Yachting

Together Alone (In the Pacific) – Ron Falconer.

Published by Bantam in 2004, an only softcover. A super story about a great man and his family.

Ron Falconer born in Scotland joined the RAF, became an architectural draftsman and then designed and built his one boat. A special yacht he named Fleur d’Ecosse. He went sailing, alone, perhaps, we are told, 50,000 miles. He met the beautiful Anne and he took her to the Caroline Atoll in the northern reaches of French Polynesia. There they had a family, built their Robinson Crusoe style house and lived the life we all dream of.

Octavo, 255 pages, with maps and a handful of nice images from photographs taken in their heavenly Paradise.

We think Ron now lives in France but until recently lived at Moorea … and could be heard singing at the Kareka Bar … he has a super voice in the Simon and Garfunkel sort of style … check him out on Youtube,

A Scotsman in Paradise with the voice of an Angel.

$25.00

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A World of My Own – Robin Knox-Johnston – First edition 1969.

A fine copy of the first edition 1969 of a then young Robin Knox-Johnston’s single-handed non-stop voyage around the world.

Published by Cassell, London. Octavo, 240 pages, end paper charts and illustrated very nicely.

Humble thorough account although he does point out his vessel Suhaili at 32 feet was smaller than Alec Rose’s Lively Lady at 36 feet and the relative monster Gipsy Moth II of Francis Chichester at 53 feet. Great technical information and tips for overcoming a number of practical difficulties.

We like the extensive lists of stores and instruments at the rear and especially his extensive onboard library which included … Boswell, Bronte(Wuthering Heights), Carlyle, Cherry-Garrard (Worst Journey), Darwin (Voyage of Beagle), Dostoevsky (Crime and Punishment), Laurence Sterne (Tristram and Sentimental), Thackery, Gilbert White (Selbourne) and from modern time interesting to see David Lewis (Daughter of the Wind) and [Voyager Hero] Hiscock (Wanderer III) …. Must have shopped at Voyager!

Knox-Johnston made his name on Suhaili deservedly so!

$30.00

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The Tasmanian Trading Ketch – Garry Kerr

A Voyager favourite – what better looking boat?

Effectively self published in 1987. Small quarto, 179 pages, with very special illustrations of images and technical drawings of these fine craft, end paper charts. A very good copy.

The author was a crayfisherman who developed an interesting in writing from oral history – what a super combination.

Super sections on the design, hull form, lofting and building. Sails and sailing follow with yarns about plying there trade and the showing at regattas. And, life on board and the inevitable mishaps.

Wonderful book on a wonderful vessel by a crayfisherman no less.

$40.00

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The Southern Cross – Australia’s 1974 Challenge for America’s cup – Hugh Whall

Bondy won the Cup for Australia in 1984 … it had been a long haul … this the book about the mighty effort made in 1974.

Published by Admiralty Publishing, Maryland, USA in 1974, a first edition.

Octavo, 172 pages, finished with the “Basic 12 metre formula”… learn it by heart. Nicely illustrated throughout from photographs taken along the way. Very nice copy.

The author a sailor of note, ex Fastnet, Sydney Hobart etc. From Rhode Island where he kept his hand in. Bondy … well we all know about Bondy.

A super book with good concentration on the design development and the desire to win at all costs.

The America’s Cup maybe the best thing invented in America..

$25.00

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Fatal Storm -The 54th Sydney to Hobart Yacht – Rob Mundie – First Edition 1999

For those that remember it, and for many impossible to forget, the storm that took six lives in the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was beyond any expectations. Waves a high as 100 feet (half the size of the Sydney Opera House) pounded boats in the Bass Strait for more than a day. This is the record of those events.

Softcover, published by Harper and Collins in 1999. Large octavo, 317 pages with numerous illustrations many in colour. Very good almost as new condition.

Real life Fatal Storm – Sydney Hobart 1998

$30.00

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Close to the Wind – [Round the World Single Handed and Rescue] – Pete Goss

The story of adventurer Pete Goss’s involvement in the 1996/7 Vandee Globe – round the World single handed event France and back.

Only six finished and Goss was fifth … he had however to go back in the Southern Ocean to rescue Raphael Dinelli who would have died for sure without Pete Goss. He took Dinelli back to Hobart and continued on in the race alone. This is the same race that saw the famous capsizing of Tony Bullimore and, sadly the loss of Gerry Roufs.

Softcover, published by Headline in 1998. Large octavo, 282 pages nicely illustrated. A very good near fine copy.

Pete Goss received and deserved his Legion d’Honneur.

$25.00

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Together Alone (In the Pacific) – Ron Falconer.

A World of My Own – Robin Knox-Johnston – First edition 1969.

The Tasmanian Trading Ketch – Garry Kerr

The Southern Cross – Australia’s 1974 Challenge for America’s cup – Hugh Whall

Fatal Storm -The 54th Sydney to Hobart Yacht – Rob Mundie – First Edition 1999

Close to the Wind – [Round the World Single Handed and Rescue] – Pete Goss

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