Unique. Not a substitute for all the other books, but I would not set out across any ocean without following the author's guidance on lights (an entire chapter) and without trying to memorize and practice his guidance across FOUR chapters on storm management, the single best step by step option by option tutorial I have seen anywhere. The entire book is a treasure.

Fundamental reference, easy to use.

1st in the basic sailing series. Top-notch series from US Sailing

3rd in the series of easy to use self-training guides from US Sailing

5th in the superb series from US Sailing.

Extremely useful reference with deep detail and an almost magical range of common sense precautions and preparations that could only have been created by a person with a lifetime of experience offshore.

A real bargain. This is a big book with lots of detail Expecially valuable are the practice tests for every aspect of the Coast Guard tests. I copied all the tests out and created my own little test book. Information atropies very fast, this is worth an annual self-study and self-test period (not saying that I do that, just recommending it).

Also from Nigel Calder, who is a gold standard, the best book I have been able to find on this rather vital topic.

Very helpful in addition to the Red Cross Course and having the remote (free) medical radio and telephone contact information at hand.

Rules of the road was for me second only to celestial navigation as a pain in the butt to learn. I finally created a one-page reference that I consider superior to the plastic guide.

For me, this was *really* helpful.

Basic reference.

Rainy day good reading.

This is a generic reference, not the easiest or the best necessarily, but in keeping with my 2-3 book triangulation strategy for learning.

One of four key books, as climate goes to greater extremes with global warming, enroute weather understanding as well as pre-departure planning are taking on more importance than ever before.

One of two basic guides, there are others.