Here is a list of our favorite websites, books, weather aps, sailors, etc. It is a working list, and constantly changing. We have so many favorites and learned from great people, websites, programs, and books. But we haven’t had time to put them all up, or add all their links. We will keep working on it. Keep checking back!

Reference Books

  • U.S. Chart No. 1: Symbols, Abbreviations and Terms used on Paper and Electronic Navigational Charts
  • Nigel Calder’s Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual
  • US Department of Homeland Security Navigation Rules
  • REED’s Nautical Companion
  • Weather For the Mariner
  • Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book – You’ll need a tide and current reference aboard. I find Eldridge’s to be easy to use and informative. Eldridge’s is only an East Coast reference.
  • Dutton’s Nautical Navigation – Don’t be nervous by the size of this book. Its absolutely fascinating and having a solid knowledge of traditional navigation doesn’t only help you find your way. Practicing traditional navigation enhances the entire experience at sea.
  • The Arts of the Sailor by Harvey Garrett Smith or The Marlinspike Sailor by Harvey Garrett Smith
  • Sailmaker’s Apprentice
  • The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice by Brion Toss
  • Storm Tactics Handbook by Lin and Larry Pardey
  • Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science – One of the wonderful things about sailing is experiencing the ocean first hand. But understanding your environment makes it all the more beautiful and interesting. Perhaps you’ve seen some of my Sea Science articles in SAIL magazine. This oceanography textbook is a great read on a calm passage. You’ll want to read it cover to cover!
  • The Mariner’s Dictionary by Gershom Bradford
  • Safer Offshore by Ed Mapes

Websites:

Podcasts

Good Reads

  • Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
  • Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum
  • Mutiny on the Bounty
  • First You Have to Row A Little Boat by Richard Bode
  • At The Mercy of the Sea by John Kretschmer
  • Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Readings from the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School

Favorite Films

  • Around Cape Horn with Capt. Irving Johnson
  • Jean-Du-Sud Around the World, Yves Gélinas
  • White Squall
  • One Simple Question …nudge nudge, wink wink!
Equipment We Love
  • Monitor Wind-Vane I would never sail offshore without one! Honestly. You won’t regret it. When we were sailing solo, the Monitor Wind-Vane was our #1 piece of gear and our first mate.
  • Outland Hatch Covers
  • Air Head Composting Toilet
  • Horizon True Leveling Camera Mounts for Boats
  • Portland Pudgy – by for the BEST dinghy ever, and our favorite and most used piece of equipment. It is well worth the investment. I can’t say enough about it. Just ask us why we love it!

Apps!

  • Fish Weather
  • Pocket Grib
  • Buoy Data
  • Marine Weather
  • Radar Cast

Boat Buying Resources

  • John Neil offers offshore sail-training expeditions and seminars, and boat buying consulting. We used his service to find Rocinante and learned a lot about dozens of blue-water boats along the way. Very helpful. Reasonably priced. Worth it.

Sail-Training

Passages

  • 59 North – our friends Andy & Mia run offshore sailing expeditions aboard their Swan 48
  • John Kretchmer Sailing – an inspiring guy! Sail with him if you can.

Citizen Scientist Opportunities:

  • Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation Why not enrich your sailing experience by simultaneously contributing to real scientific research? Sailing with a mission. We love it! We participated in the ASC micro-plastic study and had a great time while learning a lot.