Category Archives: New Books

Cornell, Vigor, Rules: Ontario Sailor Reviews

Jimmy Cornell has sailed more than 200,000 miles on all the oceans of the world, has circumnavigated three times, and began rallies to safely get lots of other sailors across the Atlantic or around the world. And he’s still helping sailors, this time with the release of the soft-cover version of his World Voyage Planner, which outlines the best route and time to leave to get to your particular paradise. The book sections the different routes by oceans, with chapters on the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean and Indian oceans, with the final chapter covering around-the-world voyages. There are three options for going from Canada or the U.S. to Europe; a northern latitude route in June or July to northern Europe and then a trip south to the Mediterranean in the fall; Bermuda and on to Gibraltar, especially for those sailors starting south of the Chesapeake; And finally sailing south to the Caribbean for the winter and heading to Europe in the spring. The book begins with planning the trip, including which boat is best (it depends, but a comfortable cockpit and a hard dodger are good), crew (healthy, add one or two on a long passage), finances (from $10,000 to $60,000 a year, but upgrade the boat before leaving, carry spares and stay out of marinas and marine stores) and weather. This book is an ideal planner for a trip anywhere in the world.

The Practical Mariner’s Book of Knowledge, 2nd Ed.
By John Vigor

This book by marine journalist John Vigor, a dinghy racing champion in South Africa who know lives in Bellingham, Washington, offers an eclectic mix of the useful and the whimsical on boating – everything from sizing an anchor to figuring out paint coverage or a colour-scheme for running rigging. With no graphics or photos or even colour on the page, the book manages to be interesting enough to prompt you to pick it up at different times to while away hours testing yourself on boat knowledge. It’s organized alphabetically, and offers more than 400, soup-to-nuts nautical theories, definitions and terms. Vigor sailed his 31 ft. sailboat more than 7,000 miles from Durban, South Africa to the Caribbean and up the Florida coastline to “escape” South Africa’s problems. He’s written for newspapers and sailing magazines and gained lots of boater knowledge, which he is now sharing with others. By the way, in answer to the above-raised questions, to paint the topsides you need to calculate the length on deck (in feet), plus beam, multiplied by 2 and multiplied by the average freeboard; A 35 ft. sailboat should have a 12 lb. Danforth anchor and/or a 25 lb. CQR; And a jib or genoa line should be blue, red for a spinnaker sheet, green for topping lifts and orange for lines for vangs and travelers. Dive in to the mix and enjoy.

Paul Elvstrom Explains The Racing Rules of Sailing
Edited by Soren Krause

Author and winning Olympic sailor Paul Elvstrom says the racing rules for sailors are “among the most complicated of any sport” but it’s easy to stay out of trouble and “preserve friendships” and promote racing by sailing against others the same way that you would like them to sail against you. “It is great to win…but only if the other competitors join in the pleasure,” Elvstrom says in the introduction. His book goes on to explain the latest changes made to the rules of racing completed by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), which mixes things up after each Olympics. Some new rules, to be in effect until 2016 ensures skippers give “wiggle room” to others to change course on a run whether they are on the same or an opposite tack, improves the definition of “mark room” and allows more latitude to help crew in danger by, say, falling overboard. The smaller-format book comes with a plastic sleeve, to protect if from water in the cockpit and small, along with plastic boat models to show the racecourse transgression to others, or explain the new rules. There are helpful, colour graphics with interpretations on the new rules and changes, and the back cover shows racing signals and flag combinations for skippers and crew.

The Rules in Practice 2013-2016
By Bryan Willis

This 8th edition is a larger-format book with colourful graphics to help the reader through situations in which the new racing rules would apply. It’s more graphical than Paul Elvstrom’s book (see above review), and a little easier for the novice to understand. The author, Bryan Willis, has been chairman of the jury and chief umpire for events like the Olympics and America’s Cup, and has been a member of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) racing rules committee for 25 years. So, there’s little doubt that he knows his stuff. He says there’s satisfaction in going into a mark rounding in second place and coming out in first — more than sailing faster on a run. That comes with knowing the rules. With the help of layout artists, the author offers sailors a great resource to keep them out of trouble, or to argue their case when trouble finds them. A graphic on a given racing situation is offered, with boats close together on the course, followed by explanations on the various rights and obligations of skippers in the various boats, along with the rule numbers needed to argue your case before the umpire. Different scenarios are offered, such as during a gate start, rounding the windward mark, the finish, and on a reach. The back section spells out the ISAF racing rules.

A Sister Remembers a Coyote

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Julia Plant, author of Coyote at Sea reflects:

When my older brother, Mike Plant, died at sea in 1992, just before his 42th birthday, he had made a big name for himself in the strange, and, seemingly impossible, sport of single-handed sailing around the world. Before his racing career took off, my relationship with Mike was an enormous part of my life and, particularly, a big part of my “coming of age” years: my mid- teens to my mid-twenties. His sudden death left me feeling bereft, and I wasn’t ready to let him go. Writing a book about him gave me the illusion of having him in my life.

As his sister, it was important to me that people understand who Mike was on an intimate level, as well as, who he was before he found his passion. Although he had dreamed about sailing around the world his whole life, he lived a lot of his life before he even knew about solo, long distance racing. He didn’t actually have a typical ocean sailor’s background. He grew up in Minnesota, a long ways from the sea, and he did not begin sailing on the ocean, let alone, solo, until he was thirty-six, the same year he won Class 2 in the 2^nd BOC Challenge Around the World. He did realize his dream and the path that he took was wild, compelling and definitely worth writing a book about.

2013 Racing Rules

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If you’ve seen our home page, you know we’ve got the new 2013- 2016 Racing Rules. There are quite a few updates: more than half the rules have changes or amendments. Here’s a rundown of our post popular rule-related books:

The CYA Racing Rules of Sailing 2013-2016 are the ISAF rules including “Exceptions to Rules” specific to Canadian racers. This is just the straight legalese, without any interpretation or illustration. The 5 by 7 inch format slips easily into large pockets.

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Important New Editions and Updates

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IMDG 2012

IMDG Code, 2012 Edition

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, 2012 Edition will be available in November, 2012. This edition of the Code will come into effect on January 1, 2014 for 2 years and may be applied voluntarily from January 1, 2013. It includes Amendment 36-12. The IMDG Code Supplement, 2010 edition is still valid. Two-volume set. The electronic editions will also be available in early 2013.

Marine Terminal Management and Self Assessment (MTMSA)

MTMSA 2012

This document introduces the Marine Terminal Management and Self Assessment (MTMSA) process which has been developed by OCIMF as a standardised tool for global application to assist terminal operators in the assessment of the effectiveness of their management systems for berth operations and the management of the ship/shore interface. This is also available as an ebook.

BLCH 2012

Bulk Liquid Chemical Handling Guide for Plants, Terminals, Storage

The BLCH Guide covers all aspects of typical chemical tank terminal activities, from basic design and layout to the ongoing safe and efficient operation, maintenance and management of the facility. This practical comprehensive publication focuses on safety, environment and security, bringing together international consistent best practices. Two-volume set. Ebook version also available.

Lloyd's Maritime Atlas

Lloyd’s Maritime Atlas of World Ports and Shipping Places

Published since 1951, this is the 27^th edition of a book used throughout the shipping industry. It contains precise latitude and longtitude co-ordinates of more than 8,000 ports world-wide.

Guide d’application des Regles et des principes

Full-colour illustrations help explain the rules and regulations for preventing collisions at sea, 1972 with Canadian modifications. This is the only study guide of its kind available in French. Well organized and easy to use.

Reed's #13

Reed’s Vol. 13: Ship Stability, Powering and Resistance

This is a new volume from the Reed’s Marine Engineering Series. It covers stability, resistance and powering based topics, such as flotation and buoyancy, small angle, large angle and longitudinal stability, water density effects, bilging, ship resistance, and advanced hydrostatics, and is geared to marine students and professionals.

COLREGS

Colregs Guide

This is the 4^th edition of a great learning guide to the collision regulations where every rule is presented on one page and the interpretations are presented on the face page. It is amply illustrated with computer-modelled drawings which give true-to-life views of the situation.

FTP Code

FTP Code

A new edition of the International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures, 2010. Also available as an ebook.

ISPS and Security Guide

Guide to Maritime Security and the ISPS Code, 2012

This book does not supersede the ISPS Code, 2003 Edition but aims to assist SOLAS Contracting Governments in relation to the provisions of SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code.

Meteorology Today

Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment

This is an updated edition of a book that provides a comprehensive look at weather, climate, and the environment, explained with hundreds of colour illustrations. The written material covers topics directly related to everyday experiences and stresses understanding and applying the fundamentals. Workbook also available.

Polar Ship Operations

Polar Ship Operations

A comprehensive practical guide to navigation in the polar regions. Covers preparation of the ship, personnel, and cargoes for polar transits. Introduces the mariner to ice physics, operation in polar ice (north and south), tactics for ice navigation, ice convoy work with particular focus on polar ice regimes, polar infrastructure, communications, environmental response and insurance.

Thomas' Stowage

Thomas’ Stowage: Properties and Stowage of Cargoes

A revised and rewritten edition of the definitive text on the properties and stowage of cargo.

Ship Construction

Ship Construction

Written by George Bruce & D. J. Eyres, this excellent text is often used by schools.

Ship Stability

Ship Stability for Masters and Mates

A new edition of a standard text for those wishing to become deck officers or acquire an engineering certificate of competency.

Professional Marine Books >>

Professional Marine ebooks >>

Phoenix from the Ashes: An Unexpected Journey

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Justin Writes:

Phoenix from the Ashes

Most adventures are meticulously planned – ours came about by accident. For seven years Linda, my wife and I, lived and sailed on board a traditional wooden Gaffer that we built ourselves, as amateurs. Not for us the sweltering sun and tropical islands – we headed to the Celtic Coasts of Scotland and Ireland; visited tiny fishing communities; met the quirky folk who live there, and foraged for our living on their low-water shores. In the winters we headed up to the tops of rivers or sea-lochs where we would be protected from winter’s howling gales; walked the lonely hills by day; and at night read books by the cosy glow of a glass-fronted wood burning stove. Phoenix from the Ashes tells the story of an unexpected journey – but it’s really about the people we met: interesting, funny, quirky or sometimes just downright odd – real people struggling to make sense of the stuff that life throws at them. Just like us. I’m grateful to Nautical Mind for making my book available in Canada – I hope you enjoy it, and I’d love to hear from you via the email address you’ll find inside. Best Wishes, Justin.

Justin and Linda

Sam Llewellyn: Bars in Strange Towns, Stories, Black Fish

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Sam Llewellyn writes:

When you come ashore in a strange port and head for the nearest bar, there is usually someone who will sidle up to you and tell you a story, rather in the way that it was once impossible to sit in the lobby of the Royal York Hotel in Toronto without someone sidling up to you and trying to sell you an uranium mine. My most recent novel began when I went into the only pub on a remote Scottish island and a deeply intoxicated man told me that someone had stolen his fishing boat, which weighed about 100 tons, from between two locks on a canal, neither of the lock keepers having seen a thing. Unfortunately the law of libel, or possibly slander, prevents me from going into the rest of it here. But you will find the fictionalised consequences of this encounter between the covers of Black Fish.

PORTS Lake Ontario Cruising Guide 2012 and More

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Hot off the presses is the 2012 edition of the PORTS Cruising Guide to Lake Ontario. The PORTS Cruising Guides have long been our favourite guides, not just of the Great Lakes, but of all the Cruising Guides out there. Their layout, aerial photos, writing style, and useful yachty tips make them both indispensable and fun. Not to put too fine a point on it, but if you plan on sailing or power-boating around on Lake Ontario, you absolutely need this book. See also their guides to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, The Trent-Severn, and The Rideau & Ottawa River.

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Other great cruising guides that have just been updated with new editions for 2012 include The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruising Guide, The 2012 Yachtsman’s Guide to the Bahamas, The Gentleman’s Guide to Passages South, and The Cruising Guide to the Leeward Islands. For even more guides, check out our Cruising Guide section online, stop by the store, or give us a call.

The New Northwest Passage

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Author and Journalist Cameron Dueck is speaking at 7:30 tonight (April 12th) at Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club about his experience transiting the Arctic. We’ll be there too with copies of his new book, The New Northwest Passage. [Facebook Event] An excerpt from his talk is below.

Our first encounter with ice caught us by surprise. First a small piece bobbed by, and then a second, and then we were in the thick of it. We had to drop our sails and start the engine to allow us to stop on a dime, reverse and carefully inch our way around the ice floes. I sent crew up the mast to look for clear lanes of water through the ice floes. If we were careless or luck turned against us, the ice could easily crush our fibreglass hull and sink us, leaving us precious little time to move from the frigid water into our life raft.

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Remembering the Titanic 100 Years Later

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Royal Ontario Museum curator, liner aficionado, and Nautical Mind friend K. Corey Keeble writes:

Titanic - An Illustrated History

Titanic - The Ship Magnificent

Titanic - Gilded Lives on a Fatal Voyage

The one hundredth anniversary of the 1912 sinking of the White Star liner Titanic occurs on 14-15 April 2012. Marking the event are the publication of a whole slate of new books on the subject, cruises to the wreck site, an endless succession of scheduled Titanic related media events, public lectures, and the 3-D re-release of James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic. Current interest in the Titanic effectively dates back to the 1955 publication of Walter Lord’s best selling account of the disaster, A Night To Remember. Among the most impressive publications on the subject in recent years is the remarkable two volume set by Bruce Beveridge, Scott Andrews, Steve Hall and Daniel Klistorner Titanic: The Ship Magnificent first published in 2008. It follows a series of such notable works on the Titanic as John P. Eaton and Charles A. Haas’s Titanic: Triumph and Tragedy, now in its third edition, and Donald Lynch’s Titanic: An Illustrated History, currently available in both soft and hard cover editions.

Works presently available on the Titanic also include reprints of important studies dating back to the time of the disaster itself, including the most recent edition of Lawrence Beesley’s The Loss of the S.S. Titanic, originally published in 1912. Beesley’s account is also found in The Story of the Titanic Told by its Survivors, edited by Jack Winocour, but there are numerous reprints of other titles by other authors as well. Of special interest and important among the most recent publications on this endlessly captivating subject is Toronto author Hugh Brewster’s Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage, which provided the focus for his 30 March “RMS Titanic: Parable Lecture” at Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum.

New Books: Battleships, Cargo, Yachting Customs, & More!

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We received a passel of new books this month, as diverse and varied as they were all about boats and boat-related activity. Here’s a sampling of some of our favourites: