Two books that I havn't read in years but I think of favourably, are NM's 'The Cruel Sea' and 'The Ship that Died of Shame and other stories'. Naval rather than yachting but tremendous yarns.
As well as the boaty ones, I adore 'The Tribe That Lost Its Head' and 'Richer Than All His Tribe' - there's no crueller and more accurate indictment of post-colonial Africa.