Customer Reviews

Cruising in Seraffyn (25th Anniversary Edition)

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This is a perfect starter book for anyone dreaming of the cruising life. It is a sensible and realistic view of sailing the high seas from one of the world's most famous cruising couples. Along with vivid imagery of azure skies, deserted beaches, and emerald waters, Lin and Larry Pardey intertwine the realities and requirements of the cruising life. Their philosophy is simple: "Go small, go simple, go now!"

As other folks have written, this book is lovely to read and inspiring as can be. The new edition, in its hard cover is not just a simple reprint. It is almost a whole new book - the new introduction gives grand info for sailors today, the appendix puts it all where it is for those who want to sail off in 2002. But best of all are the l6 pages of full color photos - stuff to dream about, ideas to use on your boat. Really lovely. If you have the old edition, you'll still want this one. If you've never read the first book, this is the one for you.

The Pardeys are well known in the cruising world. They are mostly known for their efficient and economical methods (they didn't even have an engine on Serrafyn). This book gives a great background on how they got started. The original edition of this book was written in the 70s. This new edition adds a section on current (1992) costs to proceed as they did.

The book is clear and well written. Throughout the entire book you will be asking yourself, "what am I waiting for? I could be cruising NOW!" While I would agree that it is certainly possible to do as they did, it takes more than the desire to save money. It takes the kind of character many of us don't have (including me). The character of *completely* relying on just the basics. For instance, I could not imagine...for me...having a sailboat without a motor. There is certainly something pure and noble about not having one, but I still feel it is a convenience (and safety feature) I would not want to do without.

Above all else is my favorite quote from the Pardeys. When asked how much longer they were going to continue sailing they replied, "As long as it's fun."

That's the sort of inspiration we need about all things in life.

As you read this book it seems as though you are right there with Larry and Lin as they build and sail their small boat from California through Mexico, Central America, Jamaica, up the U.S. East Coast to the Chesapeake Bay and finally to Europe. This is the 25th Anniversary edition of this book. It has been updated from the original with pictures and maps. A great book I would recommend it highly for anyone with an adventurous spirit.

Page turner - made me want to drop everything and sail. The combination of this book and Slocum's book gave me the sailing bug. Contains useful information for those that are thinking about buying a boat. As seasoned, adventurous, resourceful sailors, the Pardeys' books are useful for salties or salty-wannabes (like myself).

Now available in a brand new 25th anniversary edition, Lin and Larry Pardey's Cruising in Seraffyn now sports a new introduction, "Anyone Can Go Cruising," and a new appendix, "Affordable, Attainable Dreams." Cruising In Seraffyn is an exciting, detailed cruising guide with a 16-page spread of full-color photos, making it an adventurous reference for nautical buffs and armchair travelers alike. With its decades of sailor's wisdom and inspirational prose, Cruising In Seraffyn is very highly recommended reading for anyone interested in setting sail for pleasure.

I loved the book, but always wished there were more photos. Now I have seen the new edition, in hard cover, published by the Pardey's. It is great. They have done it for the 25th anniversary of this book. Lots of color photos, a really updated discussion of cruising costs and a really nice story about what has happened to Seraffyn over the past 30 years. The pictures of the Pardey's new boat and Seraffyn sailing side by side are worth the $2l.95 price. Unfortunately, the book will not be on the American market until June. I got one from a friend who is a book reviewer. I was told you could wait till june and get it at ..., or you can go to the news letters on thier web site, ... and order one early.

My sole complaint about this book is that it's too *#(! short. In recounting their travels, the Pardys persuade us to stop armchair-sailing and just DO it. I am about a week away from setting sail for points South in my own vessel, and owe them a debt of gratitude for having given me that necessary nudge to finally get on with it and go. If you're teetering on the fencepost, get this book. An easy read, it's sure to provide the impetus you've been waiting for.

I think I first read this book 20 years ago. I loved the joyful but thoughtful attitude of the writer and I learned a lot as a read it. Just a few weeks ago a friend gave me the latest book in this series - the story of building the boat that replaced Seraffyn. It's called Bull Canyon, doesn't sound like a book about sailing but the subtitle made me persist since it mentions boatbuilding. It is a grand follow up to the Seraffyn series. Made me go back to the beginning and read them all again. Not sure which is my favorite now - Cruising in Seraffyn or bull Canyon.

Wonderful, two youngsters in their early twenties build their own dream boat and set off on a trip - as we know that is lasting now for more than 40 years. How is it possible to stay together in a very restricted world, that is a dwarf of boat. However, this restricted space widens practically to be boundless - the whole wide Earth becomes their world. If you want to know how to go the hard way of learning to sail, to cruise, by doing, how to weld a life-long partnership, then I can only recommend the Pardeys and their adventures on their SERAFFYN. I never read anything better!