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Following Seas: Sailing the Globe, Sounding a Life
Book by Leonard, Beth A.
262 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1999
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 12, 2024
I have been an ardent sailor since the '80s and a licensed captain for both sail and power boats for over 30 years. I've taught sailing and participated in sailing clubs and found that many sailors harbor the dream of sailing around the world. This is not feasible on small power yachts, and powerboaters do not suffer from the same calling.
The reality of preparing a boat, a budget, and oneself for extended sailing offshore is much more difficult than most sailors can comprehend. Their visions of learning on the fly and dealing with the demands of the ocean are nothing like glossy brochures that advertise sailing life.
Beth A Leonard has done a masterful job of describing not only the wonders but also the blunders and unexpected nightmares that can and will occur when dealing with ocean passages. The dedication, grit, and physical demands of long-distance sailing are real and require personal resolve, skill, and dedication.
Leonard's descriptions of the jaw-dropping beauty and conditions encountered in exotic ports are tempered with the reality of constant boat maintenance and repairs needed to offset the damage angry oceans and weather inflict on all boats. Self-reliance is a must. Mastery of the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems is mandatory. Sailors can't wing repairing a rigging or engine failure in the middle of an ocean.
Modern GPS has made navigation much easier, but being able to transfer coordinates to a paper chart is still required. Reading the water and relating the colors that result from varied depths and underwater obstacles is the only hope for a sailor to stay off the rocks and reefs that can tear out the bottom of a vessel.
Leanord's descriptions of beautiful islands and interactions with their inhabitants are excellent. After all, experiencing the beauty and people in exotic places is a major part of why adventurers go to sea. The author places us in foreign harbors and interacts with the folks found there in a very spiritual and personal way.
I would recommend this excellent book to anybody who loves to sail, especially those with the itch to leave the coastline in their wake. The action is exhilarating, the personal experiences genuine, and the adventures memorable. Great job, Beth A Leonard!
The reality of preparing a boat, a budget, and oneself for extended sailing offshore is much more difficult than most sailors can comprehend. Their visions of learning on the fly and dealing with the demands of the ocean are nothing like glossy brochures that advertise sailing life.
Beth A Leonard has done a masterful job of describing not only the wonders but also the blunders and unexpected nightmares that can and will occur when dealing with ocean passages. The dedication, grit, and physical demands of long-distance sailing are real and require personal resolve, skill, and dedication.
Leonard's descriptions of the jaw-dropping beauty and conditions encountered in exotic ports are tempered with the reality of constant boat maintenance and repairs needed to offset the damage angry oceans and weather inflict on all boats. Self-reliance is a must. Mastery of the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems is mandatory. Sailors can't wing repairing a rigging or engine failure in the middle of an ocean.
Modern GPS has made navigation much easier, but being able to transfer coordinates to a paper chart is still required. Reading the water and relating the colors that result from varied depths and underwater obstacles is the only hope for a sailor to stay off the rocks and reefs that can tear out the bottom of a vessel.
Leanord's descriptions of beautiful islands and interactions with their inhabitants are excellent. After all, experiencing the beauty and people in exotic places is a major part of why adventurers go to sea. The author places us in foreign harbors and interacts with the folks found there in a very spiritual and personal way.
I would recommend this excellent book to anybody who loves to sail, especially those with the itch to leave the coastline in their wake. The action is exhilarating, the personal experiences genuine, and the adventures memorable. Great job, Beth A Leonard!
February 5, 2021
Not the most exciting writer, but the narrative includes parts that are quite interesting to anyone contemplating blue water sailing.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews