Book review: To the Baltic with Bob by Griff Rhys Jones

One of 'those' books that you pick up and can't put down. I like Griff Rhys Jones as a Television presenter, his series Restoration was fabulous and despite missing it myself his 2 part 'Three Men in Another Boat' television documentary featuring his classic yacht, Undina, i'm told is quite good.

As an author I feel he sometimes lacks a bit of atmosphere, but makes up for it in comedy. To the Baltic with Bob is a story of a real voyage in 2003 just after the near completion of Undina's overhaul (minus the chrome). It follow his crew's mood, attitude and sense through out the trip exploring both how to handle a (small?) 45ft yacht, shipping channels, landfalls and foreigners while trying to keep everybody, if not happy then at least amicable.

The book is available in hard or paperback. A recommended read for either crews with awkward Skippers, or Skippers with awkward crews.

Book review: The Folkboat Story by Dieter Loibner

I saw this mentioned and referred to several times wherever Folkboats were mentioned on the internet, so decided to order a copy.

Despite the uninspiring cover, the book is fascinating, more than a good detailed history of the design and the class, but also a concise and interesting resource for Folkboat culture. With everything from the voyage of Anne Gash the grandmother who sailed around the work in her Folkboat Ilma, to the heroic Blonde Hastler and his experiments in the modified Folkboat Jester.

It slightly biased perhaps towards the Wooden Clinker built boats, nothing wrong with that, as it constructively discuss the conversion of the folkboat from wooden hulls to a glass fiber one, with an interesting commentary on the building techniques and styles.

My favorite section is on the 'lure of the Folkboat', which looks at the versatility of the yachts, and how they are used by their owners. In fact a good sentiment set by the title is that it talks as much about the people involved with Folkboats, from designers and builders to sailors, racers and owners. This is part of the key to the success of this design, it inspires safety, reliability, honesty and simplicity in sailing, which draws such a diverse cross-section of people towards it.

Full of black and white photos and illustrations and very well written, this one of those books that has a direct comparison out side of sailing, with titles such as those around 'cult motorcars such as the Mini and the Beatle. -Both designed in similar times and to similar briefs.

One amusing line is that, to be a true Folkboat you have no inboard engine and no life-rails around the edge, so thats Shoestring's pedigree gone if that is ever enforced.

In the UK Amazon.co.uk seems to be the best place to get hold of a copy of The , prices do vary but I purchased my copy for £17.95 in hardback.

Book review: Sailing around the world alone by Joshua Slocum

In my view this is the definitive "sailing adventure book". I love this book and have read it over many times, enjoying the sense of humor and honesty of the author.

From leaving pin-tacks on deck pointed up right to 'warn' of barefooted intruders at night off South America through to hallucinations and ghosts of sailors that helped him through a storm.

It is refreshing to anyone, experienced or not, that even the greats make mistakes. He is very honest and open in his writing style, capturing that sense of adventure that any 'around the world voyage' will inspire up.


His talk of his Yacht; The Spray is very interesting as he looks at her both as Skipper and builder, taking pride in her handling and usefulness.

For anyone sailing on a "Shoestring" this story is very relevant, as the book continues you realise that the really was sailing on a shoestring budget, trading and cargo carrying around the world as his voyage continued.

A throughly recommended adventure story. My copy, again a second hand edition, includes his previous adventure: The last voyage of the Liberdade, 1890, is also a great story. New editons, without the supporting story are available on Amazon, but try to get a good secon-hand copy with the additional story for anywhere between £1 to £5 from bookshops.

Book review: Voyaging on a small income, by Ann Hill

This has to be one of the best books on yachts I've ever read. Actually no, not just on yachts or sailing but something more interesting. Adventure!


The book, although at a glance slightly wordy, is very well thought through, with practical advice, (we got our Taylors Paraffin cooker going after read their cooking session). This great book covers everything from, designing and building a yacht from scratch through to useful advice on anchoring, sailing, rigging and simply surviving a day to day life of adventure.

I'd happily recomend this book to anyone, we have a copy for home and to keep onboard shoestring. It is available from Amazon.com / .co.uk but also often from many secondhand book sellers. My first copy came from Any Amount of Books, in Charring Cross road London, and cost a whole £1.50.

A new copy currently costs £9.86 on Amazon.co.uk (click here for link)