Heavy Weather Sailing

by Peter Bruce

For 50 years Heavy Weather Sailing has been regarded as the ultimate international authority on surviving storms at sea aboard sailing and motor vessels. The first edition was compiled by Kaines Adlard Coles himself in 1967. Since then technology may have improved, but the weather certainly hasn't. This is the seventh updated edition, edited by racing yachtsman Peter Bruce, ensuring that in its 50th year the book remains as relevant and as essential as it has been for the previous five decades.

The book brings together a wealth of expert advice from many of the great sailors of the present, including fresh accounts of yachts overtaken by extreme weather, from Ewan Southby-Tailyour, Alex Whitworth and Peter Cook to Larry and Lin Pardey. It also includes a new Foreword by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Britain's most high profile yachtsman of the past 50 years.

The expert advice section has been updated in line with current thinking, and there has been a major update to the chapter focusing on the use of storm sails as well as to the use of drag devices. The technique of taking refuge has been reviewed and updated, and the chapters dealing with preparations for heavy weather and its effect on yacht design have been overhauled. These revisions ensure that Heavy Weather Sailing is as relevant, useful and instructive for today's sailor venturing offshore as it ever was – perhaps more so in the light of tragic disasters like the loss of the Cheeky Raffiki mid-Atlantic on a delivery trip after her season racing in the Caribbean.

This is the definitive book for crews of any size contemplating voyages out of sight of land anywhere in the world, whether racing or cruising. It gives a clear message regarding the preparations required, and the tactics to consider when it comes on to blow.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Nautical, Maritime

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Nikolaus Yos · Rating 4 out of 5]

mam za duzo wolnego czasu

[Kristian Francisco Milla Nielsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valuable information but a difficult, old school and technical read. Especially for foreigners not accustomed to English sailing terms - however it's good way to learn them. Would be nice if each chapter was summoned with bullet points of the best takeouts. Inside plethora of very technical, often irrelevant information comes very useful and practical tips. Dividing these two types of knowledge in a graphical way would be a major improvement.

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

a must for sailors, readers, and writers of heavy weather. this particular one was the 3rd edition compiled in maybe 1980-81 (note, the gr bibliographic info of these is pretty fucjed up, but not bad i guess for free cataloging) and has a chapter on the infamously deadly fastnet race of 1979. also has chapters of author (and his son and wife) racing and or pleasure cruising around bermuda, bay of biscay, ushant. other chapters are excerpts from other authors, such as a bit on the run from durban to cape town where huge ass "holes" just "appear" and swallow ships. big ships too, 20,000 toners and such and probably what happened to the warataw (sp?). on these holes, seems really big swells meeting an opposing current can set of a "perfect oscillation" type situation in where a huge ass trough forms, a ship "falls" in it, then the next swell covers it up, and down she goes, langostino food. nice pics, maps, and citations. very poor index.

[james haughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

the go to book on the subject.

Excellently written book. Factual and also an ejoyable read. Heart in mouth stories that mean you will remember and implement the tactics within, unless you are a total clown, in which case stay in the pub or become a dolphin or join the enemy. Carry on!

[Pim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definitive book on heavy weather sailing. A must read for every offshore cruiser. And I mean EVERY. People who think it will never happen to them because they 'only make daytrips at sea' should also read this.

[Joann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It truly is a true classic. I have the third 1981 edition and for anyone thinking of heading out for more than a few hours from behind the breakwater, It won't do you any harm to read it, and it's also absolutely fascinating.

[Junaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference text

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic for all who sail offshore

[Ilya Kochetov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, very interesting and gives good insight into what it took to sail a boat in mid-XX century

[Mirjam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about sailing in extreme circumstances. I'm planning to read it again whem I'm ready to take off for heavy weather sailing myself.

[John Youngblood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am prepping for a Tortola to Newport RI passage in May and found this book, which is a classic by all accounts, fantastic. A must read for all nascent bluewater sailors.

[James Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good reviews here. So I will just add that it is fun to read and important information for all sailors.