Blue water countdown : preparing for long-term cruising

"Roaming the world under sail is a dream which anybody can turn into reality if they approach the project in the right way. The author tells you from his own experience, with three separate ocean cruising projects and more than 45,000 ocean miles under his keel, just what the right way is. The three sections of this book take would-be ocean cruisers from the earliest preparations, up to the point of departure. Part One deals with the human element - how to prepare and assess yourself mentally and physically, how to deal sensibly with property and sort out the tangle of official and personal relationships that tie you to your normal life. Part Two examines the technical decisions that have to be taken about the choice of craft, its rigging, gear and accessories. Part Three deals with preparation, so that boat and crew leave as a self-sufficient unit prepared for any emergency, whether it involves foul weather, gear failure, illness, pirates, an unfriendly immigration official or running out of money on the other side of the globe. If you are thinking of setting sail in search of a new way of life and adventure, or simply taking an extended once-in-a-lifetime cruise, this book will answer all your questions."--Provided by the publisher.