Mediterranean Cruising Handbook

Publisher: Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, 4th ed.,1998 £ 14.95

Time was when you knew what you needed at the chart table - charts, pilot book and almanac. Each knew exactly what its job was and did that job and no other. Almanacs have muscled in on pilot book territory by including harbour plans, albeit rather skimpy ones, and guides and handbooks have appeared which have no precisely identifiable purpose.

This volume, it must be said, is in the latter category. There is no doubt that it is packed full of information: weather and climate, history and culture, boat and equipment, navigational aids, first aid and medical, radio services, and much else besides. But most of that information will be on board in other publications, chiefly the local pilot book. Other chapters deal with such matters as basic seamanship, meteorology and navigation which most yacht skippers will know anyway or have available in textbooks on the specific subject. So the verdict must be: if you carry pilot books for the areas in which you are sailing, you do not need this volume. It needs a separate raison d'etre.

Perhaps the book has more of a role in it stated function as a companion to the Mediterranean Almanac. Both books are published in a soft back, low budget format and together they do provide a degree of pilotage cover for the whole of the Mediterranean Sea at a fraction of the cost of a full set of traditional pilots. - BMF