The Best Sailing Books to Read on Vacation
Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport. But some of the best reads are discovered on vacation between the front and back covers of a well-written novel. So, whether you are counting down the days until your next unforgettable yacht charter vacation or simply daydreaming about island-hopping in paradise, these are our favorite sea-inspired tales for the salty sailor in each of us…
Contemporary Sea Stories (Non-Fiction)
An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude
By: Ann Vanderhoof
A true tale of a couple chucking it all to sail endlessly. Great armchair reading when you can’t get out on the water.
Also try The Spice Necklace by the same author.
By: John Kretschmer
Great title, and if you’ve ever enjoyed hearing a sailor’s tall tales at a dive-y seaside bar, John Kretschmer’s stories will transport you.
By: Herb McCormick
Light, fun reading about a sailing traditionalist’s journeys around the world. Also a great intro to other books and stories by Lin and Larry Pardy.
Fiction in Paradise
By: Dorothea Benton Frank
Light summer reading, including a luxurious trip to the BVI, and other world-class sailing spots.
Timeless Classics
By: Robert Louis Stevenson
Believed to be written about British Virgin Island’s Norman Island, a popular spot for charterer’s to explore the caves and coves looking for treasure.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
By: Jules Verne
Sci-fi at its inception, a story of a terrifying sea monster and the original Nemo.
By: Ernest Hemmingway
Possibly a little cliché, yes there are lessons on courage and defeat, but also an appreciation for man’s relationship with the sea.
For kids, please see our Best Children’s Books to Read on Vacation blog post.
Contributor
Leslie Montenegro
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