Here is a list of literature to get inspired, and above all to learn from others' mistakes ;)
The first long-sailing book I read was "Jorden runt with Coquette" / "Around the world with Coquette", by Gunnel Möller, a story from an older Swedish couple who sold their house and all belongings, quit work and sailed around the world 1990-1993. Of course, the story is soon 30 years old and a lot has happened since then, especially when it comes to technology, but still the book gives a great overview of what to expect when setting of to a global circumnavigation. Storms, exciting foreign shores, the everyday life on board, all is described with detail and is great to read. I would be surprised if anyone would not dream of sailing away after reading this book...
The second circumnavigation story, actually a must, was "Alla sa vi skulle dö" / "Everyone said we were gonna die", by Danjel Henriksson, Kajsa Björn and Jonatan Bonthron. A yung Swedish crew of three, with no sailing experience, bought an Albin Vega and boldly went around the world. The boat is the same as I started off on, and the age of the crew is closer to me too. This trip is more recent, 2005-2007, and the issues they met are a lot like I have been experiencing. Really good reading, exciting stories, not only from the crew but also from those they met along the way. Highly recommended if you're really considering going, and also very good if you want to know in advance what you are going to go through. There are stories of disasters and victories, personal tension, quarrels, romance and down-to-earth realism like authorities that want to be bribed, embarrassing seasickness that just won't disappear, and doing number two tied to the stern of the boat.
Prior to starting the trip, I got a present from a friend and ex-colleague, a book called "Survive the Savage Sea", a tale of survival when a boat carrying a couple of adults, their young kids and an extra crew guy was sunk in moments, and they had to survive in a life raft with virtually no food or water. This is definitely not a story for the easily frightened or weak-nerved, but a great study in survival - in the 70's, there were no EBIRBs, hand-held waterproof VHF radios etc. But there were blunt knives, bad-quality rafts and strong wills. I could not put the book down after the first few chapters.
Next, I started up "The manual to blue-water sailing", but it is highly race yacht oriented, of though it surely contains a lot of important tips. It is a good-to-have reference book, especially if you have a big crew and are interested in big-scale pro sailing.
"Handling storms at sea" by Hal Roth, on the other side, is brilliant. A skillful narrator, he talks of the techniques to take on the different weather conditions, mixes with practical tips, psychological remarks, and loads of real-life stories. Very much recommended to all sailors!
His "After 50,000 miles" is also great reference literature for those who want to make long-distance sailing their lifestyle.
His "After 50,000 miles" is also great reference literature for those who want to make long-distance sailing their lifestyle.
"Total loss" by Paul Gelder is definitely not for the easily frightened, either. It deals with 40 stories of yacht losses, some costing lives. Collision, storms, keels falling off, it has it all. Recommended as a check-list reading for a sailor that is tough enough not to dream nightmares afterwards, or may be as a book for a calm, sunny and drowsy day at the beach for those who likes to stare at road kills and read pocket thrillers with detailed accounts of deaths. Dry, IRL and fact-based. A great way to learn from others’ mistakes.
Bob Bond's "The Handbook of Sailing", and similar sailing guides, books on meteorology, navigation, and a guide to all the world's kinds of fishes, including the cooking recepies.
For Arctic sailing, my best recommendation is Amundsen's diaries. I read them while sailing to Svalbard. There is no better inspiration for an Arctic explorer!
For a list of my blog posts about my own circumnavigation, please see here.
For Arctic sailing, my best recommendation is Amundsen's diaries. I read them while sailing to Svalbard. There is no better inspiration for an Arctic explorer!
For a list of my blog posts about my own circumnavigation, please see here.