Escape Under Sail: Pursue Your Liveaboard Dream

by Leonard Skinner, Mary Cooney

Foreword by Laurel Cooper, author of Sell Up and Sail

Selling up and escaping to sea on their own boat is a dream that many think they can never make happen. Escape Under Sail is here to show you that it can be done, and for less money that you might think.

This book delves to the very heart of what it takes and shows you exactly how you can go from casual cruiser to long-term liveaboard. Escape Under Sail covers all of the crucial topics, including budget and costs, how to choose a boat, making sure crew are equipped and trained, letting go both practically and psychologically, preparation and provisionioning, education and, most importantly, the challenges and rewards of living at sea.

The book pays special attention to making the liveaboard dream come true for those with a limited budget, while providing further options for those with the means and desire to spend more and splurge where they like. Written in the voices of both authors, so you can follow their experiences from each of their perspectives, which are sometimes wildly different, this practical handbook is peppered with personal anecdotes and hard-earned wisdom. Light-hearted but informative, it contains all the questions, answers, lists, figures and diagrams you need to make your liveaboard dreams come true.

352 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2019

Reviews

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased this book in the hopes of learning in some detail what it takes to transition to a cruising lifestyle, as this is what the book is supposed to be about. While Mary and Leonard come across as charming and encouraging, there isn’t a whole lot of meat to the book. Most of the advice is reiterating that “it’s different for everyone, you’ll have to figure it out as you go”. True enough I suppose, but essentially useless, and that message was repeated at the beginning and end of most chapters and subsections. Often this was accompanied by a suggestion to read up on whatever the topic of the section was, which is immensely frustrating, because I’m actively reading a book that I bought in hopes of “reading up” on the subject, but getting little information out of.

Additionally the authors chose to write sections independently, to allow for the flexibility to disagree. I liked this approach in theory, but it largely resulted in reading the same information twice (or rather, the same suggestion that you find your own information twice).

The strongest part of the book is when they discuss finding and restoring their boat. In this section they give the reader a good peek into the reality of going from no boat, to a functioning boat, without a ton of money. I didn’t understand how much flexibility one can have when designing the living spaces on board, and I appreciate the insight I gained from their account.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was decent. It wasn't there quiet with the description called for. It was interesting seeing one couples take on how they were able to achieve the dream of traveling and conquering the Seas. It Is by no means a instructional book that would allow you to learn two ways to finance such an endeavor. I believe the writers meant to inspire rather than instruct.