Synopses & Reviews
"No one should think of setting off around the world without first consulting Jimmy Cornell's works."--
Practical Boat OwnerWorld Cruising Essentials is a unique book that presents a comprehensive overview of the current world cruising scene.
Based primarily on data Jimmy Cornell has collected during his 15 years as organizer of 27 transatlantic and 5 round-the-world rallies, as well as his own circumnavigations, this book distills the experiences of over 15,000 rally sailors who collectively have sailed 18 million miles, as well as the views of thousands of other sailors worldwide. It is this collective knowledge and consensus viewpoint that distinguish this book from other cruising handbooks, most of which present only their author's opinions and experiences.
World Cruising Essentials examines trends and changes that have taken place in the world cruising scene since its forerunner volume, World Cruising Survey, was published in 1989. It explores all areas of interest to anyone making preparations for an offshore voyage. The size and type of boats, equipment installed, electrics and electronic gear, practical aspects of life afloat, communications, formalities worldwide and the human aspects of cruising are all considered, and frequently asked questions addressed.
World Cruising Essentials includes a wealth of practical advice and information for all long-distance cruisers and will be welcomed by the cruising community for its invaluable insight.
Where do the boats go? World movement and distribution of cruising yachtsThe cruising boat today: Size, material, rig, equipment, breakagesLife afloat: Provisioning, refrigeration, watermakers, engines and fuel, energy consumption, generation, self-steering gear, anchors, tenders, watchkeeping, weather, petsThe ideal cruising boat: Improvements and comfortsSafety: Piracy, firearms, personal safety, collisions, abandoning shipPractical aspects of cruising: Formalities and restrictions, cost, communications, tourism, long term planningPsychological aspects of the cruising life: Crew, expectations, seasickness, the female point of viewThe future: Significant incidents and lessonsSynopsis
This comprehensive third volume in Jimmy Cornell's acclaimed and successful World Cruising series is the ultimate authority on boats, gear, and techniques for long-distance cruising under sail.
Distilled from surveys of 15,000 sailors by the world's leading promoter of blue-water voyaging, it answers in detail the most frequently asked questions on world cruising, including what boats people are sailing, what navigation and seamanship practices work best, what equipment is really essential, and more.
About the Author
Jimmy Cornell is the acknowledged authority on world cruising, and author of World Cruising Routes. He has sailed more than 150,000 miles in the last 25 years in all the oceans of the world, including two circumnavigations and two voyages to Antartica. The founder of the annual ARC Transatlantic Rally, the Tri-annual Round the World Rally, and the Hong Kong Challenge, Cornell is a regular contributor to sailing magazines in the U.S. and Britain and a sought-after lecturer in the U.S. He is also a tireless promoter, as well known in the U.S. as in England.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. From Dream to Reality: Offshore Cruising Yachts Today
Size; Draft; Multihulls; Displacement; Construction material; Safety; Interior; Essential features
2. The Driving Force: Rig, Rigging and Sails
Rig; Sails; Furling gear; The ideal mainsail; Conclusions
3. Power to the People: Diesel Engines, Optimum Power and Reliability
Optimum power; Fuel; Propellers; Reliability; Breakages
4. Gearing Up for a Blue Water Voyage: Ancillary Equipment for Offshore Cruising
Autopilots; Windvanes; Outboard engines; Tenders; Ground tackle; Additional equipment
5. Taking the Guessing out of Navigation: Satellite Navigation, Electronics and Instrumentation
Satellite navigation; Radar; Electronic charts and plotters
6. Keeping in Touch: E-mail, Radio and Satellite Communications
Marine radios; Amateur radios; E-mail; The internet; Satellite communications; Cellular telephones; Conclusions
7. Dancing in the Moonlight: Offshore Routines--Watchkeeping, Electricity Generation and Consumption
Watchkeeping; Lights at night; Electricity consumption and generation; Conclusions
8. Give Us Our Daily Bread: Provisioning, Refrigeration and Water
Provisioning; Water and watermakers; Refrigeration; Cooking fuel; Diving; Fishing; Photography
9. Better Safe than Sorry: Piracy, Firearms, Collisions, Abandoning Ship
The unknown; Piracy; Onboard safety; Firearms; Collisions; Abandoning ship; Conclusions
10. Only the Wind Is Free: The Practical Side of the Cruising Life
Finances; Cruising in stages; Pets; Conclusions
11. The Human Factor: Psychological Aspects of Life Afloat
Taking on crew; Crew size; Cruising couples; The age factor; Cruising with children; Expectations; Conclusions
12. The Female Angle: Women Have Their Say in the Sailing Women Survey
The decision to go; Division of labour; Onboard chores; Emergencies; Life afloat; Advice to women/men
13. What Can Go Wrong? Medical Emergencies and Equipment Failures
Seasickness; Medical emergencies; First aid; Medicine chest; Equipment breakages; Lessons to others
14. Where on Earth Are They Sailing? Worldwide Yacht Movement and Statistics
North Atlantic; Mediterranean Sea; South Atlantic; North Pacific; South Pacific; Indian Ocean; Current trends
15. Looking into a Crystal Ball: Global Cruising Survey on the Future of Cruising
Appendices
1. List of surveys, 1978 – 2002
2. Table of skippers in the Global Cruising Survey, details of their current yachts, and essential features of their ideal yachts
3. Recommended medicine chest (Peter Noble)
4. Millennium Odyssey outline and breakages report
5. Description of Aventura III
Index