Recommended Sailing dvd
Last Updated on Sunday, 20 May 2012 12:46 Written by Tuesday, 27 December 2011 10:06
Ice Blink http://www.thesailingchannel.tv/iceblink/ A real cruising family. The Dvd covers not only a voyage but their family sailing ethos with a good balance of interviews and logs. The beginning of their story is told in their book “into the light” which details Dave and Jaja Martin’s circumnavigation in a 25′ yacht creating a couple of kids on the way. This dvd shows the family cruising aboard a 33′ yacht in the waters of Norway, Greenland, and Iceland.
Jean du sud Around the World http://www.thesailingchannel.tv/ see my detailed review of this excellent award winning film here.
Keep turning left http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/ hundreds of films of shoal sailing in a Mirror Offshore with a sense of humour around the UK from an ex BBC cameraman.
Ready to Cross Oceans, Lin and Larry Pardey
A cruising couple like no other. This is the ideal video to give you some much needed perspective on what it really takes to sail oceans. You might not buy into their approach but if your trapped in the idea that a large engine and power hungry gadgets make the cruising yacht this will help you appreciate the other side. Well produced dvd in a series, their books really are a must.
Francesco Mediterranean Voyage
Deep Water Dvd
A documentary detailing Donald Crowhurst tragic participation in the very first solo, non-stop, round-the-world yacht race.
Morning Light Dvd
follow a team of US college students being selected, trainied and sailing the Transpac.
Wind, Matthew Modine,
Americas Cup fiction from Hollywood.
White Squall, Geoff Bridges
A coming of age movie from Hollywood.
Master and Commander, Russell Crowe, Patrick O’Brian
Learn MoreSolo Sailors, famous and not so famous but just as adventureous!
Last Updated on Sunday, 12 February 2012 05:05 Written by Sunday, 17 July 2011 04:24
Big Bloke small boat: Voyage of a Mad Man ?
Another book where the cover might put you off, don’t let it. A story of one man’s Atlantic circuit in a 24ft sail boat, great balance of humor and sailing narration. Highly recommended.
An Ocean Away:Small Boat, Big Dream
Certainly a big dream delivered from practically nothing. The author takes you all the way from humble beginnings as a shop keeper in the North of England sailing on a lake to crossing the Atlantic in a small yacht. Very good narrative. Brought back memories of the now out of print Shrimpy.
Where the ocean meets the sky
Very different from the previous two tales – more money, larger yacht, shorter trip with a delivery crew bringing her home. This is much more about the personal challenge of sailing the Atlantic solo.
Maiden Voyage Tania Abei
Give an 18 year old girl a 26 foot yacht and challenge her to sail around the world.
Sailing Alone Across the Atlantic Trevor Wilson
I’ve left of the sub title as it did put me off at first “a pensioners tale” isn’t the best strap-line. This is a story of a one mans dream to cross the Atlantic overcoming several major set backs. Well written.
A World of My Own: The First Ever Non-stop Solo Round the World Voyage
If you haven’t read this it is a must if only to reset your own list of must have gadgets that every sailor needs for a bay day sail. The stores list in the appendix is worth an annual review just so you check on how many bottles of brandy, beer and whiskey you’ll need for an adventure! Takes you all the way from a delivery trip with a difference from India to the Golden Globe round solo round the world race.
The Long Way
Another classic covering the same round the world race as Robin Knox-Johnson’s World of My Own from the perspective of fellow competitor Bernard Moitessier who choices an all together different path.
Last Man across the Atlantic
Well written tale about one mans solo sail across the Atlantic as part of the OSTAR. The author is currently sailing (as of 2012) to the Pacific via Cape Horn on board his yacht Wild Song A man with a great deal of sailing and life experience, who writes with both humour and humility. A journalist by profession who also a great story teller.
Sailing into Solitude – 2011 is the updated version of Val Howells classic account of one of the first single handed yacht race from England to New York, USA across the Atlantic Ocean. Given this was in 1960 and in a 25ft folkboat makes this feat even more remarkable. Originally written in 1966 the author has extensively rewritten the tale publishing it ahead of the paperback on the kindle.
Sailing into Solitude
A real classic single handed sailors yarn, updated, and as fresh today as it was in 1966 when the original was published.
Learn MoreFamilies – sailing adventure books
Last Updated on Thursday, 12 January 2012 04:17 Written by Tuesday, 12 July 2011 10:08
- The Missing Centimetre
Not just a family adventure but the opening may well give you that inspiration you need to get yourself out there. Very well written and presented story of a family with two children taking a year out for an Atlantic Circuit. What makes this so appealing is they talk as much about their thinking and thought processes as much as narrating the sailing or locations.
2. Last Voyage of the Lucette
The updated version of “Survive the Savage Sea”, edited by the author’s son. Excellent read and if a Whale or such likes takes an interest in your yacht, you’ll be glad you read it.
3. A Family Outing in the Atlantic
Not your average middle class family on a gap year, nor you average destination list. An adventurous couple start off as two and become a family on route via a series of unique adventures. Excellent value for money. Check out their top draw website and blog to catch up with the family today.
4. Children of Cape Horn
Rosie Swale has had some adventures, most recently she walked around the world, solo. Although this book is from the seventies and no longer in print second hand copies are around on Amazon. Rosie tells the story of her partner and two very young children taking a small Catamaran around Cape Horn. If you haven’t read it, its great value for money and most certainly unique.
5. Atlantic Children: The True Story of a Family’s Year Afloat, Part 1 and 2.
6. Outrageous Grace
Bit of an odd title but that shouldn#t put you off. Now I have nothing against American writers (this is one) but this is actually very good. The story is as much about getting onto the water against huge personal challenges as it is about the sailing.