Reading a great sailing book can be just as rewarding as sailing in perfect weather conditions. Whether you’re planning a long offshore adventure, hoping to improve your sailing skills, or dreaming of your next voyage, the right books can educate, inspire, and entertain.
Here, we share the 10 best sailing books for avid boaters, featuring a mix of classic sailing adventures, practical seamanship guides, and exciting offshore stories. From legendary solo trips to heavy weather tips, these must-read sailing books offer lessons, motivation, and insight for sailors of all levels.
- Amazing Sailing Stories: True Adventures from the High Seas
Dick Durham (2011)
Amazing Sailing Stories features a collection of real sailing adventures from around the world and throughout the centuries. Dick Durham tells tales of dramatic rescues, exciting survival stories, historic voyages, and reflective cruising moments. The stories are based on both famous sailors and ordinary people who found themselves in unexpected situations while out at sea.
For sailors, this book highlights some of the reasons people go to sea, from adventure and challenge to freedom and a love of the water. Amazing Sailing Stories is written in an entertaining style, perfect for reading at home or while at sea.
- The Practical Guide to Celestial Navigation
Phil Somerville (2021)
The Practical Guide to Celestial Navigation by Phil Somerville is a useful step-by-step guide to an important skill you can use at sea. It’s focused on real-world application, and explains celestial navigation in clear stages – from using a sextant and almanacks to plotting sights with confidence. It also includes colour diagrams, advice, and easy-to-understand checklists.
It's perfect if you’re hoping to boost your offshore independence or preparing for boating qualifications. This guide takes the stress out of learning traditional navigation and provides a GPS alternative that builds confidence and improves situational awareness without relying on technology.
- Skip Novak on Sailing: Words of Wisdom from 50 Years Afloat
Skip Novak (2024)
In Skip Novak on Sailing, mariner Skip Novak shares over 50 years of experience in an engaging read that features practical seamanship insights and reflective adventure essays. Using his long-running Yachting World columns for inspiration, Novak covers important sailing skills, from anchoring and celestial navigation to offshore safety and gear selection, alongside stories from his unique experiences at sea, including Antarctic expeditions and global races.
With a foreword by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, this book is truly inspirational. Sailors of all levels will gain advice about using the right techniques, useful tips, and a true sense of what it means to learn while out on the water.
- Sailing Alone Around the World
Joshua Slocum (1900)
One of the first and most famous sailing books ever written, Joshua Slocum’s Sailing Alone Around the World describes how he rebuilt his small sloop Spray and, as the title suggests, sailed alone around the world.
This book is perfect for avid boaters, highlighting what it’s like to face long passages, storms, calm seas, and solitude. It’s always been a popular read amongst sailors, as it explains what it’s like to go offshore by yourself, relying on skill, courage, and patience. It’s a truly inspiring read for anyone who dreams of long-distance cruising.
- Two Years Before the Mast
Richard Henry Dana Jr. (1840)
Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr. recounts life aboard a working sailing ship in the early 1800s. This book describes daily life, hard work, storms, and the routines of sailors during a long voyage. While it’s about commercial sailing in the distant past, Two Years Before the Mast provides a sense of what it takes to handle sails, live with a crew, and respect the sea. It’s a great book if you want to understand traditional seamanship and learn about the fascinating roots of modern sailing.
- A Voyage for Madmen
Peter Nichols (2001)
A Voyage for Madmen, written by Peter Nichols, tells the story of the 1968 Golden Globe Race – the first non-stop solo round-the-world sailing race. This engaging book follows each competitor, sharing their dreams, struggles, and how the ocean tested them.
It’s exciting, emotional at times, and full of courage, fear, and determination. We love this book, as it shows what it takes to go offshore alone and how challenging the sea can be.
- Heavy Weather Sailing
Peter Bruce (1990)
Widely considered to be one of the best books about sailing in strong winds and rough seas, Peter Bruce’s Heavy Weather Sailing explains how to handle sails, choose the right gear, and make smart choices when storms hit.
On the pages of this book, you’ll find plenty of practical advice based on real offshore experience. If you’re planning ocean passages or long offshore legs, you’ll no doubt find it very useful, helping you to understand how to stay safe and in control when sailing in difficult conditions.
- The Long Way
Bernard Moitessier (1995)
In The Long Way, Bernard Moitessier tells the fascinating story of his solo round-the-world voyage and the moment he chose not to finish the race, instead continuing at sea for a further three months.
His writing is thoughtful and reflective, with a strong focus on the emotional and spiritual side of sailing offshore for long periods. Moitessier brings a sense of adventure to the page and offers an honest perspective on why people go to sea and what they might discover about themselves along the way.
- Godforsaken Sea: Racing the World’s Most Dangerous Waters
Derek Lundy (1998)
Derek Lundy’s Godforsaken Sea shares an exciting account of the 1996 Vendée Globe race, a solo non-stop round-the-world yacht race. It describes the harsh conditions sailors faced, especially in the Southern Ocean, where huge waves and strong winds push boats and sailors to their limits.
It’s a dramatic and honest read that touches on both physical challenges and mental strength. Godforsaken Sea has always been a popular book amongst avid sailors – we think it’s ideal if you want to understand extreme offshore conditions and learn from the experiences of top ocean racers.
- The Annapolis Book of Seamanship
John Rousmaniere (1999)
The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is a practical, trusted guide to sailing. It covers safety, sail trim, boat handling, navigation, anchoring, and common problems sailors face, using clear language aimed at everyday sailors rather than focusing on experts.
If you want to improve your sailing skills or prepare for longer trips, this book is a great choice, and many people return to it over time.
Specialist boat insurance through Insure4Boats
Reading some of the best books for avid boaters can give you the tips and advice you need to sail safely, but the unexpected can still happen regardless of how prepared you are. That’s why you may want to consider getting specialist boat insurance to help financially protect you and your boat.
Specialist boat insurance through Insure4Boats covers the damage and theft of your boat with optional personal accident, personal effects, and European cover. Find out more or get a quick online quote today.
Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.
