Books

Some of our favorite books on cruising, sailing, and adventuring that have been a great inspiration and source of information for our adventures, in no particular order:

A Passion for the Sea by Jimmy Cornell: one of my all-time favorite books, and not only because I share my Romanian humble beginnings with the amazing author. This is one of the only books I keep in Hardcover format on the boat (as opposed to Kindle).

World Cruising Routes: If I had to have just ONE book onboard this would be it. The quintessential reference for cruising and passage making around the world.

Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before: a fun and educational account of following the wake of Captain’s Cook’s voyages in the South Pacific. I distinctly remember reading this book while stuck waiting for a flight in the Los Cabos airport and deciding one day Bella Marina will not only sail to Baja Mexico, but also into the South Pacific.

World Cruising Essentials : The Boats, Gear, and Practices That Work Best at Sea: Another great reference book from Jimmy Cornell, it was essential in our learning before we started cruising, and a great book to go back to.

Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu and The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific: the titles say it all. Probably one of the first books out there to capture the millenial-ish spirit of ‘let’s travel to exotic place and get away from society’ with great humor. Although I don’t think the author is technically a millennial.

The Sailor’s Weather Guide: great book to learn about weather and how it affects route planning.

Advanced First Aid Afloat: it’s one of those books you hope to never need.

An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude: still dreaming about getting to the Caribbean!

Sport Fish of The Pacific: comprehensive reference book with lots of great info and photos on over 250 fish, including names, food value, average size, main habitats and best fishing methods.

Complete Book of Baits, Rigs & Tackle: we use it as a companion to the Sport Fish of the Pacific.

Chapman Piloting & Seamanship: because every boat should have it as reference. Everything you need to know from choosing to operating to repairing to berthing to anchoring your yacht… you get it. It comes in Kindle edition, which is awesome because it’s a very large book otherwise. Ours came with the boat but I’m strongly considering upgrading to a digital format and saving 10 lbs.

Shoal Of Time: A History Of The Hawaiian Islands: great, balanced book on the history of the Hawaiian Islands.

As Long as It’s Fun, the Epic Voyages and Extraordinary Times of Lin and Larry Pardey: while I don’t necessarily subscribe to the extreme minimalistic style of Lin and Larry Pardey (being on my own minimalistic journey from the lavish Silicon Valley lifestyle to cruising, I could only aspire!), I found this book to be, well, fun!

Casting Off: How a City Girl Found Happiness on the High Seas: a surprisingly intimate and original story of a young woman’s journey. I truly enjoyed reading this one.