Under Wide and Starry Skies - by Nicholas Coghlan (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Cast off the lines and discover 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. Some (St Helena, Cocos Keeling) are classic yet remote destinations that have been favoured by circumnavigators ever since the days of Joshua Slocum. Others (in Japan, Patagonia or the Pacific Northwest) have been chosen as perfect examples of the attractions of those regions. Common denominators are protection from the weather, scenic beauty and historic and/or human interest. And the fact that, 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.

Review Quotes

"Crammed with interesting stories and loads of informative material." --Sandy Duker, The Cruising Association

"This book offers the inspiration and the know how to anyone dreaming of truly sailing off the beaten track...There are 50 fabulous and unexpected cruising destinations here, brought to life by the author's vivid descriptions of his own sailing adventures, and made a real possibility for all sailors through the practical and accessible advice." --BookHub New Zealand

"A fascinating read" --Coast

"Always engaging and frequently hair raising ... Coghlan has always had a skill for mixing his description of a place with the history of the place in a style that is educational without being dull, preachy or patronising" --Sailing Today

"This is, primarily, a very enjoyable read to while away the 'off' season and dream about locations for future cruises." --Royal Cruising Club

"THE book for every offshore and armchair sailor" --Currents (Bluewater Cruising Association)

"This beautiful book is replete with colour photographs, maps and the narrative you need to sail - in actuality or imaginatively - to these most rarely visited places on the globe. ... Under Wide and Starry Skies will create dreams; if you are fortunate enough to own a sailboat, it will inspire you to GO." --Currents (Bluewater Cruising Association)

About the Author

Nicholas Coghlan and his wife Jenny have sailed 70,000 miles offshore in two successive 27ft sailboats Tarka the Otter and Bosun Bird. Their adventures include a circumnavigation of the world and a year in Patagonia. Nicholas is the author of Winter in Fireland and is a frequent contributor to Sailing Today magazine.
Nicholas was the first Canadian Ambassador to South Sudan; both he and Jenny hold Canada's Meritorious Service Cross for evacuating Canadian citizens from Juba, South Sudan in 2013.