Boats Unlimited

No vehicle on land or sea can match the timeless lines and simple beauty of the classic sailboat. The ultimate marriage of form and function, its basic design and use have endured through the centuries with few changes. A noted boating writer tells the long and rich story of this elegant form of transportation and popular pastime. An authoritative text and striking, full-color photographs chronicle the evolution of sail, from the early days, when it opened the world up to exploration and trade, to its current popularity as a form of recreation and competition. Celebrated wood- and wood-and-metal-hulled sailboats from throughout the ages appear in vivid detail, with discussions of their historical significance. Vintage designs, day sailors, cruisers, racing classics, luxurious yachts, replicas and reinterpretations: each one will set your imagination afire. Includes complete source and kit information for obtaining plans for featured boats.

Anyone who has ever dreamed of giving up the burden of material possessions, outfitting a boat to suit their own particular needs, and setting sail for parts unknown will be fascinated by this second book detailing the further adventures of a family of four on their five-year round-the-world odyssey. Taking up the narrative at the Panama Canal, Paul and Fiona take turns describing their fascinating voyage through the South Pacific, with stops at such exotic outposts as the Galapagos, Pitcairn Island, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, and onward to Madagascar, South Africa, New York and home. The couple with their two high-spirited young children overcame, with the aid of their extensive knowledge of sailing, their physical and mental stamina, and an incurably optimistic outlook on life, the capricious, often violent changes of weather, the bureaucratic road-blocks put up by local officials, and the stresses of sleepless nights and seasick days. The reader enjoys vicariously the excitement of their unique experiences and learns a good deal of world history and geography along the way. The clear, excellent maps and photographs and the detailed drawings of the ship add further to the value and interest of the text