Cruising Handbook (Nigel Calder)

This great book delivers, at it's full, the quality found in the other books from Calder (Boatowner Mechanical Electrical Manual, Repairs at sea, etc). It's divided into 3 sections, each of them packed with consistent information, like a manual. I use it as a reference book, always nearby for every aspect of cruising and boat handling. An update of this kind was necessary since there hasn't been one such since the Eric Hitchcock cruising books written in the 50's. Although not a very economic book, it will repay itself the very first day if you have followed its anchoring/ground tackle techniques!!!

Sailboat Maintenance Manual (Don Casey)

My top favourite book on the subject. Having enjoyed his "This old boat" for years, this new hard cover compilation (6 books in 1 volume) features hundreds of very clear illustrations and step by step guides for each project aimed for "do it yourself-ers". It covers it all, from re-coring delaminated hulls and decks to sailmaking, refinishing, DC systems, diesel engines, and surveying fiberglass craft. A rather heavy volume because of it's many pages, the size of it (kind of pocket size) makes it easy to place on a small book shelf onboard at the reach of your hand. And although not a cheap book (but cheaper than buying the 6 books separately) it's worth every penny and will repay itself on your very first project.

Zen in the Art of Archery (Eugen Herrigel)

The art of letting yourself go and putting your conscious on vacation. A diary of a German teacher taking archery lessons in Japan for a period of 6 years. Written in 1953, it is a classic in its field. I'm going for a second reading since the book has many applications to everyday life, including sailing.

The Stars (H.A. Rey)

If ever was a book to hold your hand and take you on a walk through the night sky, this must be it. Written in the first half of last century and endorsed by such luminaries as physics Nobel prize winner Albert Einstein and one of the astronauts who stepped on the moon.

Without assuming anything, it begins as a child fairy tale, then slowly goes up organizing by size, magnitude and places in history each and every pearl that forms the necklace of every known constellation. Mythology and the relation between constellations is explored in full. The book closes with twelve star charts for every month in each hemisphere.

A must on board, not just for satisfying your curiosity on night watches, but as a compulsory celestial navigation book for the sight reduction tables.

Did you know that the nebulous on Orion's belt (observable with the naked eye) holds more than 300 suns the size of ours?? Think about this for a while.