A little while back I reviewed the companion to this volume, Rod Heikell's Mediterranean Almanac.  Mediterranean sailors will know Rod as the author of a number excellent pilots covering these waters and the present volume carries the authority of his detailed local knowledge. 

Everything that a yachtsman, planning to sail these waters, will need to know is covered: history, culture, currency, geology, meteorology, flora, dangerous sea creatures, food, wine, telephone, mail, travel facilities, local holidays and so on for each of the countries bordering the Med. and there are charts of major waypoints and routes both to and within the region.  There is much useful advice on the type of boat and equipment suited to the Mediterranean climate.  There is perhaps also a fair bit that the Med. yachtsman will know already since a lot of basic seamanship and navigation - anchors and anchoring, the collision regs., position fixing, dead reckoning and estimated position, meteorology - is also reproduced here, perhaps unnecessarily, though that's for the individual purchaser to decide.

This new edition, 280 pages in softback covers, is in full colour throughout, fully indexed and to Imray's usual high quality of production.

The book lacks pilotage information for principle harbours on main routes across the Med; this is found in the companion Almanac.  The Handbook is certainly recommended but there is going to be some overlap with the Mediterranean Almanac and if you are counting pennies you might like to check the two books side by side and see if the latter will provide all that you want.        

Mike Ferro 

Price: £27-50