Travellers on a Trade Wind

SeafarerBooks, 2nd edition’98; 338pp; X;£10.95;

Intrigued by the title, I soon found this to be no ordinary tale of ocean voyaging, as I became steeped in the romance and beauty of the Pacific islands visited; and though there is planty of navigational and sailing detail ( apparently no assistance from GPS, reliance mainly on astronavigation) to satisfy sailors, non-sailing readers will be rewarded with a treasure trove of wonderful descriptions of the scenery of the islands, well-embellished with fascinating historical, anthropological and literary detail; friendships made, and the personal interplay of emotions when cooped up in unnatural proximity, all described with a charming sense of fun, was a constant source of delight throughout the book. Whether or not you are casting off your shore-lives, don’t miss it! -SF