Hi yawl,
With the holidays coming up my wife is pestering me about a Christmas present and since I have one constant thought... Sailing
Let me ask this question.
In addition to a sailor, I am a book worm in need of a Christmas present. So what books / magazines, Sailing related of course, should I ask for? I am more of a weekend drifter than a hard core racer.
Thanks for your comments about what you read, like and why.
H-16

You may find older books about catamarans very interesting. I have collected a few old books from ebay.

There is a really interesting book about a guy who sailed a Hobie 18 all the way across the Northwest Passage. I think it took him two summers to do it. Lots of ice to contend with, even then. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of it. Somebody from Canada loaned it to me, and I gave it back. Maybe somebody else will be able to come up with the name. It's a fascinating true-life adventure story.

Try the book about The Race. I loved it. You can find it on Amazon.

I'll second "The Race."

It provided me with many nights of cozy enjoyment.

I'll 3rd "The Race" and toss in "Around the World in 79 days"
Also "The boy who sailed around the world alone"

The book about sailing the Northwest Passage is called "Polar Passage". There were a couple of good books about the Sydney to Hobart disaster a few years back, my favorite of those was Fatal Storm. A couple other good ones were Godforsaken Sea. Close to the Wind is about Pete Goss and is excellent, he's definitely a hero in my book.That would probably be my favorite of the ones I listed.
Todd A. Hart
p.s. The Worrell 1000 issue of Sports Illustrated was pretty good too. Just Kidding.

I have read all of these books and they are very good. They all are not necessarily about catamarans, but very entertaining and lots of good stuff.

Outward Leg - by Tristan Jones, sailing on a trimaran around the world.

Adrift - by Steve Calahan, survival after his sailboat sinks in the Canary Islands while headed to the Bahamas, 76 days on a raft.

Survive the Savage Sea - by Robert Dougal, family surviving at sea on rafts after their sailboat sinks.

Capsize - 4 crew members surviving inside their capsized trimaran.

Maiden Voyage - by Tanya Aebi, a young girl sails around the world on a sailboat single handed.

Hope this helps.

Don

Outerbridge Reach by Robert Stone
Solo sailboat race around the world, last minute skipper replacement, fascinating study of a man becoming in tune with the sea, then ... losing touch with the world.
If you want to get lost at sea in your mind, this is the book.

"The Gypsy Moth" by Sir Aurthur Conandoyle is an excelent book. Sir Aurthur circumnavigates the globe solo in a 40' ketch. It is a true life adventure and his ship log is included. It might make you think twice before ever attempting anything like that!
Don C.

The British sailor who circled the world alone in a ketch by the age of 65 was Francis Chichester, one of the early contenders of Eric Tabarly in solo sailing. Afterwards he was knighted. A great book!

Was Arthur Conan Doyle a sailor???

I second "Madien Voyage." The entire book is comprised of excerpts from her diary. She, by all intents and purposes, was the youngest fastest solo-circumnavigator. I will let you read the book to figure out why she never actually held that title. A very good book if for only one reason -- SAILING CHICKS RULE!