“The Annotated Sailing Alone Around the World” by Joshua Slocum, Annotated by Rod Scher
If there is one book that sailors say gave them the itch to take to the seas, it’s this book. This annotated edition gives comments, clarifications, definitions, and quips about Captain Slocum’s amazing solo journey around the world in the late 19th century.
For this one man to have done so much is just amazing. I continue to be inspired by him.
“Adlard Coles’ Heavy Weather Sailing” by Peter Bruce
This was my kind of book! I loved the content, it was super dense and technical, and it just went on and on and on.
The practical tips on sail and rigging adjustment for heavy weather was worth the cost of the book (although I got it from the library). Then there was the chapter on the meteorology of heavy weather, and how you detect and track it. Then there was the super awesome chapter on sea anchors and drogues. Add to it the chapter after chapter of case studies, research reports, famous disaster analysis, and recaps from individual sailors and my brain just exploded–in the good way.
I think the biggest thing I got out of the book was that it pays to learn the basics. The boat will take care of itself. You, as the skipper, have a fairly simple checklist of things to do before, during, and after the storm. Yes, freak conditions occur and the unexpected happens. But all the same, I feel much more confident in my own sailing ability now that I’ve read this book, and I’ve been taking the opportunity to practice the techniques.
This is one of those books that you talk to people about and they go, “duh, everyone knows about that book, it’s a classic.” Now I know why.
Terzo made a new friend at park day the other week. That family expressed an interest in sailing so I took everyone out for a late morning tootle around Shilshole Bay. We had kids (aged 2, 5, 6), myself, and another dad.
We had an easy 5 knot wind from the southeast. There was a regatta going on and the kids really liked all the bright colors of the dozens of spinnaker sails. The wind never really picked up for the races to get going for reals but we got to see a lot of the boats working on drills, especially with the hoisting/adjusting/dousing their spinnakers as they sailed in large circles. We saw a few harbor seals, too.
We sailed for about an hour, then I hove-to and we broke for lunch. Despite the overcast there was no rain, and it was surprisingly warm. The wind died on our way back and we ended up having to motor in. You just do what you gotta do.
The kids had a good time. They saw some neat stuff, got to help rig the boat, and everyone got a turn on the tiller. I didn’t get to show off any fancy sailing tricks (I only know two), but the focus for that day was on comfort since that was all the crew’s first time in a small boat–a J/24. The treat for me was that I didn’t have to dock the boat, and flake all the sales by myself. That second set of hands makes everything so much easier.
So, hurray! I think we have a bunch of new sailing enthusiasts.
Go sailing!