Publisher: Adlard Coles Nautical, £35
Publication Date: 2008

Divided into two main parts, Expert advice and Storm experiences, then subdivided makes this yachtsman bible easy to read and places the information into a logical sequence. One third of the volume is new material, and the older, well edited and re written, so much so that there is no change of style. The illustrations and photos are excellent they add much to the content. Every aspect of heavy weather sailing seems to have been covered; the updated and new sections make this volume a must for long voyage preparation and for those of us who make the occasional longer voyage off shore. Design and construction are dealt with and how heavy weather events have influenced design especially racing machines. Meteorology, waves, seasickness remedies, rig failure, and storm tactics are only a few or the outstanding subsections dealt with, with clarity and detail. The second part deals with the actual; no theory here: accounts of storm endurance, which put the Fastnet into perspective; and lessons learned. There is one overwhelming message. It states the obvious, that can never be repeated too often. A well designed and built cruising yacht is the best type of vessel in which to venture to sea in, and that anticipation and early actions by skipper and crew are the best principles to employ. Buy and digest! - DWG