This handbook shows you not only how to select and equip a boat for coastal and offshore cruising, but also how to sail and navigate it. It sifts through, organizes, and makes sense of the hundred disciplines of the cruising avocation. It will help you through your first coastal hop or your umpteenth off-shore passage. Here you will find: comprehensive coverage of cruising sailboat design, the elements of a comfortable interior and a workable deck, the background you need to decide which of today’s technological advancements may detract from rather than add to your enjoyment, thorough coverage of cruising skills from boat handling to transoceanic voyages, and much more.