightstand, it seems:

"This Old Boat" by Don Casey. Should be issued to anyone who purchases a Dolphin. :)

And, of course, Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship Guide.
Erik Evens
Los Angeles, CA
"Robin Lee", Yankee Dolphin #118


Posted: 14 Sep 2011 at 6:53am
Super Thread! Here's 2 for the list

All This and Sailing Too - Olin Stephens
Heart of Glass - Fiberglass Boats and the Men who Built Them - Dan Spurr

Ron, Marionette #12


Posted: 14 Sep 2011 at 2:06pm
Besides the many great recommendations already put forth,

A Voyage for Mad Men, Peter Nichols (couldnt put it down)

The Voyage of the Liberdade, Joshua Slocum


Posted: 14 Sep 2011 at 8:40pm
Thanks Jonnie and Ron:

I haven't read any of those. Oh, actually did read Voyage for Mad Men a hundred years ago and it will need a rereading soon.

There's also a great book called The Unlikely Voyage of Jack De Crow. The author MacKinnon basically rowed and sailed a dinghy from North Wales to the Black Sea. A totally whacky idea and fun book.

I am also currently reading the Don Casey book Sensible Cruising. Very sensible.

Erik: I do need to get the This Old Boat book. Keep hoping to find it at the local used Marine store that has a pretty good book section.

Keep the suggestions coming. Surely there are more cruising memoirs that are great reads that I haven't run across yet.

Warmly, J
Dolphin #175


Posted: 25 Sep 2011 at 11:33pm
Good list. I add a short list from my favorites:

The Compleat Cuiser: The Art, Practice, and Enjoyment of Boating by L. Francis Herreshoff

Cruising on Seraffyn by Lin and Larry Pardey

My Old Man and the Sea: A father and son sail around Cape Horn in a Vertue class (25 LOA?) sloop by David and Daniel Hays

The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow by A. J Mackinnon--a teacher who rows/sails a dinghy down the Thames, up the Rhine and Danube to the Black Sea.

Lone Voyager: The Extraodinary Adventures of Howard Blackburn by Joseph E. Garland--amazing sailor from Gloucester, MA.

Sailing with Vancouver: A Modern sea dog, antique charts and a voyage through time by Sam McKinney--An pleasant historical voyage in a Vertue class sloop.

Cruises in Small Yachts by H. Fiennes Speed with "More Cruises" by Maud Speed

I also enjoyed the pleasant pace of

London Goes to Sea: Restoring and Sailing an Old Boat on a Budge by Peter J. Baumgartner

Small Craft Advisory by Lous D. Rubin Jr. about boat


Posted: 26 Sep 2011 at 12:07am
I'm currently reading "A Voyage Alone in the Yawl Rob Roy",

Its quaint...but I don't know if I recommend it yet


Posted: 02 Oct 2011 at 2:01pm
Hi All
I was updating Marcia Green's Yankee #214, Timesweep page, and was reminded of Robert de Gast's book, "Western Wind, Eastern Shore - A Sailing Cruise around the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia" Robert sold Timesweep to Marcia in 1979. Dolphin owners, who are also authors, have a special place on our reading lists... Ron
Marionette, #12

ps check out http://dolphin24.org/robert_de_gast.html


Posted: 09 Dec 2011 at 6:52am
Hi again
Continuing on the Dolphin 24 owner/author theme here's another - Rod Kulbach's (Monika #301) Baha Dreaming, Stories From Another Time.

Here's the link: http://dolphin24.org/baha_dreaming.html

Ron
Marionette #12


Posted: 11 May 2012 at 10:49am
In case you have missed it, we have added another Dolphin related book to our reading list - At Sea in the City, a book by William Kornblum. He's Noah Kornblum's (Polly, Yankee # 219) dad and he's writing about sailing around New York City in a '24 boat....Here's the link:
http://dolphin24.org/at_sea_in_the_city.html

Ron
Marionette #12


Posted: 11 May 2012 at 11:27am
I'm def. going to read this one, thanks! Love sailing, and love NYC, as a former New Yorker(actually, once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker).