As my knowledge of the sort of boats covered in this work is limited to a fascinating three-day RYA Helmsman's course and having them rush past my 6-knot motor-sailer, I was much taken by many points in the author's matter-of-fact narrative. Grasping a mere 3-hour weather window safely to cover a 50-mile homeward leg was food-for-thought for someone of my traditional sailing background.

There is a particularly good chapter on cruising in fog, and in 13 chapters all detail – passage preparation, emergencies, comfort on board, amongst others – is comprehensively presented but in a style somewhat like a discussion of pros and cons rather than for a beginners' primer. Thus the work appears as intended for experienced yachting readers who are perhaps considering 'converting' to powerboats where the emphasis in here is very much on the high-powered planing version of those craft.

The book is a good quality soft-back product, but the print is perhaps one notch on the small side. It is copiously illustrated in full colour and it is here that I have one reservation. There are many dramatic shots of high-speed planing boats on calm seas apparently under full sunshine, and they seem to come from the same stable. Knowing that the book is published in association with a well-known powerboat builder the work therefore trends a little towards being a glossy sales brochure.

Edward Cartner

Price: £20