Sailing a Serious Ocean
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
Flip to back
Flip to front
Sailing a Serious Ocean: Sailboats, Storms, Stories and Lessons Learned from 30 Years at Sea Hardcover – October 18, 2013
$14.87
FREE Shipping on orders over $35.
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Gift-wrap available.
NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE
Start reading Sailing a Serious Ocean on your Kindle in under a minute.
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Want to know our Editors' picks for the best books of the month? Browse Best Books of the Month, featuring our favorite new books in more than a dozen categories.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?.
|
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
John Kretschmer, a professional sailor and writer, has logged more than 300,000 offshore sailing miles, including 20 transatlantic and two transpacific passages. He is the author of At the Mercy of the Sea, Flirting with Mermaids, and Cape Horn to Starboard, all seagoing classics. He is longtime contributing editor to Sailing magazine, was a sailing/travel columnist for the Miami Herald for 10 years, and writes regularly for Southern Boating and Cruising World. He has weathered several storms at sea, and teaches aspiring bluewater voyagers in seminars, lectures, and training voyages. John lives in Florida.
More About the Author
I wrote in my memoir, FLIRTiNG WITH MERMAIDS, "I make landfalls for a living." That's not a bad way to navigate through life. But it's only partially true. I have been fortunate to blend my two passions, boats and books, and make a living by sailing and writing. As a kid I confounded practical minded advisers trying to steer me toward a career. I told them I wanted to be an explorer. When pressed for details I explained that I wanted to sail and tramp all over the world and write books and articles about my adventures. Amazingly, that's how it has turned out.
My first book, CAPE HORN TO STARBOARD, is a coming of age story that chronicles my record-breaking voyage around Cape Horn. Although out of print, it's been popular as a used book, particularly in England and it is being re-published next year and will be available in the fall. FLIRTING WITH MERMAIDS, is a nautical bestseller. It is a funny and uplifting look at the life of a professional sailboat delivery captain. AT THE MERCY OF THE SEA, is a narrative account of three sailors converging in the eye of a hurricane. It's a sad but profound story, and I worked hard to get it right. It's a book I am proud of. I have a new book coming out next fall, it's about sailboats and storms, two things I know a lot about.
I have been a contributing editor and columnist for Sailing Magazine for twenty years. My column, The Used Boat Notebook has been compiled in two volumes, both available at Amazon.com. I wrote a sailing/travel column for the Miami Herald and an online column for Sailnet.com. I currently blog at www.sailingmagazine.net and www.yayablues.com. I have written hundreds of magazine articles including features in, Islands, Newsday and the Los Angeles Times Magazine.
I have logged 250,000 plus blue water miles including 15 Atlantic crossings. My passages and expeditions have taken me all over the watery part of the planet. I own a 47' sailboat, Quetzal, and conduct sail training passages and serious, adventure travel expeditions. For a schedule of upcoming passages check out, www.yayablues.com
My first book, CAPE HORN TO STARBOARD, is a coming of age story that chronicles my record-breaking voyage around Cape Horn. Although out of print, it's been popular as a used book, particularly in England and it is being re-published next year and will be available in the fall. FLIRTING WITH MERMAIDS, is a nautical bestseller. It is a funny and uplifting look at the life of a professional sailboat delivery captain. AT THE MERCY OF THE SEA, is a narrative account of three sailors converging in the eye of a hurricane. It's a sad but profound story, and I worked hard to get it right. It's a book I am proud of. I have a new book coming out next fall, it's about sailboats and storms, two things I know a lot about.
I have been a contributing editor and columnist for Sailing Magazine for twenty years. My column, The Used Boat Notebook has been compiled in two volumes, both available at Amazon.com. I wrote a sailing/travel column for the Miami Herald and an online column for Sailnet.com. I currently blog at www.sailingmagazine.net and www.yayablues.com. I have written hundreds of magazine articles including features in, Islands, Newsday and the Los Angeles Times Magazine.
I have logged 250,000 plus blue water miles including 15 Atlantic crossings. My passages and expeditions have taken me all over the watery part of the planet. I own a 47' sailboat, Quetzal, and conduct sail training passages and serious, adventure travel expeditions. For a schedule of upcoming passages check out, www.yayablues.com
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By
Amy Stapleton
on March 1, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
Comment
Sending feedback...
This book chronicles John Kretschmer's adventures offering offshore training passages to all levels of recreational sailors. I've had the good fortune to sail with John on five separate adventures. You can't sail with John without becoming his friend. He embraces sailing and being on the water in the same way a virtuoso probably lives just to perform the next sold out concert. He is passionate about sailing the way an artist is completely consumed by her craft. If you like to sail, and you wouldn't be in a boat with Kretschmer if this weren't the case, then you can't help but be drawn in by the force of his personality and his passion for the sea. John is one of a kind. He can write as well as he sails. He's also the only person on earth who can welcome five to seven strangers onto his boat week after week and give each one the feeling that there's nothing he'd rather be doing than going sailing with them.
Kretschmer's uniqueness comes across loud and clear in this wonderful book--part memoir, part advanced sailing guide, part homage to the sheer magnificence of a life lived on the water (and the joy that comes from being able to share this experience with other sailors). This book has stories for everyone, whether you're a sailor or not. Although it's hard to pick out just one favorite section, I enjoyed the chapter on Storm Stories immensely. Each chronicle is both an entertaining nail-biter and a inventory of potentially lifesaving tips for the offshore sailor. It's amazing to see how detailed John's recollection of storm events are that occurred decades ago. Obviously he's preserved his logs from those many voyages and he's able to look back on earlier decisions and actions with the benefit of hindsight (and the wisdom and self-knowledge that comes with experience and age).Read more ›
Kretschmer's uniqueness comes across loud and clear in this wonderful book--part memoir, part advanced sailing guide, part homage to the sheer magnificence of a life lived on the water (and the joy that comes from being able to share this experience with other sailors). This book has stories for everyone, whether you're a sailor or not. Although it's hard to pick out just one favorite section, I enjoyed the chapter on Storm Stories immensely. Each chronicle is both an entertaining nail-biter and a inventory of potentially lifesaving tips for the offshore sailor. It's amazing to see how detailed John's recollection of storm events are that occurred decades ago. Obviously he's preserved his logs from those many voyages and he's able to look back on earlier decisions and actions with the benefit of hindsight (and the wisdom and self-knowledge that comes with experience and age).Read more ›
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By
RR1000
on April 23, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Verified Purchase
Comment
Sending feedback...
If you enjoy those 'at 30 knots we shortened sail and prepared for a blow' kind of adventures, you're going to love this. Kretschmer is a terrific writer who has done it all and lived to tell the tale. I read the whole thing in one go, on an iPad, in coach and still enjoyed it!
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By
J. Miller
on June 18, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase
Comment
Sending feedback...
This book is an easy and enjoyable read sprinkled with technical details of how to deal at sea for serious weather. While I am not always in agreement with approaches he does consider that every situation can be unique. But he is spot on about techniques.
Also great to know that even the best sailors make mistakes...he describes his...but its the ability and flexibility to systematically address these mistakes that can make the difference. John has a great life to envy and he does a good job reveling in this as well.
Also great to know that even the best sailors make mistakes...he describes his...but its the ability and flexibility to systematically address these mistakes that can make the difference. John has a great life to envy and he does a good job reveling in this as well.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By
Steve Proctor
on February 26, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Comment
Sending feedback...
One can't help but be swept up and away by these prosaic tales of sea survival. With over 30 years and 300,000 miles at sea, you really are reading from THE expert. John Kretschmer is a well-read sailor and is as adept at story telling as Joseph Conrad, who he cites often in this wonderful book. As an accomplished author, this most recent book has superior clarity and maturity of though. I'm close to retirement and my dreams of sailing the world are palatal! Other related books that I treasure right now are: Self Sufficient Sailor and The Forty-Knot Sailboat: Introducing the Aerohydrofoil.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By
Chad Clark
on June 5, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
Comment
Sending feedback...
If you ever dreamed of going to sea, this book will take you there.
This is written by a man who has devoted his life to the craft of blue water sailing.
It both teaches and entertains. You'll learn from his experience what characteristics to look for in an offshore sailboat, storm tactics, crew preparation and much more. It's all very well written and enjoyable to read. It also has many links to resources that will be valuable to anyone considering an offshore voyage.
This is written by a man who has devoted his life to the craft of blue water sailing.
It both teaches and entertains. You'll learn from his experience what characteristics to look for in an offshore sailboat, storm tactics, crew preparation and much more. It's all very well written and enjoyable to read. It also has many links to resources that will be valuable to anyone considering an offshore voyage.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By
voraciousreader
on June 12, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase
Comment
Sending feedback...
I am not a sailor, but I enjoyed the experience of sailing with John Kretschmer. I found it very interesting. There is definitely an esoteric sailing vocabulary, and I was glad for the ability to look up words new to me. If you want a sailing experience, this is a good book to read.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
Piaw Na
on October 6, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase
Comment
Sending feedback...
Sailing a Serious Ocean is John Kretschmer's memoir about 30 years of sailing as a delivery boat captain and off-shore passage instructor. Along the way, Kretschmer tries to teach about not just passage making, but also how to evaluate and buy a boat for such an adventure, what to do when the ocean becomes "serious", and recommends other books for deeper reading about storm tactics and so forth. But the real reason to buy and read this book is the stories, because while Kretschmer's an experienced sailor and probably a good instructor, he's a lousy technical writer.
Every chapter of the book's anchored by one or several anecdotes or stories. These are really exciting and impressive. When you set out specifically to teach off-shore passage making, your intention is to expose your crew mates (and yourself) to heavy weather sailing. The net result is that you're intentionally making poor sailing decisions like leaving port as a storm is starting. While Krestchmer doesn't go out of the way to tell you how harrowing the passage is, the events that happen tell the story. In every case, there's at least one incident which causes a flooded cockpit. In some cases, the hatch into the cabin was left open so the living space gets a deluge of water as well. (Kretschmer provides good reason as to why this was the case, so he's not entirely an incompetent skipper)
In one story, he tells of a daughter whose father is swept off the boat by a massive wave, and she can do nothing but watch as he drowns as she is unable to pull him back aboard. With reasonable humility, Kretschmer observes that he was more lucky than good: the other boat simply was at the wrong place at the wrong time.Read more ›
Every chapter of the book's anchored by one or several anecdotes or stories. These are really exciting and impressive. When you set out specifically to teach off-shore passage making, your intention is to expose your crew mates (and yourself) to heavy weather sailing. The net result is that you're intentionally making poor sailing decisions like leaving port as a storm is starting. While Krestchmer doesn't go out of the way to tell you how harrowing the passage is, the events that happen tell the story. In every case, there's at least one incident which causes a flooded cockpit. In some cases, the hatch into the cabin was left open so the living space gets a deluge of water as well. (Kretschmer provides good reason as to why this was the case, so he's not entirely an incompetent skipper)
In one story, he tells of a daughter whose father is swept off the boat by a massive wave, and she can do nothing but watch as he drowns as she is unable to pull him back aboard. With reasonable humility, Kretschmer observes that he was more lucky than good: the other boat simply was at the wrong place at the wrong time.Read more ›
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Most Recent Customer Reviews
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
