Valuable information but a difficult, old school and technical read. Especially for foreigners not accustomed to English sailing terms - however it's good way to learn them. Would be nice if each chapter was summoned with bullet points of the best takeouts. Inside plethora of very technical, often irrelevant information comes very useful and practical tips. Dividing these two types of knowledge in a graphical way would be a major improvement.
a must for sailors, readers, and writers of heavy weather. this particular one was the 3rd edition compiled in maybe 1980-81 (note, the gr bibliographic info of these is pretty fucjed up, but not bad i guess for free cataloging) and has a chapter on the infamously deadly fastnet race of 1979. also has chapters of author (and his son and wife) racing and or pleasure cruising around bermuda, bay of biscay, ushant. other chapters are excerpts from other authors, such as a bit on the run from durban to cape town where huge ass "holes" just "appear" and swallow ships. big ships too, 20,000 toners and such and probably what happened to the warataw (sp?). on these holes, seems really big swells meeting an opposing current can set of a "perfect oscillation" type situation in where a huge ass trough forms, a ship "falls" in it, then the next swell covers it up, and down she goes, langostino food. nice pics, maps, and citations. very poor index.
Excellently written book. Factual and also an ejoyable read. Heart in mouth stories that mean you will remember and implement the tactics within, unless you are a total clown, in which case stay in the pub or become a dolphin or join the enemy. Carry on!
The definitive book on heavy weather sailing. A must read for every offshore cruiser. And I mean EVERY. People who think it will never happen to them because they 'only make daytrips at sea' should also read this.
It truly is a true classic. I have the third 1981 edition and for anyone thinking of heading out for more than a few hours from behind the breakwater, It won't do you any harm to read it, and it's also absolutely fascinating.
This is a great book about sailing in extreme circumstances. I'm planning to read it again whem I'm ready to take off for heavy weather sailing myself.
I am prepping for a Tortola to Newport RI passage in May and found this book, which is a classic by all accounts, fantastic. A must read for all nascent bluewater sailors.