Synopses & Reviews
“Belongs in the bookshelf of every cruising vessel.”—Blue Water Sailing
“If you are serious about that extended voyage, read The Voyager’s Handbook.”—Sailing
“Every now and then a new voice emerges in the world of sailing literature that stands out, a voice that is both clear and of lasting quality. The appearance of such a new voice is something of an event, and that’s what we’d call the publication of The Voyager’s Handbook.”—Blue Water Sailing
This inspirational and comprehensive manual leads you step by step through every aspect of choosing, planning, and following the voyager’s life. Using three example boats representing three cruising lifestyles—Simplicity, Moderation, and Highlife—Beth Leonard helps make your bluewater dreams come true, whether you’re sailing on a shoestring or a CEO’s pension.Starting with the things you can’t do without—an enthusiastic crew, a seaworthy boat, and, of course, money—Leonard offers sage advice on how to select crewmembers who are truly committed to the voyage, how to choose the right boat for you, and how to find just the right approach to financing your voyage and making the most of every dollar spent.
Managing life from a floating home and keeping that home livable, seaworthy, and safe requires you to become, among other things, the ship’s purser, engineer, doctor, cook, and cruise director. You’ll discover how to prepare for these new roles and put necessary equipment and arrangements in place before you untie your docklines.This exquisitely detailed guide also helps you master the skills you’ll need to handle a boat at sea with a small crew, including
- Weather forecasting
- Passage planning
- Watchkeeping
- Heavy-weather sailing
- Emergency management
- Midocean repairs
Complete with dozens of easy-to-use graphs and tables for quick reference, along with the hard-won wisdom of experienced cruisers, The Voyager’s Handbook is the ultimate resource for anyone who is planning, preparing for, or just dreaming about a great adventure on the high seas.
Since completing a three-year, 35,000-mile circumnavigation of the globe with her partner, Evans Starzinger, in 1995, Beth Leonard has lectured widely, written for leading sailing magazines, and outfitted a new 50-foot aluminum cutter aboard which she and Evans once again set sail in 1999. They logged an additional 50,000 miles at sea over the following six years, much of it in the world’s high latitudes, including Labrador, Iceland, Scotland, Cape Horn, and east through the Southern Ocean to Australia.
See the world from your boat
“A voyaging handbook with soul. Beth Leonard is a pleasure to read. No one else has captured the yin and yang of voyaging so well.”—Caribbean Compass
“Required reading. Beth Leonard is a fresh and authoritative voice.”—SAIL
“In her own journey, Beth Leonard has become not only a wonderful sailor, but also a fine teacher. I know this because I’ve learned so much from her.”—from the Foreword by Herb McCormick, Latitude 38 and Cruising World
"When other boats scurry back to their berths just ahead of the setting sun, you want to keep sailing. You want your tracks to be the only ones on a perfect sand beach of a deserted tropical island. You want to see the green flash, taste coconut milk from the husk, watch the fish dance at dusk, and share a feast with new friends from other cultures. This book can help you get there. It is written for coastal and limited offshore cruisers who want to make the transition to long-term voyaging. I have tried to capture everything I wish I had known on that June day when we first sailed out from under Newport Bridge.”—from the Prologue by Beth Leonard
Synopsis
“Belongs in the bookshelf of every cruising vessel.”
Blue Water Sailing “If you are serious about that extended voyage, read The Voyagers Handbook.”Sailing
“Every now and then a new voice emerges in the world of sailing literature that stands out, a voice that is both clear and of lasting quality. The appearance of such a new voice is something of an event, and thats what wed call the publication of The Voyagers Handbook.”Blue Water Sailing
This inspirational and comprehensive manual leads you step by step through every aspect of choosing, planning, and following the voyagers life. Using three example boats representing three cruising lifestylesSimplicity, Moderation, and HighlifeBeth Leonard helps make your bluewater dreams come true, whether youre sailing on a shoestring or a CEOs pension. Starting with the things you cant do withoutan enthusiastic crew, a seaworthy boat, and, of course, moneyLeonard offers sage advice on how to select crewmembers who are truly committed to the voyage, how to choose the right boat for you, and how to find just the right approach to financing your voyage and making the most of every dollar spent.
Managing life from a floating home and keeping that home livable, seaworthy, and safe requires you to become, among other things, the ships purser, engineer, doctor, cook, and cruise director. Youll discover how to prepare for these new roles and put necessary equipment and arrangements in place before you untie your docklines. This exquisitely detailed guide also helps you master the skills youll need to handle a boat at sea with a small crew, including
- Weather forecasting
- Passage planning
- Watchkeeping
- Heavy-weather sailing
- Emergency management
- Midocean repairs
Complete with dozens of easy-to-use graphs and tables for quick reference, along with the hard-won wisdom of experienced cruisers, The Voyagers Handbook is the ultimate resource for anyone who is planning, preparing for, or just dreaming about a great adventure on the high seas.
Synopsis
Here's how to see the world from your boat. More and more people are taking off on their cruising boats for a few months or even a year. After they've tasted the cruising life, prepared and equipped their boats, and developed some experience, many cruisers begin to dream of voyaging farther--maybe even an around-the-world voyage.
The Voyager's Handbook offers specific information for cruisers considering such a vast undertaking. An experienced circumnavigator, author Beth Leonard shows cruisers how to prepare their boat and themselves. She offers complete, up-to-date information on the latest gear and techniques and detaile, hard-earned advice from dozens of experienced sailors, about boats, crew, and costs as well as crucial but easily overlooked aspects of long-distance passagemaking such as health, safety, weather, provisions, fresh water, and foreign port protocol.
With a balanced, down-to-earth approach, The Voyager's Handbook tells it like it is, for any cruiser considering that voyage of a lifetime.
Synopsis
Here's how to see the world from your boat. More and more people are taking off on their cruising boats for a few months or even a year. After they've tasted the cruising life, prepared and equipped their boats, and developed some experience, many cruisers begin to dream of voyaging farther--maybe even an around-the-world voyage.
The Voyager's Handbook offers specific information for cruisers considering such a vast undertaking. An experienced circumnavigator, author Beth Leonard shows cruisers how to prepare their boat and themselves. She offers complete, up-to-date information on the latest gear and techniques and detaile, hard-earned advice from dozens of experienced sailors, about boats, crew, and costs as well as crucial but easily overlooked aspects of long-distance passagemaking such as health, safety, weather, provisions, fresh water, and foreign port protocol.
With a balanced, down-to-earth approach, The Voyager's Handbook tells it like it is, for any cruiser considering that voyage of a lifetime.
About the Author
Beth A. Leonard has won awards from the Ocean Cruising Club and the Cruising Club of America. A popular writer, she lectures around the country. She and her husband have circumnavigated the globe twice under sail, logging 85,000 blue water miles.
Table of Contents
Foreword to the Second Edition by Herb McCormick
Foreword to the First Edition by George Day
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: The Essential Ingredients
Chapter 1. Committed Crew
WHAT MAKES FOR SUCCESSFUL CREWS? • Composition of Successful Crews • Cruising with Kids: What Age Is Best? • Characteristics of Successful Crews • BUILDING VOYAGING PARTNERSHIPS • Critical Elements • Tips for Cruising with Kids • Laying the Groundwork • DECIDING WHEN TO GO • Timing Issues • Timing Options • THREE VOYAGING CREWS
Chapter 2. Adequate Financing
ALTERNATIVES FOR FINANCING THE DREAM • Precareer: Earn as You Go • Sabbatical: Save Enough to Finance Several Years • Early Retirement: Stretching the Retirement Income • Part-Time Voyaging or Working Aboard: Continuing Your Career • HOW MUCH DOES VOYAGING REALLY COST? • Living Expenses • Avoiding Budget Busters • Annual Boat Expenses • Capital Costs: Two Case Studies • Discretionary and One-Off Expenses • The Cost of Two Cruises • HOW MUCH BOAT CAN YOU AFFORD? • Refit Costs: Some Rough Figures
Chapter 3. A Bluewater-Capable Yacht
NARROWING THE FIELD • What Type of Boat Do You Want? • Steve Dashews Hybrid Designs • Where Do You Intend to Cruise? • What Size Boat Will Suit You? • The “Average” Bluewater Voyager • What Age Boat Will Suit Your Budget? • EVALUATING INDIVIDUAL BOATS • Screening Criteria: Stability and Durability • Common Structural Problems in Older Boats • Bluewater Survey • Second Boats • The Test Sail • One Couple's Search • THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR THREE CREWS • Two Boats, Two Voyages
Part II: Refitting and Equipping the Yacht for Bluewater Voyaging
Chapter 4. Upgrading for Offshore
COMMON UPGRADES TO OLDER PRODUCTION BOATS • Make Your Boat Watertight • The Ins and Outs of Stainless Steel • Improve Your Boat's Ventilation • Improve the Anchoring Arrangements • Revitalize the Rig • Preventing Corrosion between Dissimilar Metals • Problem-Proof the Engine and Propulsion System • Modify Your Boat's Interior • Common Electrical and Plumbing System Upgrades • Increase Safety Above- and Belowdecks • UPGRADING THREE OFFSHORE VOYAGERS
Chapter 5. Sails and Sail Handling
OFFSHORE SAILING REALITIES • Offshore Sailing Conditions • Crew Size • Boat Size • OFFSHORE SAILS AND SAIL HANDLING • Temperate and High-Latitude Passagemaking: Managing Variability • Modern Sail Materials and Their Uses • Modern Line Materials and Their Uses • Trade Wind Passagemaking: Maximizing Downwind Performance • SAIL INVENTORY FOR THREE OFFSHORE VOYAGERS • Additional Pretrip Preparations
Chapter 6. Anchors, Anchoring, and Mooring
ANCHORING BASICS • Ground Tackle for the Bluewater Voyager • Beyond Anchors and Rodes: Additional Anchoring Equipment • Anchoring Technique • Raising a Fouled Anchor • Real-World Situations • MOORING AND BERTHING BASICS • Lines, Fenders, and More • Real-World Situations • GROUND TACKLE AND MOORING EQUIPMENT FOR THREE OFFSHORE VOYAGERS
Chapter 7. On-Deck Essentials: Dinghies, Self-Steering, and Safety Gear
DINGHIES AND OUTBOARDS • Choosing a Dinghy • Selecting an Outboard • Equipping Your Tender • Tender Choices for Three Offshore Voyagers • SELF-STEERING • Wind Vanes • Electric Autopilots • Self-Steering Options and Solutions for Three Offshore Voyagers • ON-DECK SAFETY EQUIPMENT • Preventing Collisions • Preventing Crew Overboard • Abandoning Ship • On-Deck Safety Solutions for Three Offshore Voyagers
Chapter 8. Other Equipment: Navigation, Communications, and Comforts and Conveniences
NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT • Position Finding • Beyond the Depth Sounder: Additional Instruments • Charting Options • The Cruisers Laptop • HIGH-SEAS COMMUNICATIONS • The Ships Barometer • Radio-Based Systems • Satellite-Based Systems • COMFORTS AND CONVENIENCES • Refrigerators/Freezers • Watermakers • Heating and Cooling Systems • Other Goodies and Gadgets • EQUIPMENT CHOICES FOR THREE OFFSHORE VOYAGERS
Chapter 9. Configuring Your Electrical System
ANALYZING ELECTRICAL NEEDS • A Back-of-the-Envelope Calculation for Daily Energy Usage • Calculating Loads • A Few Useful Electrical Notes • Generating Options • Stowing Electricity • An Alternative Approach to Balancing the Electrical System • Optimizing Charging • Battery-Down Exercise • ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FOR THREE OFFSHORE VOYAGERS • How Long Can You Leave the Boat?
Chapter 10. Putting It All Together: From Refit Plan to Balanced Boat
A REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE: REINVENTING GINNY • A Sensible Four-Year Refit Plan • Executing the Plan • Tallying the Bottom Line • REFIT PLANS FOR THREE OFFSHORE VOYAGERS • Refit Plans and Time Frames • Why Weight-Carrying Ability Matters • Comparison of Three Balanced Boats • What We Left Off . . . and Why
Part III: Liveaboard Skills Chapter 11. Liveaboard Essentials: What to Bring and How to Stow It
MANAGING SPACE • Maximizing Stowage Space • Organizing Stowage Areas • The Stowage Plan • ALLOCATING SPACE: THE ESSENTIALS FOR LIFE ABOARD • Deck Gear • Navigation Needs and Ships References • Galley Equipment • What Not to Bring • Linens and Bedding • Clothing • Electronics • The Most Personal of Decisions: Firearms Aboard • Miscellany • LIVING WITHIN YOUR SPACE
Chapter 12. Managing Life Afloat
BUSINESS AND BUREAUCRACY • Communications • Pretrip Preparations: Setting Up for Remote Management • Money Matters • Ships Papers and Other Documents • TRANSITIONING TO LIFE AFLOAT
Chapter 13. Better Boatkeeping
MAINTENANCE MIND-SET • Day-to-Day Proactive Maintenance: Looking for Trouble • Preventive Maintenance Schedules: Preventing Trouble • Troubleshooting: 90 Percent Solutions • The Annual Haulout • Minimizing Maintenance: Avoiding Trouble • ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND SPARES • The Voyagers Toolbox • The Spares Locker
Chapter 14. Galleywise
FRESHWATER MANAGEMENT • Assessing Needs • Do You Need a Watermaker? • Getting It Aboard • Keeping It Potable • FOOD AND STORES MANAGEMENT • Provisioning Basics • Obtaining Propane • Provisioning Tips and Tricks • Galley Skills
Chapter 15. Staying Safe: Lessons Learned Over 90,000 Nautical Miles
EIGHT DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THEM • On the Rocks in Iceland • Night Reef Entrance • Close Encounters with Ships • Close Encounters with Hard Objects • Close Encounter with a Hurricane • Fire On Board • Pinned on a Fuel Dock • GPS Waypoint Mistake • SUMMARY OF LESSONS LEARNED
Chapter 16. Staying Healthy: Being Your Own Doctor
PREPARATION: BEFORE YOU LEAVE • Know Thyself • Children and Older Voyagers: Special Considerations • Know the Basics • Know Thy Medical Kit • PREVENTION: MANAGING DAY-TO-DAY HEALTH • Seasickness • Infections and Serious Illnesses • Allergic Reactions • Emergencies and Traumatic Injuries • PROTECTION: ENSURING LONG-TERM HEALTH • Sun Protection • Nutrition • Exercise • Managing Major Health Concerns
Chapter 17. Staying Challenged: Following Your Heart
SHIP-SUITABLE ACTIVITIES • Water Time • Learning Time • Social Time • Quiet Time • SHIP-ADAPTABLE ACTIVITIES • Photography • Other Arts
Part IV: Shorthanded Passagemaking Skills Chapter 18. Global Weather Patterns and Voyage Planning
GLOBAL WEATHER PATTERNS • Prevailing Winds • Ocean Currents • Weather Disturbances • Planning Tools: Pilot Charts • VOYAGE PLANNING • One Year, One Ocean • Around the World in Eighteen Months • Circumnavigating in Two or More Years • Eastabout Circumnavigations
Chapter 19. Weather Basics and Onboard Forecasting
WEATHER BASICS • Temperate and High Latitudes • Two Weather Phenomena to Watch For • What the Barometer Really Tells You • Tropical Latitudes • ONBOARD WEATHER RESOURCES • Weather Fax • Weather Charts and Their Uses • High Seas Radio Nets and Forecasts • Inmarsat-C Forecasts • Downloadable Weather Files • Weather Routers • USING WEATHER INFORMATION • Departure Window • Routing Decisions • Sail Handling Decisions • Lessons Learned
Chapter 20. Preparing for Passage
PASSAGE PLANNING • Prepassage Bureaucracy: Obtaining Visas • Wind Strengths • Ocean Currents • Other Hazards • PASSAGE PREPARATIONS • Provision Planning • Picking Your Weather Window • Final Shoreside Preparations • The Last Few Hours
Chapter 21. Basic Passage Routines
TAKING CARE OF THE BOAT • Doublehanded Watchkeeping • Duties of the Watchkeeper • TAKING CARE OF THE CREW • Cooking • Sleeping • Hygiene • Managing Garbage at Sea • Diversions • Morale and Safety
Chapter 22. Heavy Weather
HEAVY-WEATHER BASICS • (In)frequency and Severity • Breaking Waves and Rogue Waves • The Golden Rules • GALE AND STORM TACTICS • Heaving-To and Forereaching • Lying Ahull • Running Off • Hawk vs. Silk: An Example of How Boat Design Impacts Tactics • SURVIVAL STORM TACTICS • Southern Ocean Storm Tactics • Running Off with a Drogue • Lying To a Sea Anchor • Motoring or Sailing into the Weather • 1998 Sydney-to-Hobart Race: A Postmortem • HEAVY-WEATHER STRATEGIES FOR THREE OFFSHORE VOYAGERS
Chapter 23. Toward Self-Reliance: Managing Emergencies at Sea
EMERGENCY PREVENTION • Going Aloft at Sea • EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT • Taking on Water • Failure of Structural Openings • Collision • Steering Failures • Rigging Failures • Piracy • SURVIVING AN EMERGENCY
Chapter 24. Toward Seamanship: Efficient Passagemaking
KEEPING THE BOAT MOVING SAFELY AND WELL • Learning the Language • Making Miles in Light Air • Single-Handed Jibe • When Canvas Fails: Minimizing Motoring • Shorthanded Safety Tips • ADAPTING THE PASSAGE PLAN • Developing an Initial Passage Plan • Modifying the Plan Based on Actual Conditions • MAKING A SUCCESSFUL LANDFALL
Part V: Foreign Savvy Chapter 25. Upon Arrival
BUREAUCRACY REVISITED • Clearing In • Managing Bureaucratic Hassles • Burgeoning Bureaucracy • GETTING YOUR BEARINGS • Returning the Boat to Normal • When in Rome . . . • Avoiding Pests and Plagues
Chapter 26. Enjoying Being There
ASSIMILATING • Finding the Way In • Respecting Local Laws and Customs • Saying “Thank You” • SIGHTSEEING • ENTERTAINING • MANAGING LOCAL RISKS • Volatile Political Situations • Theft
Chapter 27. The Voyaging Life: Keeping the Faith
THE FIRST YEAR: RECONCILING THE DREAM WITH THE REALITY • The Two Sides of the Voyaging Coin • Changing Gears • JOINING THE CRUISING COMMUNITY • Voyaging Values • Voyaging Customs • Sea Superstitions • Voyaging Etiquette • LONG-TERM SATISFACTION • SURVIVING REENTRY
Appendices
Appendix 1. Additional Resources
Appendix 2. Conversions
Appendix 3. Performance Measurements Explained
Appendix 4. Upgrades for Boats of Different Ages
Appendix 5. Galley Substitutes and Equivalents
Appendix 6. Offshore Medical Kit
Index