This would be the second book in the series of guide books for sailors designed for planning enjoyable cruises in the most popular sailing regions, and for using on arrival to make the most of every minute.
At the moment, sailors planning a cruise abroad use a pilot book, which gives you all the navigational advice to get you to your destination, but the instant you step ashore and close the pilot book, there’s nothing to take you further. You’re a tourist, but you’re a tourist with a boat tied up, you’re on foot, you often need to quickly sort out fuel, laundry and food supplies, and you’re often on a restricted timescale, needing to leave the next day on the right tide, at a specific time. Apart from this, the main reason for going on a cruise in the first place is to explore new and lovely places, not to spend hours looking at tidal stream charts as you slog across huge stretches of empty ocean.
Researched and written by Paul Heiney, a hugely experienced sailor, journalist and author, the series would match pilot books geographically, as the intention would be for them to be used alongside each other. France is the biggest cruising area for UK sailors - it’s achievable but it’s still going abroad, the food and drink is fantastic, and there are pretty harbours, beautiful beaches, cultural spots to explore. This book will cover the South Brittany coast.
Chapters will be organised by region, then by port. Lavishly illustrated with Paul’s own and agency photos of the places, and helpful maps where appropriate, but chapters will be structured as follows:
-General introduction: historical and cultural background to the place, why it’s worth visiting and any especially interesting nuggets or highlights. Any especially useful info on whether it’s impossible to get into in a high wind/low tide.
-Bare necessities box: where to get fuel, repairs, laundry, shopping, medical help
-Transport connections: boats will often have crew leaving or joining, and it’s hugely helpful with planning in advance/changes in plan when underway to have quick access to information on nearest airports, ferry terminals, stations. Also info on local transport (bus, taxi) and further afield (train)
-Great places to visit, best cafes and restaurants, walks (sailors need to stretch their legs when they go ashore), bike rides (more and more boats carry folding bikes, which allow you to explore further inland), best beaches and activities for the kids, museums, art galleries, all organised into categories by distance from the port or harbour – 10 minutes’ walk, 30 minutes’ walk and further afield (maybe a bus or taxi ride, if you’ve got a day to explore and time to go further). Depending on how long you have, you can jump straight to that section and see what’s doable
This series is all about the enjoyment - a planning tool for a fantastic holiday, and a resource to help you make the most of your time when you arrive.
