The Complete Yachtmaster: Sailing, Seamanship, and Navigation for the Modern Yacht Skipper by Tom Cunliffe

This week I am posting the book review early as Friday is a holiday. Happy 4th of July all!

Although this book was written primarily for the UK market, there is still plenty of great advice for boaters around the world and it can easily be adapted for owners in any location. The author is an experienced sailor that has traveled to many exotic locations around the world aboard his yacht and you’ll learn some great techniques and share in some of those adventures while reading this book. It’s a fast paced read that is well worth the time and most boaters should be able to get something out of it, even if they have never piloted a yacht before.

This review refers to the fourth edition of this book, since it is updated quite frequently. Each subsequent version has been so well received since the first one came out and the updates make it well worth buying again and again. So many books that offer updates fall flat and you end up feeling a bit ripped off after buying what is essentially the same book again, but this one manages to steer clear of those murky waters. It’s a book that you’ll want to revisit time and time again and the updates are always useful, especially as yachting technology changes.

Many consider this book to be a bit of a bible for anyone that is interested in owning and operating their own yacht, and it also incredibly helpful for those who only rent one occasionally or are thinking of buying a yacht in the future. It is a totally comprehensive guide not only on the theory of yachtmanship but also its practice. Many books drone on and on about theory and fall short when it comes to giving tips on how to put that theory into action. Once again, the author manages to avoid that trap and delivers a powerful read that will have you raring to go in just a few minutes.

When it comes to buying a book about piloting a yacht it is very important to make sure that the author is experienced in many different aspects. Just one trip does not a polished author make and with this particular author, you’re getting the benefit of his years of experience as well as information that he has been able to put to use and test during his many years at sea. The journeys he has taken are epic in proportion and serve as a terrific guide for the rest of us, even if we’re just going to be tooling about in a harbor.

Overall, this is a terrific read that should be purchased by anyone serious about yachting. You’ll be able to learn quite a lot in a very short amount of time and the knowledge can be put to good use immediately. The tone of the book is very engaging and it’s never a dull read. You’ll get a lot out of it and chances are, you’ll want to go back to it again and again.

 

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