How to Sail Around the World : Advice and Ideas for Voyaging Under Sail Reviews

• Roth has a winner in How to Sail Around the World

  
  By A3D62HDK49OQKF on 2003-10-27
  Preparatory to purchasing my first cruising sailboat in 1978, I purchased Hal Roth's earlier handbook, "After 50,000 Miles." It was a primary reference for my first ten years (20,000 miles) of cruising and passagemaking under sail, and it served me very well. Since then I've sailed another 20,000 miles, and I've read most of the similar "how-to" sailing books written over the years by experienced sailors. Now, with the publication of Mr. Roth's "How to Sail Around the World," I believe that prospective and current cruising sailors have the definitive reference book to support their purchase, planning, and cruising decisions. Few sailors have logged as many singlehanded or "two-handed" miles in the variety of cruising and racing conditions as Hal and Margaret Roth. Few write as well or as engagingly as Hal Roth. "How to Sail Around the World" is a detailed book, very well researched, with careful analyses backed up by more than 200,000 sea-miles of thoughtful experience. The book will give beginning cruising sailors an excellent foundation, and it will give more experienced sailors new insights and techniques. Because of the research and vast experience of the writer, I believe that this is the best book of its type available. I recommend it most highly. It will show you how you can achieve your dream of cruising a bay, an ocean, and then the world.
  
  

• Even for Armchair Sailors...

  
  By A2QOJP5MVYSGXW on 2003-12-28
  For sailors who dream about crossing the ocean, or even crossing the bay, here is superb advice from a lifelong sailor who has lived nearly every sailing dream imaginable. But the book is so filled with interesting notions and wry comment that even armchair sailors who never have left the dock will find it captivating. Hal Roth twice has sailed small boats, solo, in the most grueling race imaginable, now called Around Alone. He and his wife have circumnavigated many times. In the book, he presents practical advice that works for offshore sailors but also for weekend cruisers. He talks about costs, construction, sails and sail management, heavy weather, anchoring, dinghies and even food. All these topics and many more are illustrated with Roth's own pictures and drawings which are very good. What sets this book far apart from ordinary instruction texts, however, is Roth's salty sense of humor, his strong opinions, and his gift for telling compelling anecdotes to prove his points. He literally has a world of material and he brings it to the reader in an adventurous style. I loved the book.
  
  

• Dry-land Wannabe Bluewater Cruiser

  
  By AIBUSNMHH6IQ on 2006-07-26
  This is the third book I've read recently about owning and equipping a sailboat for crusiing. Each of the books has had a particular emphasis, such as outfitting a boat for coastal cruising. But this book is exactly what I wanted for info and the book delivered the goods. Some of the other books had more detailed info on inverters, toilets, reverse-osmosis water systems, refrigeration, etc., but they didn't have info on self-steering gear, the basics of a sextant, the boat log and its contents, paper work when landing at a port, etc. I don't want to give the impression that he doesn't talk about the boat systems in detail. There is enough info available and it's good stuff. It just isn't as extensive as some, but he does cover the topic adequately, and in some cases much better than the other books. Also, the use of a rough cost estimates is very helpful. He puts it in terms of the cost of multiple beers. This I can relate to on several different planes! He does mention some brand names too. Some of these writers have some reluctance to tell you who makes either good or crappy stuff and what it costs. I have a tendency to highlite a book when I read something usefull. Well this book has lots of color. In conclusion...buy this book because it's packed full of very important and interesting info about equipping your boat for bluewater cruising.
  
  

• The good oil from someone who been there and done it.

  
  By A3EXA0I9L0AQER on 2005-06-21
  Hal Roth has compressed a lifetime of experience into this book.
  He covers almost every part of what is required to sail around the world.
  An enjoyable positive read.
  
  

• 5 STARS ( ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET!)

  
  By A39F0G1TE5V8NB on 2007-02-01
  I've read a number of Mr. Roth's books.His writing skill is excellent.His photography is superb.His knowledge of sailing is that of a true grandmaster.This book has tips for cruising sailers on any level of experience:what works and why; what didn't work for Him and His incredible partner & wife and why.No plans for an around the world cruise is needed to get this book and pick it up often. Much of the great info is valid for most any overlight sail, or any daysail on our great magestic oceans ,lakes or rivers.His humility is gratifying. He's been out there and done that (a thousand times),but He doesn't have to keep showing us His "medals"in every paragraph. His Bibliography and references at the end are a great source to what else is worth exploring in the world of print.If you sail- get this book!
  
  
• Great advice from a master sailor
  By AAEBKLOVYYHVL on 2005-11-24
  If you have read other books from Hal Roth, you know his approach to sailing. Plan, equip, then have fun. This book is terrific. Filled with his thoughts on how to make sailing easier, cost efficient, fun. How to handle problems. Etc.
  Highly recommended.
  
  
• Seamanship is excellent
  By AW05AKDL6VTI1 on 2006-06-10
  One thing Roth never forgets is basic seamanship.His experience shows in every chapter. Lots to learn here. And he definitely does know how to write well. But he does not do as good of job covering the details that affect women on board cruising boats. So if I was trying to encourage someones dream, I'd buy this book along with Lin Pardey's Care and Feeding of Sailing Crew.
  
  
• old ideas
  By AAT00GNOJHR9X on 2007-01-03
  It is a nice book but not the type of book I was looking for, updating a book is not adding a few lines with recent issues. Technical aspects not covered. I 'm still searching a good book on that issue.
  
  
• Sailing Around The World Made It Easy
  By A2R30IM7DB9B3M on 2007-05-14
  Recently I've bought a book from Amazon com. "How To Sail Around The World" by Hal Ruth its an excellent book every thing you need to know about this topic is mentioned in details a lot of photos and sketches.
  The book got 29 chapters each chapter have a heading such as:- To find a yacht suitable for the voyage in full details- The best self-steering to choose with digrams explains its operation and you could build one from the diagrams if you wish- Storm management- Navigation and pilot charts as well the place where to buy these charts and their referance numbers and many many more topics covered in the 29 chapters of this book.
  The style and the way this book is written is marvellous once you start reading it you don't feel like to stop. In my view Its an excellent book highly recommended to buy.
  David Dawud
  
  
• Great Reading and Great Sailing
  By A1QRD6MOFGZ2R5 on 2005-12-11
  The genuine article. A well written and pragmatic book that will serve as both a good first read and a long term reference text. Highly recommend.
  
  

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