Under Wide and Starry Skies

SHORTLISTED FOR THE MARITIME FOUNDATION AWARD FOR BEST BOOK

Under Wide and Starry Skies invites you to cast off the lines and explore 50 of the most fabulous off-the-beaten-track sailing destinations on our planet.

If you own a sailing boat, chances are that you’ve wondered what it would be like to throw in your job, cast off, and sail over the horizon.

Here are 50 out-of-the-way destinations to encourage you to sell up and go (or enjoy a temporary escape) with practical tips including formalities, the prevailing weather, and GPS positions. The selection of locations is based on over 70,000 miles of sailing experience. Some destinations, like St Helena and Cocos Keeling, are classic yet remote spots favoured by circumnavigators ever since the days of Joshua Slocum. Others, located in Japan, Patagonia, or the Pacific Northwest, have been chosen as perfect examples of the attractions of those regions. Common features include protection from the weather, scenic beauty, and historic and/or human interest. While solitude is not guaranteed, you won’t be troubled by the arrival of a cruising flotilla or by a novice dragging anchor onto you.

Each anchorage is introduced with a lively account describing the place, its history, and people (if any), as well as the author and his crew’s adventures. Each account is followed by a beautifully hand-drawn sketch of the anchorage and an information box.