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by Richard K. Hubbard
Since 1802, when Nathaniel Bowditch first produced the navigator’s bible which now bears his name, sailors turned to his ultimate authority. Over the years “Bowditch” has become a technical volume for the professional mariner.
Richard Hubbard has written the Boater’s Bowditch for the small boat navigator in clear concise language. Color photographs of waves, sea states and cloud types, as well as useful illustrations give the reader a visual idea of the concept of navigation. Hubbard brilliantly covers all types of navigation used today, from dead reckoning to coastal piloting, navigating by radio, satellite, Loran-C, GPS, and celestial reckoning. He also gives modern coverage of the weather systems and movements that affect a boat’s course. This is truly the navigational reference book the small-boat sailor needs to have on board.
#287 Hardcover, 400 pp, 700 illustrations …$34.95...
Now $20.00
by
John Mellor
With chapters like: Propulsion and Steering, Basic and Special Handling Techniques, Anchoring and Mooring, and Breakdowns and Bad Weather; this book goes in-depth on the different situations that can arise, and how to steer your vessel out of them.
#396 Softcover, 192 pp, many b&w photos and diagrams …$16.50
Book of Cruising: Volume 1
Introduction to Cruising
This is the first of two books, which contain the best cruising stories that MM published in its first 17 years.
Vol. 1, the introduction, has a general overview of the subject of cruising.
It starts and ends with mood-evocative articles written by a young man who grew up aboard his parents’ multihull, and then set off single-handed.
The gamut of possible life styles on a cruising multihull is covered: how to manage it on a tight budget; how to incorporate all the amenities you’re used to in a land-based life; and how-to hints on cruising within the large middle ground between these two extremes.
Food is, of course, considered. Sensible ways of planning a galley, efficient ways of managing one’s time in cooking, and food types most suited for use on a boat, particularly on a multihull, all have chapters allotted.
There’s not only a review of the serious question of piracy, but also pro and con opinions about carrying weapons. Customs, immigration, and quarantine procedures are discussed.
And the question of how to handle the children’s education aboard is reviewed, both from the parent’s and the child’s perspective.
Interspersed with the more serious articles are humorous ones about: what goes through one’s mind during a passage; medical emergencies; and working in a foreign cruising ground.
The articles deal with the wonderful, and exciting subject of cruising aboard multihulls. Each one was written by those who were out there doing it, so you know that each story is authentic.
#202 Softcover, 51/2"x81/4", 148pp, illustrations …$9.95
Book of Cruising: Volume 2
Join intrepid multihull sailors in their triumphs and agonies as they circumnavigate the earth from west to east. Some of the boats were trailered to the water, some were sailed along rivers, through canals, and across oceans.
It includes: catamarans from 16 1/2' to 58', and trimarans from 19' to 60'’. They were designs by Brown, Cross, Crowther, Horstman, Kelsall, Piver and Wharram... a great variety.
You will meet novices, charterers, vacationers, and liveaboards who have sailed oceans for years.
Visited areas: around the Horn, West Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe, the Far East, western North America, and many other places. All the stories were written by those who are out there doing it. The armchair sailor and budding cruiser will learn from and enjoy their experiences.
#400 Softcover, 51/2"x81/4", 464pp, maps and photos …$19.95
The
Captain’s Guide to Liferaft Survival
by Captain Michael Cargal
This Guide contains everything a castaway needs to know in order to survive in a life raft, and to be rescued as quickly as possible.
Filled with useful experiences from the author’s 20 years as a captain, the book draws on the latest research in equipment, techniques, and emergency medicine. It tells a captain, or anyone who takes charge in a survival situation, how to abandon ship, maintain discipline and morale, make a solar still, and choose and keep afloat a life raft. It explains signals, immediate and long-term medical care, and what to do when rescue is in sight.
Also covered, in detail, is what a castaway might find to eat and how to capture it, both while in the life raft and after washing ashore. An extensive chapter includes instructions, formulas, and tables for dead reckoning or celestial navigation. Fascinating reading at home, the book is essential in a life raft.
Michael Cargal is a US-licensed Master Mariner. He earned his first captain’s license in 1970 and has operated vessels from 45' to 200' all over the world, carrying passengers, transporting oil rig personnel, and operating fishing vessels. He grew up in San Diego and graduated from Harvard University. ‘Misha,’ as he is known at sea, lives in California.
Chapters: (I) Being Captain of a Life Raft; (II) Abandoning Ship; (III) The First Few Minutes in the Raft; (IV) Getting Help; (V) Water; (VI) Food; (VII) Dangerous Creatures; (VIII) Continuing Medical Care; (IX) The Life Raft; (X) Navigation; (XI) Rescue; (XII) Landfall; (XIII) Making a Survival Kit; plus appendices: formulas, almanacs, tables, and an index.
#266 Hardcover, 5 1/2" x 8 3/4", 182pp, appendices, index …was $24.95 …NOW: $10.00
by Rick White and Mary Wells
(reviewed by Bruce Blalock)
Reading the book on cat racing was like bumping into an old friend: There’s so much that’s familiar, but new wrinkles have been added. It starts up with the basics, as did the Rick White book of the 80s with which we’ve all grown comfortable. This work expands the horizon and adds specific suggestions about individual classes. Of added interest to me were the guest contributors’ sections, which let prominent racers from different classes discuss the boat with which they’re most familiar. It was a look at the course through the eyes, and over the crossbeams, of the big names in our sport.
As in almost any joint effort, there are a few errors. Fortunately, these are minor and have little effect on the quality of the publication. At the time of publication, the most obvious errors related to the Tornado. The International Tornado Association had not voted to increase the sail area, nor allowed double trapezing. Flying a hull on downwind legs was developed by the Australians, and was subsequently demonstrated by Mitch Booth and John Forbes in a very convincing manner with their 1989 World Championship win.
One chapter, called “Revival” (written by Mary Wells), seemed to me to be the heart-and-soul of all that we like about competitive sailing. It provided many suggestions as to how to interest people in sailing, and then in racing. Our sport has been in a decline for the recent few years. Eventually, this could prove fatal if not turned around. The most accurate statement in the book came from this chapter: “going fast and winning races is only important when there are other people to race against.” Not only were the suggestions important, but the attitude portrayed in this chapter is one that, hopefully, will catch on. It must, to insure the catamaran-racing community a future for everyone who cares to participate.
The book begins with basic boat-handling, and takes the reader through everything from weight distribution to sail trim. Then the real meat of the matter gets served: how to plan and organize a race and a regatta. It covers basic tactics and strategies of each leg of the course, as well as the start and finish. There are helpful “Notes to the Crew” scattered throughout the book which help to focus the attention of the forward person on the boat. (I believe that the crew is the real secret to a competitive boat.) These provide some useful insights into the management of the race and the ongoing concerns of the competitors.
In addition to the chapters on specific class boat hints, there’s a chapter on weather. So many times the speed of the competitors is so similar that the best way to gain any advantage is to be better able to predict weather changes, which requires recognizing/understanding weather conditions. This is an especially enjoyable section which should stimulate more research. The book is easy to read, interesting, and loaded with good information for the advancing competitor.
#296 Softcover, 6" x 9", 337 pp, graphs …$29.95...Now $20.00