Further Offshore

A Practical Guide for Sailors

By Ed Mapes

The Bookwatch, Nautical Shelf, Dec. 2008:

"Any library strong in nautical ‘how-to’ information or offshore sailing needs Ed Mapes’s Further Offshore, directed to sailors who already have the basics down and who want to go further than day sailors usually achieve, to bluewater heights. The author is a USCG certified Master Mariner, sailing instructor and delivery skipper and has years of sailing behind him. Highly recommended as a definitive guide to everything from boat insurance and weather to watchkeeping and safety."

SAIL, Dec. 2008:

“This book, subtitled ‘A Practical Guide for Sailors,’ is a useful addition to a sailor’s bookshelf, either ashore or on board. There are words of wisdom on every page. . . . Further Offshore is surely not the last word on offshore voyaging, but reading it will give you a good idea of what an ocean passage is all about.”

SAILING, August 2008:

“Ed Mapes has made a career out of training sailors to become offshore passagemakers. Through his Voyager Ocean Passages adventures, boat show seminars and frequent articles in SAILING, Mapes prepares people for the joy and challenges of bluewater sailing. His experience and knowledge is brought to bear in Further Offshore: A Practical Guide for Sailors.

Written for experienced daysailors and coastal sailors, this book takes readers through the steps necessary to prepare themselves, their boats and crews for long-distance sailing. Along with advice on fitting out an ocean-going sailboat, planning a voyage, and boat handling and shipkeeping, Mapes provides details on such necessities as communications and safety equipment, weather forecasting, health and medical insurance, meal planning and more. Appendices providing checklists, rules of the road, reference tables and first aid procedures further enhance the book’s practicality, putting together a number of useful resources in one place.

For the would-be bluewater cruiser, the seemingly endless list of “must dos” can be enough to overwhelm the sailor’s psyche, short-circuiting any offshore passage before it’s even begun. Mapes breaks down the process of fitting out and preparing for offshore sailing into manageable, simple to follow steps. What’s more, he lets readers know what to expect once at sea, with advice on boat maintenance and handling as well as dealing with emergency situations.”

Latitudes & Attitudes, August 2008:

“This book describes all the steps involved in becoming an accomplished offshore passagemaker. This includes the selection of the right boat, planning a voyage, outfitting and routing, as well as weather, medical concerns, etc. You will learn how to inspect a boat for seaworthiness as well as the best anchoring techniques. For the newcomer to sailing who is planning to go voyaging, this is a must-have book. The author is a licensed Coast Guard Master.”

Reference and Research Book News, August 2008:

“This practical guide is intended for sailors who have honed their skill as day sailors, racers, and coastal sailors and now intend to venture further and become bluewater sailors. Mapes, a USCG certified Master Mariner, writes for all areas of preparedness, from equipment to psychological preparation, and sections his book into broad topics such as the big picture, the boat and fitting out, planning for the voyage, boat handling and shipkeeping, and what happens as the boat is underway. Multiple appendices include useful checklists, crewmember responsibilities and duties, reference tables, and further recommended reading. This title is occasionally illustrated with helpful charts and graphs.”

Library Bookwatch: June 2008

“Offshore sailing can be an exhilarating experience filled with marvelous sights—Further Offshore: A Practical Guide for Sailors is a complete and comprehensive guide for any sailor who wants to start this practice. Covering everything and every detail a sailor would need to know, including topics such as seaworthiness, dealing with foul weather, provisions, and so much more. Illustrated with charts throughout, Further Offshore: A Practical Guide for Sailors is a top pick for community library nautical collections.”

SAILING S.A., July 2008:

“Contain[s] much that is of interest and of value, especially to the cruising sailor.

It moves from initial boat selection to fitting out, passage planning, and offshore essentials; and it sails or motors from chapters on safety, sail repair, self-steering and radar, to those dealing with health, routing, weather, provisioning, watchkeeping, anchoring and manoeuvres under power.

The author deals with many more issues, and the appendices at the end of the book, starting with ‘Check list for personal gear and clothing’ will certainly contain anything that might have been overlooked.”

• For more information, see Further Offshore
  in our catalog.
  
  
• For similar titles, please visit the Cruising page in our catalog.
  
  
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