Your First Atlantic Crossing 3back to home page

	“Your First Atlantic Crossing” was first published in 2000. It is now into its second edition and has become a classic for dreamers and sailors. It is the book I wanted to read before I made my own first Atlantic crossing. A book that answered the really big questions - not just how to sail an ocean and survive but how to sail one and enjoy it. Crossing an ocean is still one of the great sailing challenges. This book uses my practical experiences to give comfort to novices unsure whether they will live up to life offshore, to help experts see how others handled ocean conditions, and to prompt dreamers who one day might make the big leap. The Atlantic Milk Run Illustration by Charles Shearer
The Cruising Association, London said of this book: “Which of us has not felt the urge to test ourselves by setting out across the Atlantic? This is not a staid old salt's book, but a human, humorous account of how the author came to decide to go, of his preparations and researches, and how they all worked out. This is an excellent guide to the planning of your Atlantic crossing. Read all the other books, but keep this one by you for reference. It will enable you to decide whether the big pond crossing is for you.” www.cruising.org.uk	A reader wrote: “This is a great little book. Strong story line, packs a punch, some very funny moments as well as some hair raisers. It echoed with what I discovered about the ocean and myself when I sailed from Europe to Antigua. The crew section is great - wish I'd had it while we were sailing!! The advice about watch keeping is exactly right. I felt for them all at the near miss with the monstrous Cape Verde fishing boat.”
The boat of my first crossing: A Ferro-Cement C-Mist32 also called Petronella. Seen here beating north up the coast of Tobago. Photo by Roland Schmidt-Hagenlocher of Orion.	Just another little bit of Caribbean paradise – Sandy Isle off Carriacou. Photo by Martin Hammer of Anima III
An Australian reader wrote: “Got this book from a friend who came out to Oz to sail the Tasman with me and she thought I needed to be up to speed on crew handling and night watches and heavy weather but not so that my conversation suffered, hence her choice of this little book. This book is not just for first timers. I've done a lot of crossings between Oz and NZ and read a lot of the main authors but this little book is the one I'd read over because it just made me want to get right back on the boat and go. I can think of plenty of experienced sailors who should read this before they ship a crew again. We can all learn but it's good to learn from such a witty writer.”	CRF at the Cruising Association wrote: “What is unique is that this book applies an urban logic to nautical problems and the results are insightful. It records the highly personal experience that long distance cruising provides.” www.cruising.org.uk
	Your first Atlantic Crossing is also available in Dutch from bookshops and direct from the publisher, De Alk & Heijnen Watersport, ISBN 90 6013 2130.

Available in the UK from bookshops or direct from the publisher, Adlard Coles at www.adlardcoles.com

ISBN: 07 1365 1024

7Home