Lazy Summer Sailing, Reading & Drinking....

[Charlotte Radford]

I love summer.  Let me repeat that:  I LOVE summer!!!  It is my favorite time of year, even though it's not the best sailing weather here in the BEST SAILING STATE IN THE US!!!  Wind is generally light.  Yes, it's like you are being ironed when walking outside....but on the water it's always so much better.  YEAH! 

So, I am reading Tom Sawyer for about the umpteeth time this week.  What a fabulously great summer book!  Mark Twain was a GREAT writer, and Tom Sawyer is my favorite.  I think boys are exactly the way Mr. Twain describes...in such very humorous terms.   

So here's my question:  As space is limited on a sailboat, what books do you have on-board that you enjoy so much you re-read them numerous times?  I admit, I cheat...I have a kindle, but hey, I might not ALWAYS have a charged kindle, so I do think that having a couple of physical books on-board is a good idea.  Something I have learned the hard way from sailing:  always have plan B.

 

This past Sunday I was introduced (after Mass, ok?) to the one of the best bloody marys EVER.  And it's from a mix...with a few additions to your taste such as horseradish, worchester sause, and olives.  YUM.  So, really if you want veggies  in the morning, Bloody Marys are the way to go....if you want fruits, then it's mimosas.  Olives are your veggie, along with the mix, of course.  With mimosas you KNOW that orange juice is good for you, especially with champagne...how could it BE bad for you?  Honestly? Can life get any better? 

I hope everyone is living their dream.  Happy sailing.

 

Stay dry and safe!

 

No fruits were harmed in the writing of this post.

[Peter Kafer]

Please don't discount James Michener.  All of his books are well researched and completely mesmerizing.  "Caravans" is perhaps my favorite novel.  Then, anything by Ken Follett is great.  A terrific triumvirate would be Michener's "Caravans," Follett's "Lie down with Lions" and Forsyth's "The Afghan."

I, too, have discovered Mark Twain.  A truly wonderful writer.  "Life on the Mississippi" is a good one and often overlooked.  Like "Tom Sawyer," it is free on Kindle.

More--anything by Jeffery Archer is good.  Archer has the knack of keeping you in suspense until the very last page, sometimes, the very last sentence!

Peter

s/v Now or Never!

[Charlotte Radford]

Thanks so much for the suggestions.  I will definitely look at these books for my onboard library.  I find it totally amazing that you are able to have such a great variety on board.  I too,  have had some very good success with the "free" table in our marina, having acquired two John D. McDonald books that were out of print, and ones I had never read before...KEEPER!!!

 

Yes, I acknowledge that Florida is probably not the "friendliest" state for sailing.  However, the weather (if we are not having a hurricane!) is THE BEST for sailing.  Speaking as someone who cannot stand cold weather ( and those places you mention are COLD!) at all, for me Florida rules.  But, to each his own.

Happy sailing.  Thanks again for your input.  Charlotte

 

[Veranda]

As far as books go....we usually have well over a hundred on board.  We drop off what we've read and pick up new stuff wherever we can.  Some we buy at used books shops like the 2 excellent places in Saint Augustine while most come from book swaps along the way.  When we find something really special we add it to the permanent library and keep it aboard.  The few that come to mind are Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, Three Cups of Tea, Water for Elephants, The Kite Runner and 1421.  All are great books that I look forward to having in our home once we decide to move ashore

We've sailed in several states and all places have good and bad things when it comes to boating.  In no particular order Long Island Sound, the Chesapeake and North Carolina are all, to me, more "sail friendly" than Florida.  Its nice that your happy with your home waters but for me Florida has a hard time cracking the top 5.