Ever wonder why we do it?

Nothing quite beats the pleasure of being asked to review the latest of Mike Peyton’s inimitable series of cartoon-loaded books. His new offering is right up to standard in its wit, wisdom and oh-so-appropriate drawings. How he manages to keep finding our funny bones with new twists on the follies and foibles of yachties is a mystery. The man is a genius! In this most recent offering he harks back to his earliest hilarious experience as an ‘instant yachtsman’, to his travails with engines, to the joys of winter sailing and to coast-hopping in high winds and poor viz. His descriptions of ‘sod’s law’ days are painful, his comments about charterers shrewd, his theories about fitting out sensible and his ‘man overboard’ technique original and effective. These same adjectives also apply to certain unique navigation techniques – the barking dog, the fish and chip shop and the sewage outfall. Being a part-owner of an ancient boatyard yields yet more anecdotes about the strange ways of boat owners. This is a book to keep on board and take off the shelf when spirits (of all kinds) are low – the ‘cheer up’ factor is absolutely guaranteed. - CH