A Sea Vagabond's World

By Bernard Moitessier

Caribbean Compass, June 2000:

“Moitessier decided to write the definitive book on boats, the sea and the life of Robinson Crusoe, comparing what Crusoe knew about cruising and what we know today.”

Excerpted from Classic Boat, May 2000:

“Bernard Moitessier was one of the great ocean voyagers and certainly one of the most idiosyncratic. He died in 1994, and was unable to finish this work: a practical guide to boats, the sea and the beachcombing life which he led on various South Sea islands. The material for the book was gathered by Veronique Lerebours Pigeonniere, his companion and atoll acolyte.

“Described by her as ‘part fish, part monkey,’ for years Moitessier had been jotting down tips on choosing a boat, fitting her out, sailing her, ocean voyaging, meteorology and, finally, settling on an atoll. This is no run of the mill how-to-do-it manual, however, though the advice on how to survive on a Pacific atoll is pithily pragmatic, with lots of pictures on how to spear fish and the like.

“Amid the anecdotes and sound advice the humanist philosophy of the adventurer/writer shines through like a shaft of moonlight breaking through cloud to pierce his beloved Pacific Ocean.

“Born in 1925 in Indochina, Moitessier gained much of his sailing knowledge from the fishermen of the Gulf of Siam and was a firm advocate of the old maritime ways. ‘Man is a fallen god who remembers the heavens,’ he told Pigeonniere. ‘I'm sure people will get fed up with sailing technology, and return to basics.‘ He offers these tips to ‘future birds of the sea’ to help them towards the dream of sailing away from it all to discover their desert island paradise.

“So find your boat, fit her out, set sail and sharpen your machete for those coconuts. Moitessier's spirit will be with you.”

Excerpted from Sailing Inland & Offshore, December 1998:

“Moitessier’s notebooks include all the know-how and the 1001 tips of this legendary sailor, the knowledge he acquired on the water, in meeting with other sailors, during long passages, and during his many years living on various islands.

“This simple how-to volume explains why the sea never changes despite the incredible progress of technology. The first part of the book details how to prepare for an extensive cruise, what kind of boat to choose, the rigging, the sails, the anchors, on deck, below deck. The second part describes the passage: the weather, navigation, watch keeping, and heavy weather. In the third part, Moitessier takes us to the South Sea Islands and shows how to adapt to living on an atoll, gardening, fishing, and attaining self-sufficiency.”

Excerpted from Blue Water Sailing, November/December 1998:

“The three-part volume addresses in logical fashion how to select and outfit a vessel (‘boats and sails’), how to conduct a successful passage (‘distant shores’), and how to live self-sufficiently on a faraway tropical spit (‘islands and lagoons’). No essential topic is left untreated, and the result is a unique window into the way Moitessier the master solved problems that voyagers in the tropics confront all the time.

“[Moitessier] talks about boats, hand tools, equipment, repairs, navigation, weather, anchoring, fishing… even cooking, and included are compelling, often unorthodox arguments about how he accomplished tasks and why he chose the strategies he did. The book even includes a handy glossary of terms. The read is personable and easygoing, the format eclectic enough to make every page jump out at you with something new and instructive.”