Sailing the Shallows : The lost art of cruising the coast in a small boat by Roger Barnes

A beautifully written and illustrated manifesto for the simple joys of sailing a small boat, filled with useful advice and techniques. Sailing a dinghy is your gateway to adventure. It requires little of you other than self-reliance and self-confidence, as well as a respect for the subtleties of the local climate and topography. Out at sea in a small boat, nature is not something to be observed disinterestedly: it batters and drenches you, refreshes and enlivens you. Sailing the Shallows is a manifesto for a different attitude to sailing, far removed from the ostentation and complexity of modern-day yachting. Roger Barnes combines lyrical writing and beautifully drawn illustrations with simple and practical wisdom on experiencing the pure joy of being out on the water in a small boat. We accompany him on his early days afloat in the Lake District, paddling Hildegard 'the `communist canoe' in France and undertaking more extreme passages (even capsizing) in his beloved Avel Dro. Along the way Roger weaves in advice on skills, techniques and lessons learned: this is a book to be read and re-read not just for the stories but the keen insights into small boat sailing techniques. Sailing the Shallows describes a lifetime's journey towards the recognition that cruising in a dinghy is not an imperfect and provisional way to get afloat, but the purest and most perfect way to go sailing.
Binding: Paperback / softback