Imray Laurie Norie& Wilson/Yachting World , 1998, 1st edition 213 pp, £11.95

Heikell's friendly, workmanlike style is familiar through his handbooks and excellent pilots. This extension into new ground provides insights to fresh cruising possibilities for the experienced as well as the newcomer at whom the book seems chiefly to be aimed. The first quarter of the book deals with features to consider before going ahead: the importance of choosing crew with care, picking the right boat, safety issues, insurance and so on. It reviews various forms of chartering from bareboat, flotilla, skippered, even to hitchhiking. Cover is world-wide from Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Australia - including New Zealand to the irritation of some I imagine - to the adventurous Tierra del Fuego/ Antarctica, Galapogos and South East Asia. It suggests the suitability of seasons, range of weather conditions, costs etc. economically but effectively. A database of UK charterers is given. Well, even charmingly, illustrated, it is a pleasant book with which to dream or start planning. MJD