Boats Unlimited

The World's Best Sailboats has become the most cherished and respected illustrated sailing book of all time. Its unique format includes over 400 spectacular color photographs by the world's leading nautical photographers coupled with astutely presented technical information on the best and most beautiful sailboats manufactured. Máté's insistence on uncompromising quality and his always engaging, entertaining style make this a timeless work and must-reading for anyone interested in sailboats. Its encyclopedic scope covering all aspects of sailboat design and construction, gleaned from personal visits to the world's best boatyards and interviews with the leading builders and designers, gives us not only a feast for the eyes and the stuff of dreams but also a thorough education. Máté visited the world's best boat builders from Finland to Italy, from Maine to California, and in his book evaluates and describes the sailboats of the nineteen best yards. The text is full of technical information on design and construction of available boats, while the magnificent color photos celebrate the beauty of sailboats and fine craftsmanship. His writing, as always is both informative and entertaining.

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