Offshore Cruising Encyclopaedia; Linda and Steve Dashew; Beowolf, 2nd ed., rep. 1998; ISBN 0-9658028-1-7; £ ; CA 15553

Written by obviously very experienced sailors and full of good sound information and advice, the format of this encyclopaedia is probably more immediately attractive to an American yachtsman than his British counterpart, who generally has no great love for manuals.

As a point of reference, however, whether in a club library, in a boatyard or a yachtsman’s bookshelf, this volume would be worthy of a place alongside works by Hiscock and others. Its problem is that it covers almost too much ground and there is in fact little in it which has not been better covered by specialist articles on individual features in magazines or manufacturers’ literature.

Nevertheless, as a reference book and as a means of checking one’s own view on a particular subject, it would be very valuable. For that purpose, it matters little that it is written, and well written, in American English rather than what we are more used to. – NJDW

Page prepared 29 June 1999

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