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Yachting

Barry Pickthall

It seems somehow fitting to have a Barry Pickthall book alongside a Basil Lubbock one; alright, Barry isn’t is one of his more workmanlike products and is basically a heavily illustrated guide covering all the basic aspects of going cruising, from the vagaries of navigation through to the technicalities of mooring up. It’s never going to be spectacular, but it is nicely illustrated and well written. It covers both dinghy and yacht sailing and is well put together. Ultimately, this is a good book to ease you into sailing if you’re a novice. Barry is a steady and reassuring hand at the tiller as you take your initial nervous tacks across the bay before he leads you out onto the high seas. There is plenty there for the more advanced sailor too, but I think its primary readers will be beginners.