No it's not a race, for me the hot stove regatta is all the READING I do off season...
Let me share some great books for those that like to read about boats/boating/cruising.
First - ANY BOOK by Anthony Bailey. He used to live nearby in Stonington, CT and was a frequent contributor to the New Yorker Magazine for many years. He was a Brit that moved to the states and lived here until the mid-late 80's. Probably one of his best books is The Coast of Summer - for over a decade he would fly from Britain to Stonington during the summer and cruise around MA, RI and CT shore. This books is wonderful account of his cruising years. I highly recommend this book. He also wrote a book called The Thousand Dollar Yacht which is a story of his first boat. Very funny and readable. This book was written ca. 1960'ish.. He also wrote any interesting book about the Intercoastal Waterway - a bit of history/adventure/local interest story.
A Splendid Madness by Thomas Froncek, a long time editor for the Readers Digest (i think..) it is a story of middle age guy that buys his first boat - and falls in love with the boat and boating - for someone that got started sailing in mid-life its a story one can relate to very well.
Song of the Sirens by Ernest K Gann - you probably know about this guy if your interested in flying/aviation. He actually was a good sailor and owned many boats. This book is his story of owning many sirens (sailboats..). Wonderful read.
The Boat That Would Not Float - Farley Mowatt - classically comical read of restoring an old New Foundland workboat.
Riverhorse - William Least Heat Moon (aka Bill Trogdan) - most of you probably have read his CLASSIC book - Blue Highways - and that was truly a classic but nothing to do about sailing - Riverhorse was Heat-Moon's story of going from New York to Washington state in a 21 foot C-Dory powerboat - it's a fascinating story - although he gets bogged down at times during the trip - especially certain parts where the story turns into rewrites of his log entries. You have to stick with it though - it is a good book if you can get thru some of the "slower parts".
Any of the Hal Roth series - especially Two on a Big Ocean, Two Against Cape Horn, Always a Distant Anchorage, and Chasing the Longest Rainbow. He was a prolific writer and sailor, unfortunately he passed away in 2008.
A good source for other books to read are below (the latter I posted some minor reviews...)
If you haven't already visited, this is a must visit site:
www.furledsails.com - many interesting podcasts
Finally my monthly Good Old Boat and Sail Magazine helps me finish the Regatta in fine style...
Happy Reading
