Much has changed in the sailing world since this book was first published in 1983. Boats tend to be larger and rigs and gear have become easier to handle, GPS has simplified ocean navigation and communication is much simpler. However, the ocean itself is unchanging and skippers still remain as responsible for vessel and crew as ever before. Weather may be unkind, equipment may fail and a glorious daytime trade wind sail may be followed by challenging conditions that night.
This book is a guide to help crews to prepare their boats and themselves so that their later memories of the crossing are all good ones. Preparation is the key, along with an understanding of the need for self sufficiency.
As sailing horizons have extended in the past decade, so the Atlantic Crossing Guide now builds on its original core details about the Atlantic Circuit and adds in links to the numerous cruising areas where sailors may leave or join the traditional circuit. The scope of the book may be readily seen on the plan on pages x/xi. As a circumnavigator, Jane Russell has had ample experience and contacts to draw on whilst updating every aspect of this book. Preparing the book has been a major project and the Pilotage Foundation is grateful to Jane for all her research and preparation and to Janet Murphy and her team at Adlard Coles Nautical for the presentation of this work.
The Pilotage Foundation welcomes feedback – text or photographs, e-mail or hard copy – from those sailing these waters. Where appropriate, updated material will be published on our website which also gives details of all our other publications, many of which are available for free download.
Martin Walker
Hon Director
RCC Pilotage Foundation