SAIL Book of Commonsense Cruising

Edited by Patience Wales

The Ensign, September 2003:

“Commonsense Cruising has been a popular column in SAIL magazine, and this anthology of columns delivers 28 articles by well-known writers such as Lin and Larry Pardey, Beth Leonard and Donald Street who have loads of sailing experience behind them. This book contains advice and instruction from real sailors.

“Each section is detailed and contains boxed highlights and excellent photographs. The book also contains a small biography of each author. Sections include techniques (charts and navigation), boat care (storing your boat in the tropics, clothing and storage), boat issues (shipping), safety (sleeping safely at sea), crew care (choosing the right cruising crew) and others.

“Loads of references will help you expand your knowledge before you start your trip. For me, one of the best articles was about storing and using food. This is a great book to learn from and keep for future reference. If you’re gung-ho and ready to go, this is a good book to get you started on your cruising life.”

WoodenBoat, November/December 2001:

“A collection of practical advice for serious cruisers, originally published in SAIL magazine; topics include passage planning, making a spare-parts inventory, storing a boat in the tropics, doing the laundry, clearing customs, and more.”

Excerpted from Sailing Today, December 2001:

“This new volume promises (and delivers) much, especially for those planning a longer cruise. ‘Commonsense Cruising’ is one of the most popular columns in the US magazine SAIL and this is an anthology of 26 such features broken down into seven key topics – Techniques, Boat Care, Boat Issues, Safety, Crew Care, Food, and Finances. In all, these give mostly practical advice covering numerous issues, ranging from choosing a crew to passage planning for long voyages, dealing with money and mail, and the secret of getting a good night's sleep while underway.

“Contributions are by acknowledged experts in each field – those who have actually spent some time (in some notable cases almost a lifetime) living afloat – including Lin and Larry Pardey, Don Street, Liza Copeland, and Tom Linskey.

“As well as useful feedback on the finances and budget that you might need for a longer cruise there's also some very useful information from Lin and Larry Pardey (who have spent 30 years living aboard boats under 30ft) concerning organization of stowage – an essential factor for any cruising boat – and provisioning. Their guide to how to store perishables without refrigeration and list of how long you can expect each item to survive will be invaluable to many…

“Sailing Today verdict: Useful reading with many valuable gems of information.”

Excerpted from Nautical Magazine, October 2001:

“[SAIL Book of Commonsense Cruising] is an excellent selection of articles which are well worth reading by those contemplating cruising in whatever waters before they make the big decision to acquire a boat in which to set out on such a venture. Commonsense suggests that is always ‘Better safe than sorry’ particularly where the weather and water are the principal elements.”

Yachting Monthly, October 2001:

“This book is an anthology of 26 articles published by SAIL magazine in a popular monthly feature called ‘Commonsense Cruising’. The writers include consummate offshore sailors like Lin and Larry Pardey, Don Street, Beth Leonard, Tom Linskey and Liza Copeland, all authors of their own sailing books. Subjects include: ‘GPS and Charts: Danger Ahead?,’ ‘Eyeball navigation,’ ‘Boat care: spares and repairs,’ ‘Storing your boat in the tropics,’ ‘One hull or two?,’ ‘Bluewater gear,’ ‘Secrets of sleep at sea,’ ‘Choosing a crew,’ ‘Food: stowage solutions; water; trash disposal;’ and ‘Finances: a mid-career sabbatical.’ In these pages you will find a plethora of practical tips and hard-won experience that it would take a lifetime to gain.”

Sailing, August 2001:

“ ‘Common Sense Cruising’ is a regular column in SAIL magazine, and in this book is a collection of contributions by some of the best-known writers in the sailing world.”