Sailing books not only educate and inform, but inspire; if the words on the page lead you to undertake your own on-the-water adventure, then in my book it has done its job.

Below you will find some of the best recently released sailing books  – a mix of memoir, sea thrillers, practical boat maintenance, seamanship advice and destination guides.

Gannet 6: You’re Not Too Old by Webb Chiles

Webb Chiles is something of a legend in small-boat circles, and for good reason. He’s circumnavigated the world six times, in boats ranging from an 18ft Drascombe to a 37ft Heritage 1 Ton sloop.

Gannet 6 is about his last circumnavigation aboard his Moore 24 which he finished aged 77; what makes this feat even more remarkable is that he is blind in his right eye and sustained shoulder damage during the solo voyage.

Chiles has a real gift for writing and draws you in so you can almost feel the wind and taste the salt as he doggedly sails Gannet through a gale off New Zealand, survives countless knockdowns and expertly handles Gannet through freak waves.

There are plenty of takeaways and solid seamanship advice for the small-boat sailor, but ultimately this is an uplifting record of one man’s determination to achieve his aim. Highly recommended.

Buy Gannet 6: You’re Not Too Old at Amazon

Into the Storm edited by Pete Goss and Martin Thomas

If you have multiple editions of Heavy Weather Sailing (like I do), then many of these accounts of sailing and surviving in severe weather will be familiar to you. But the comment at the end of each chapter by round-the-world yachtsman Pete Goss and Martin Thomas, the current editor of Heavy Weather Sailing, will not be and their conclusions and hard-won insights into each incident and the tactics used are gold dust for any sailor.

The sea demands specific qualities in a skipper and in his introduction Pete Goss emphasises the need to be proactive, to think through storm tactics (which makes it ideal reading for the winter months), to prepare the boat to survive the changing conditions and to accept that you need to flex your storm strategy.

This is what makes this book a must-read, and you could do worse than absorb and apply the knowledge within its pages – it may make the difference between disaster and survival if the worst happens.

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The Wooden Boat Care and Repair Bible by Uwe Baykowski and Anna-Marie Frick

German master boatbuilder Uwe Baykowski is a leading authority on classic wooden yacht restoration and decades’ worth of repair and building knowledge is boiled down into this 160-page handbook.

The five chapters cover the basics of assessing a boat’s condition, a more detailed guide to boat construction, materials including timber and coatings, although not much on the use of epoxy resins which is the norm for many DIY builders, a minor repair guide and storage and inspection which has some helpful hints to make sure you miss nothing.

There are some useful step-by-step repair guides throughout; there’s no disputing Baykowski’s expertise and there is plenty to glean from these pages.

This would be an ideal book for those who have just bought their first wooden boat or want to understand more about wooden boat construction, but there’s not really enough detail for it to earn its repair ‘bible’ title.

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Reeds Nautical Almanac 2027 edited by Perrin Towler and Simon Jollands 

In the age of chartplotters and digital navigation, one might wonder why this comprehensive compendium of navigational data is still needed. But with the UK Government advising sailors to plan for navigation without GPS due to spoofing, jamming and interference with the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), I’d argue that this ‘King of the Almanacs’ is needed more than ever.

The 2027 edition has been fully updated and covers Atlantic Europe from the tip of Denmark to Gibraltar, including Madeira and the Azores. The layout has been redesigned to make it easier to use while at sea and, as usual, the presentation of data covering all local safety, lights and buoyage updates is meticulous.

The full-colour chartlets for 700 harbours are useful, as are the 7,500+ waypoints, tide tables, tidal streams, and distance tables. If you’re planning to cruise in 2027 this is an invaluable compendium to have aboard.

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The Sailboat Technical Guide by Petter M Mowinckel

Petter M Mowinckel notes that knowing your boat and its systems is key to becoming a confident, relaxed and happy sailor; his comprehensive guide will certainly help any boat owner to reach that goal.

The Norwegian naval architect’s focus is on 25ft-50ft yachts, with chapters covering everything from diesel engines, deck gear and electrical systems to the hull, steering systems, rigs, sails and domestic systems. The technical aspects of each system are systematically reviewed and illustrated with the pros and cons highlighted, which is really useful for initial troubleshooting or deciding if this is the right system for your boat.

I really liked the checklist at the back of the book (which includes bullet points about what to be aware of), which can be printed out and kept on board to make sure you stay on top of maintenance.

This book is ideal for those new to boat ownership or more experienced sailors, especially if you’re planning to do more of your own repairs and servicing.

Buy The Sailboat Technical Guide at Amazon

Battle of the Arctic by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore

Exceptionally well researched, Battle of the Arctic is an in-depth examination of some of the most important events during the Arctic Convoys of World War II, drawing strongly on British, American, German, Russian and Norwegian archives.

What elevates these accounts is the emphasis on the experiences of the Royal Navy officers and merchant seamen and their families; Sebag-Montefiore has expertly used their diaries, letters and interviews to produce a vivid and, at times, harrowing narrative of those often overlooked sailors who fought in freezing cold waters as they were hunted by German U-boats and Luftwaffe bombers and often shipwrecked while trying to deliver supplies to Russia.

The black and white photos and the very detailed maps are very welcome. There is plenty of heroism and this volume offers a fresh approach to this often overlooked conflict and will appeal to those new to or well-versed in the subject.

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Around the World at Sixty-Three by Gerald Hough

This is not just the story of Anne Hough’s Clipper Race aboard the Clipper 70 Punta del Este; each chapter is enhanced with diary extracts not only from Anne but from other crew members, giving a really personal insight into life on board and the joy and frustrations of racing around the world. It can be warts and all in some places – the conditions on board are grim at times, with one crew describing it as like ‘living in an armpit’.

It charts the challenges of the race during the Covid-19 pandemic, crew injury, start line collisions and the challenges of living in 46°C of heat. It also pulls no punches about the race cost – over £60,000 including insurance, gear and cost at stopovers.

But ultimately, this is a heartening read about how a crew pulls together in, at times, extreme conditions to pit themselves against other teams and Mother Nature and how, even at your lowest ebb, there is always something to appreciate, and that when you are racing well, there is rarely a better feeling.

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Reeds Storm Handbook by Martin Thomas

A brilliant aide-mémoire to have on board, this contains all of the essential information for preparing and coping with heavy weather. It’s written by the former commodore of the Ocean Cruising Club, Martin Thomas, although for those wanting an in-depth and comprehensive guide the latest edition of Heavy Weather Sailing, also written by Thomas, might be preferable given it’s seen as the ultimate international authority on surviving storms at sea.

This pocket-sized book is divided into sections covering choice of boat, preparation, choosing and managing crew, passage planning, the engine, navigation, storm tactics like heaving-to, dealing with emergencies, seeking refuge and driving a powerboat in a storm. The action lists at the end of each section will help the skipper and crew form the basis of any plan for sailing in these stressful conditions.

The book distils hard-won advice from an expert in the field and thoroughly earns a place on board.

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In Guzzwell’s Wake – The 2025 McIntyre Mini Globe Race by Graham Cox and Don McIntyre

During the Mini Globe Race, Graham Cox made weekly satellite phone calls to the entrants to find out about their progress and the performance of their boats and gear. These calls form the basis of this in-depth and fascinating account of the race, which saw solo skippers sailing around the world via the Panama Canal in 19ft sloops, many of them built by the skippers themselves.

Graham’s unique access and his own experience of small-boat voyaging give the book a real edge and add important context to the skipper’s experiences and decisions which will resonate with many PBO readers. This is complemented by colour race photos, many of them previously unseen.

There is also a chapter on the design of the race’s one-design ALMA Class Globe 580, which was inspired by John Guzzwell’s Trekka, which he took around the world in the 1950s.

If anyone has taken a small boat offshore or is thinking about it, this is a must-read.

Buy In Guzzwell’s Wake at Amazon

Nautical Wisdom by Nic Compton

Nic Compton knows his stuff when it comes to sailing, boats and the sea and he packs it all into bite-sized pieces in this maritime miscellany. Divided into six sections covering weather and tides, navigation and seamanship, ships and sailors, the sea, flora and fauna and stories and superstition, these anecdotes, facts and folklore are a very entertaining read that keeps you turning the page, all illustrated with some rather lovely coloured pencil drawings.

Some of the snippets of nautical wisdom – lists of the 10 greatest sailors of modern time and 10 legendary ships as well as the only six knots you’ll ever need – are bound to generate debate at the yacht club bar, while types of sailing rigs, navigating without charts, signal flags and how tides work will certainly appeal to boat owners.

For those who want to delve deeper, there is also a list of useful websites and books. This would be an ideal gift for those who have just started sailing or for those who want to build their sailing knowledge.

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A Life Under Sail by Ewen Southby-Tailyour

We’ve all wandered around a marina picking out the best boat (it was a childhood occupation for me!), writes John Stickland. In 1994 in Croatia Ewen Southby-Tailyour did just that, but with the intention of (state-authorised) theft, thus providing an entertaining vignette in his new anthology and confirming why he had an interest in cruising the Falklands in the early 1980s.

Each chapter of A Life under Sail is more absorbing than the last, although as Southby-Tailyour himself points out there are overlaps and repetition, but it’s still great to sit down and read the words of seamanship wisdom from one of the most interesting modern-day cruising sailors. The heart of the book is the accounts of his voyages in Black Velvet, the four gaff-rigged cutters that he owned throughout his life.

There are also chapters on his racing career, the OSTAR and Jester Challenge, the history of his sextant, nautical tragedies and lessons in seamanship – all of which are valuable and insightful for any sailor. Five stars.

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To the Edge of the World by Tilar J Mazzeo

 

I couldn’t put this down once I’d picked it up. Mazzeo, herself a sailor, has a real gift for drawing you into this true story of teenage pregnant Mary Ann Patten, who, when her husband fell ill, took command of his clipper ship, Neptune’s Car, during a storm, rounding Cape Horn and holding off a mutiny too. Heavily researched, the opening chapters detail the fascinating social and maritime history of the time – the 1840s – the boom years of the Clipper ships which plied their trade along the tea route to China and to the rich gold ports of California and Australia (all pre-Panama Canal).

This provides valuable context for the main event off the South American coast and for the rationale behind Patten’s actions. Famous at the time, many will have never heard of Mary Ann Patten and what she achieved. Like so many women, Patten was allowed to fade into obscurity and Mazzeo has done an excellent job bringing her back to the fore. This is a compelling read and a real treat.

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Ocean Sailing (2nd edition) by Paul Heiney

It’s easy to romanticise cruising offshore; many of us talk about pointing the bow over the horizon to ‘live the dream’. This clear, practical guide does not hide the realities and will make sure you’re fully prepared for long-term and long-distance sailing.

Chapters cover everything from choosing a route (some charts of the main cruising routes would have been useful), budgeting for your trip, sailing as a family, maintenance and repairs, emergencies and how you adjust to returning home; the chapter on choosing a boat particularly stands out as it covers all options from budget boats to multihulls.

I particularly liked the questions and condensed, hard-won wisdom from sailors who have crossed oceans – it’s the sort of advice long-term cruisers swap all the time. If you’re thinking of sailing further afield, this book is an excellent starting point.

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Cruising the Standing Mast Routes of the Netherlands by Machiel Lambooij and Remko Sinck, edited by Gordon Knight

More than 1,000km of waterways make up the Standing Mast Routes in the Netherlands and this updated practical guide will help you make the most of this cruising network, covering everything from sea approaches, route distances and tides and currents to immigration and customs requirements.

The section on known issues for 2027 is really useful, highlighting bridge closures and giving alternative routes. There are also plenty of links to online resources which will be regularly updated by Cruising Association members cruising in the Netherlands.

The book is laid out in a logical and easily accessible format; full colour charts clearly mark recommended or alternative routes and I particularly liked the summaries at the end of each section covering the character of the route, how long it will take, any special rules etc.

Star ratings by the authors also highlight diversions and places of interest and there are clear colour photos showing the best moorings. If cruising these waterways in 2027, make sure you have this on board.

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East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion (21st edition) by Janet Harber

Sailors who cruise the East Coast consider this pilot book unparalleled in its wealth of local knowledge and advice so they’ll welcome this updated edition, which covers the waters from Lowestoft to Ramsgate and the Thames as far west as Tower Bridge.

Janet Harber has been at the tiller of this guide for decades; her father, Jack Coote, wrote the original, and Janet spent summer holidays and weekends sailing these rivers while he researched each area. Each chapter, covering a different river, is well laid out with clear navigation chartlets, pilotage information and details of clubs, marinas, where to moor, facilities and what to do ashore.

The last edition was published 10 years ago, and updates include new photography, plus really useful QR codes for harbour and marina websites for the latest information.

This pilot book stands out for the amount of history and local stories, which adds much to the context of the rest of the guide. Don’t cruise the East Coast without it!

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First Aid on Board by Nina Olofsson, Pär Olofsson and Olle Landsell

An invaluable resource to have on board with clear advice to help deal with medical emergencies at sea. Written by two emergency care doctors who sail offshore and illustrated by an experienced single-handed sailor, this guide covers a full range of medical problems from first aid and seasickness to spinal injuries and chest and abdominal trauma.

I liked the easy-to-digest format which lists signs and symptoms, the immediate action the crew can take, treatment on board, when to evacuate, how to manage conditions if far from help and how to prevent the condition in the first place.

For those planning long-term cruising, there’s an excellent ship’s dispensary list covering pain management, infection, antibiotics, allergies, seasickness and first aid and medical equipment, as well as the side effects of the most common medications. The chapter on preparation including basic medical training illustrates medical procedures such as CPR on adults and children and the Heimlich manoeuvre.

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The Big Book of Knots by Graham MacLachlan

This guide goes beyond knots you might need for sailing, with over 300 knots listed under headings ranging from archery, camping and climbing, to fishing, nets and use on a farm. The type, use and method for each knot and splice are complemented by a clear, colour diagram, and there are handy tips and tricks such as the best rope or tools to use for specific tasks.

The steps for each knot and splice are well explained (as you might expect from the founding president of the French branch of the International Guide of Knot Tyers), and would be invaluable for a beginner or someone needing a refresher.

The knots, coils and whipping techniques listed in the sailing section are the most commonly used by sailors, so for those wanting more in-depth sailing knots the rest of the guide might frustrate. But if you’re just starting and want to learn the essentials The Big Book of Knots is ideal – especially if you enjoy other hobbies where knots feature.

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The Adventures of Laforest-Dombourg By Eric Gautier, translated by Roger D. Taylor

For boaters who like a historical novel in the spirit of Patrick O’Brien, this 616-page work by the French author Eric Gautier will provide plenty of action and intrigue, writes Jake Kavanagh. The translator is Roger D. Taylor, the award-winning author of the Simple Sailing series of books.

What is refreshing is the pre-Napoleonic naval campaign seen from the French perspective. The English are the villains, and as our hero, Pierre-Marie Laforest Dombourg rises through the ranks, he participates in many of the sea battles of the time. Underpinning the story is his quest to find why his parents vanished under mysterious circumstances, with our hero sailing from France and Southwest England to the West Indies, America and South Africa as he doggedly uncovers the truth.

Guatier’s well-researched narrative creates a convincing and vivid picture of the times, whilst Taylor’s flowing translation – which was completed over 5 years – will give you an enjoyable bunkside read. A second, shorter volume is also available which brings this epic tale to a conclusion.

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Death in a Shetland Family by Marsali Taylor

Marsali Taylor has a real gift for writing about the Shetland landscape; her descriptions are so vivid that you can almost smell the salty sea and breathe in the earthy landscape as you inhale the words of this absorbing, yet gentle-paced murder mystery. Although this is part of a series, the book can be read as a standalone.

The characters and plot – a prodigal son is found killed at his family’s croft – are well constructed to keep you guessing with plenty of suspects until the final reveal, when you realise the clues were there if you had paid more attention! It certainly kept me enthralled (and I am an Agatha Christie devotee).

But what elevates this book for me is the way Taylor captures the close-knit nature of island life and weaves the culture and heritage of Shetland into the story, as well as the sailing backbone that runs through this novel and will make you want to explore the voes yourself. A real page-turner.

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Floating Through France: Cruising the inland waterways to the Med by Kerry and Fraser Buchanan

Regular Practical Boat Owner readers will already be aware of Kerry and Fraser Buchanan’s voyage through the French waterways to Greece on their 1984 Barbican 33 and how they prepared the boat and themselves to achieve their dream voyage.

Floating through France goes into much more detail and is a mix of well-written (and at times humorous) memoir and practical guide, covering the fitting out of the boat and the stages of their voyage from Bangor in Northern Ireland to Preveza in Greece with the inevitable highs and lows of long-term cruising.

Each chapter is packed with easily digested full-colour illustrations of charts and diagrams and photos which add to the narrative, and I particularly liked the lessons learned section reflecting the Buchanans’ hard-won experience. The couple reflect honestly on the voyage and the gear that really worked for them and there are useful appendices on costs, paperwork and the practicality of the Schengen shuffle.

A must-read for all those planning to sail from the UK to the Med via the French waterways….. or are just dreaming about it

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Shipwreck by Carl Douglas, Bjorn Hagberg and Gibsons of Scilly

Growing up in West Cornwall meant I was well aware of the coastline’s fearsome reputation for wrecking ships and reproductions of Gibsons of Scilly’s evocative black and white photographs of wrecks lined many a pub wall; seeing them together in one beautifully presented coffee-table book was a real feast for the eyes and senses.

Nearly 100 wrecks are featured – the largest collection of Gibson Family pictures in one book – covering a period of 1871-1962. It is a fascinating visual record of the changes in seafaring during that time, with wooden schooners and barques giving way to steel and iron ships and steam-powered cargo vessels; the stark reality of being crew during that time and the dangers they faced due to the power of the elements is also felt in every image.

Each photo has a detailed write-up covering the background of the wreck, the rescue efforts and the community response. Just like today, shipwrecks were newsworthy and attracted on-lookers from small Cornish communities, many of whom risked their lives to save the crew.

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The Golden Age of Offshore Racing by Dick Carter & Sandy Weld

This is two books in one – Dick Carter Yacht Designer and The Leading Edge by Sandy Weld, who crewed for Carter during his dominance in yacht racing including the 1965 and 1969 Fastnet Races; Weld’s well-crafted 1971 book originally had a limited print run, so this is a rare find and I really enjoyed reading the two books back-to-back, giving a rounded perspective on Carter’s designs and their impact on yacht racing.

For those who do not know, Carter was an amateur who designed his first yacht – the 34ft Rabbit – and went on to win the 1965 Fastnet; he repeated the feat four years later on Red Rooster, which also won the Admiral’s Cup. Rabbit redefined the offshore racing yacht with her wide beam and the separation of the rudder from the keel, amongst other innovations and the chapter on Rabbit’s legacy is fascinating. The book is filled with sumptuous photographs of Carter’s yachts and detailed plans of the boats.

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Daughters of the Sea by Geraldine Griffin

This memoir about growing up on board at a time (post-World War II) when bringing up a family on a boat was very far from the norm was a real treat to read.

Geraldine Griffin and her three sisters lived with their parents on an eclectic mix of craft, including an ex-Naval motor torpedo boat, several Morcambe Pay Prawners and an ex-Trinity House pilot ketch before the family settled on the 48ft Colin Archer gaff ketch, Northern Light.

The excitement of learning to sail and experiencing life at sea oozes from the pages as the milestones are ticked off – Geraldine was 12 when she did her first solo nightwatch (two hours); they learn celestial navigation, all aspects of seamanship and boat maintenance. All four sisters – aged between 12 and 19 – became British Registered Seamen ahead of their Atlantic crossing in 1965; their father, Jim had a job waiting for him in Nassau.

The idea of a man crossing an ocean with five women caused a media sensation, but for those who doubted the Griffin sisters’ abilities, the joke was on them.

Along the way they met the likes of Susan and Eric Hiscock and Humphrey Barton before returning to the UK – after enduring a challenging storm – in 1968.

Whilst it is clear that saltwater runs deep in this family’s veins, it is Geraldine’s mother, Ann, that I find myself returning to again and again; continuing to live aboard until she was 89, she and her daughters defied the conventions of the time and found freedom as a result.

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Anchorages of the British Isles by various authors

If you are planning on sailing any part of the British Isles this summer, then Anchorages of the British Isles is a useful resource for planning your cruise and is packed full of quiet, out-of-the-way anchorages, where you can drop the hook, escape the crowds and absorb the local flora and fauna.

This comprehensive guide has been written by some of the UK’s most experienced cruisers and pilot book authors, including well-known names, like Jane Cumberlidge, Norman Kean, Dick Durham, Dag Pike and Jonty Pearce.

Each anchorage is illustrated with a detailed chart, colour photos, and there is plenty of advice on approach, holding, shelter, hazards to avoid and places to explore ashore.

The authors have also added their own tit-bits too, such as cultural references, historical facts and personal anecdotes. If you are just day sailing or venturing further afield, this will guarantee you make the most of your visit.

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