Customer Reviews

There Be No Dragons: How to Cross a Big Ocean in a Small Sailboat

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Palley goes right to the bone, stripping all fears and speculations away from the subject of ocean cruising. with small anecdotes and subjects not normally discussed in cruising handbooks, like handicapped crew and sexlife aboard, he removes the "dragon's" that keeps people from long range cruising. You will probably not agree with all his conclusions (I know I didn't), but Palley makes you think in a new way, which always is a healthy thing !

If you are a "bottom-line" kind of person with a good sense of humor you should really enjoy this book! The book is a concise distillation of Mr. Palley's accumulated wisdom from tens of thousands of miles at sea. I am thankful that he has taken the time to write down his wisdom for all to benefit. It belongs on your shelf as "must read" - it is a small jewell in the crown of your offshore cruising library. It is only the second book in my entire life that I started re-reading immediately after finishing the first time (the only other one was "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis). I have a sneaking suspicion that this liitle gem will wind up being one of my favorite books on sailing - I plan on reading it yearly as long as the good LORD gives me the grace.

There Be No Dragons: How To Cross A Big Ocean In A Small Sailboat is the story of how Reese Palley (a self-admitted marginally skilled sailor) managed to safely complete a fifteen-year circumnavigation of the globe in a very small sailboat. Among other insightful bits of nautical wisdom, readers (and aspiring sailors seeking to launch out into their own nautical adventuring around the world) will learn that its actually safer to sail out into the ocean than to hug the coast lines; that even a rank amateur having only the sketches information can succeed if his small boat is sturdy, his confidence is strong, and he gives a careful reading to Reese Palley's There Be No Dragons with its combination of easily learned skills, identified necessary equipment, and advice for safe sailing.

This book counsels readers on real and imagined dangers that will likely be encountered in Blue Water Sailing. The book does a good job of dispelling imagined fears, and is full of practical sailing advice. The book is full of stories emphasizing many facets of the sailing lifestyle. A good read!

Lots of general cruising info, little specific to "how to cross a big ocean", and where & when & what those passages are like. Discourages drugs but seems to advocate carrying weapons; even suggests that in an emergency you could fire on another vessel to get their attention. Includes 7 pages on "sex at sea"; who needs this info? Though there "be no dragons" relates stories of near collisions, cutting rigging with a full automatic Kalishnokov during a dismasting in the Red Sea, how to bribe port & law enforcement officials, etc.

This is a "what-to" rather then a "how-to" book. If you are already committed and have read some of the more comprehensive cursing books, you won't get much from this book, except another prospective (which is good). On the other hand, if you're still just dreaming this book might be the kick in the pants you need. In any event, unless you are already offshore, it's worth the short read.

Since our long-range goal is to sail the Caribbean I thought this book would help us ready our boat for the adventure. I was not disappointed. Alternately funny & informative this is truly a must-read before you set sail for any long adventure. I have a strong feeling it will be well-worn before we head out.

Great book, great advise, nice writing style and very easy to read. Really does address key issues that sailors will be considering before venturing further in their small boats. Read it and it will motivate you to "just do it!".

I read dozens of books before I headed out to sea. I made lengthy lists of things I must learn, practice, check, double check, buy, or do before I left. I fell into the trap that many sailors do, which is to stay in port chasing perfection in themselves or their boat.

This is one of the most important sailing books I have read. It convinced me that it was time to leave, and I am so glad that I did.

Contains some useful advice on blue-water sailing. However, after seeing the author's photo on the back cover, I *really* could have done without his lengthy discourse on sexual relations at sea.