Sailing Just for Fun by A C Stock

[Boomshanka]

Stock, A.C. (2002) Sailing just for fun: High Adventure on a Small budget, Minerva Press

Originally published in 1998, this book strangely doesn't really cover what the title suggests. Instead, the reader is given a lifetime's experience and practical tips from A C Stock in his sailing exploits around the East Coast - not all fun at all. There are plenty of tips as he takes you along on his travels, but this book will mainly be of interest to East Coast sailors, especially around the Thames estuary - with detailed accounts of that region. A step back in time in many ways, with references to sailing before all the new fangled 'necessities' came in such as a depth sounder or chartplotter. Some very useful insights into working the tides, passage making through shoal waters and how to dry out/live at anchor.

 

[LittleSister]

this book strangely doesn't really cover what the title suggests. Instead, the reader is given a lifetime's experience and practical tips from A C Stock in his sailing exploits around the East Coast - not all fun at all.

Having owned this book for some years, and read it two or three times, I can't agree - seems to me to do exactly what it says on the tin.

 

[chart5011]

A very enjoyable read and backs up the old saying 'The smaller the boat, the greater the fun'.
I think it is now published by Seafarer Books.

 

[doug748]

His articles in the Yachting Press were always very readable. Must look out a copy.

 

[Poignard]

A few years ago we had him give a talk to our club. It was very good and not expensive.

 

[pisspoor]

feck Boomshanka .... you talk a lot of Sh*te ....

Charles Stock's book is a brilliant fun read .... and talks exactly about what it's title suggests ....

The sailing he does has to be fun ... and god some of it is very adventures considering Shoal Waters is only 16' long .... take for example his sail around to the stour in Kent and sailing up all its navigable length or his trip to Flatford mill pushing through the broken lock at the correct time of the tide .... he is brilliant at small boat seamanship .... and his boat handling skills would easily put to shame your typical mariana yoti who always relies on the iron topsail ....

This is a guy who's boat does not have any auxiliary motor, no inboard, no outboard, but who is someone who thought it quite normal to be able to sail 100 mile in a weekend using only wind and tide ... leaving Friday evening or the small hours of Saturday (depending on the tide) and returning to his mooring sometime on Sunday ....

Charles Stocks style of sailing is the same style of sailing I was taught when I moved over to keel boats in the early 70's .... sailing with a crew who always seemed to win the RNYC seamanship trophy most years .... though the Mitchell brothers gave us a good run for our money .....

Now I have to admit I am bias ... what a surprise .... I bought this book when it was first published and have since given copies of it as presents ... and will do again I am sure ... it is a brilliant book .... and describes a type of sailing most people have forgotten about and most would be unable to emulate ....

Oh and if you are interested here is his webpage:
http://shoal-waters.moonfruit.com/

On the site you can read many of his articles about small boat sailing on the Thames estuary .... also you can download his second book ... this is as brilliant as his first ... it covers the years before shoal Waters and then various exploits in Shoal Waters .. it is a really feel good read .... just like his first book which you can buy on amazon

Well that's all for now

PP

 

[Parsonsheath]

pisspoor

read the comments on this writer, I too have the book, now some years old, but still find a good read, and envy him the years afloat, and the fact he has never lost the excitement, nor lost sight of the basic skills, now smothered by all the kit we feel essential. Thank you for the guide to his site, a great read, and a series of good lessons.

 

[Little Rascal]

it is a brilliant book .... and describes a type of sailing most people have forgotten about and most would be unable to emulate ....

Just re-reading it.

Forgotten? I havn't!

Emulating it? ...erm