The Perfect First Mate
A Woman's Guide to Recreational BoatingBy Joy Smith
256 pp. 40 line drawings. November 1999. Paperback. $16.50ISBN 1 57409 083 6
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The position of First Mate is often less than glamorous, especially when serving with a strong-willed captain who has more boyish enthusiasm than organizational skills. After 30 years of sailing with 'Captain My Way', Joy Smith shares the hard-won secrets of keeping both boat and crew in shipshape.
From packing and planning to enjoying life aboard and ashore, The Perfect First Mate helps boaters streamline tasks and maximize efficiency, safety, and comfort while leaving plenty of time for pleasure. Contents include storage issues, moving and sleeping comfortably below decks, keeping the cabin warm/cool, counteracting boat odor, mold, and mildew, and dealing with trash, laundry, and marine toilets. One entire section is devoted to food: provisioning and storage, equipping the galley, and cooking, with original recipes included. Smith also provides an in-depth discussion of how to protect against the elements, avoid injury, and deal with the logistics of sailing, from planning, navigation, and weather to performing First Mate duties on deck.
“Well written, humorous, and full of useful info for the experienced as well as the novice.” —Latitudes & Attitudes
“a helpful collection of tips to make any outing more enjoyable, whether it's a day trip or an extended cruise.” —Boating World
“the knowledge contained in this book will make your boating experiences much more pleasurable.” —The ENSIGN
“[a] gem of a book…” —SailNet.com
- See what else the press has to say: Reviews
- To read a selection from this title, please visit our Excerpts page.
About the Author:
Joy Smith is a correspondent for The ENSIGN and a contributor to SAIL, Latitudes and Attitudes, and other boating periodicals. She is the author of Kitchen Afloat (published by Sheridan House) and The Empty Nest Cookbook. She and her husband/captain have owned six sailboats, several dinghies and a Boston whaler. They now sail a Farr 50 yacht, cruising the Caribbean in winter and returning to New England waters each spring. Smith currently lives in Glastonbury, Connecticut.
Visit Joy Smith's website at: www.joywriting.com