As editor and longtime contributor to the British publication Classic Boat, Nic Compton has sailed aboard dozens of historic and beautifully maintained yachts around the globe. His deep familiarity with classic designs, careful restorations and the lives of sailors informs Ultimate Classic Yachts: 20 of the World’s Most Beautiful Classic Yachts, a hardcover coffee-table book that pairs rich photography with informed, narrative histories.
Compton arranges each chapter around a single, exceptional vessel, presenting not just specifications and dates but the stories that give these boats their character. The photographs are presented as artful portraits—glossy, intimate and revealing—while the text explains key design elements, construction techniques, major restorations and memorable voyages. Readers will find attention to materials and craftsmanship, insight into the practical decisions owners face, and lively accounts of seamanship that bring each yacht’s personality to life. As Compton notes in his introduction, these are more than boats; they are personalities with histories worth telling. (Bloomsbury, $50)
A Man, A Woman, A Trawler
Felicia Schneiderhan’s memoir Newlyweds Afloat offers a candid, often humorous look at beginning married life on a 38-foot trawler moored on the Chicago waterfront. Schneiderhan writes with an easy, natural voice about falling in love with a man whose two great passions are his family and his boat. The narrative follows the pair as they adapt to living in a space far smaller than a typical apartment, and as they confront the persistent mechanical quirks of an aging Marine Trader that requires constant attention.
The book explores the practicalities and emotional dynamics of life aboard: intimacy in confined quarters, the small compromises that sustain a relationship, and the unexpected ways boat ownership reshapes daily routines and priorities. Schneiderhan balances wry observation with sincere reflection, and she brings readers into the rhythms of dock life—from late-night troubleshooting to neighborly camaraderie—without romanticizing the challenges. The result is a memoir that speaks to anyone curious about maritime living and to readers who appreciate a frank, personal account of adapting to an unconventional home. (Breakaway Books, $11.90)
Hone Your Anchoring Skills
Anchoring: A Ground Tackler’s Apprentice is a practical, experience-driven guide to anchoring written by Rudy and Jill Sechez. Drawing on years spent living aboard and cruising in a 34-foot sail-assisted wooden trawler of their own design and construction, the Sechezes blend hands-on knowledge with clear explanations of the theory behind good anchoring practice.
The book covers selection and deployment of ground tackle in real-world terms: choosing the right anchor type for different bottoms, adjusting scope for varying conditions, and understanding how rope stretch affects holding and shock absorption—the so-called “paradox of stretch.” The authors also tackle common myths and misconceptions about anchors and anchoring techniques, offering corrective guidance based on experience rather than opinion. While technically detailed, the text remains accessible, organizing complex ideas into practical advice that cruising sailors, liveaboards and weekend boaters can apply immediately. Whether you’re refining your anchoring routine or learning the basics, the Sechezes’ pragmatic approach helps build confidence at anchor. (Waterway Guide Media, $25)
This article originally appeared in the March 2016 issue.