The Capable Cruiser

Book excerpt: Lin and Larry Pardey have now been cruising on board their own boats, racing, delivering, and repairing other people’s boats for more than 44 years. After west-to-east and east-to-west circumnavigations, and voyages to more than 75 countries, they have a breadth of knowledge that few other boating authors possess. Most of the voyaging has been done on an earn-as-you-go budget that could be well within the reach of the majority of those whose dream is to set sail. Their motto? “Go small, go simple, but go now!” The Pardeys’ strengths are neatly symbolized by the boats they have built. Each one is romantically traditional, with swooping sheerlines, and is completely dependent on the wind. And yet each boat carries the best, strongest, and most seamanlike gear. Like their vessels, the Pardeys’ writings are founded on a marriage of the spirit of romantic adventure and the practical, up-to-date seamanship that keeps them and their boats safe. This revised and expanded third edition of a cruising classic includes 10 completely new chapters with such advice as: sixteen ways to encourage your lover (partner) to share your dream; strategies for turning sudden engine failure into a minor incident; choosing safety equipment; repairing rigging at sea. All of the original chapters have been updated to ensure that the information will be helpful for everyone who dreams of cruising—whether now or soon. The Capable Cruiser is a logical extension of the Pardeys’ The Self-Sufficient Sailor, with more emphasis on seamanship underway, including careful analysis of extreme anchoring situations and solutions for mitigating them. Underlying each and every chapter is the warmth and encouragement that spurred Herb McCormick, former editor of Cruising World magazine, to label Lin and Larry Pardey “the enablers.”