In the literature of small-boat cruising, dozens of fascinating tales ocean crossings and circumnavigations, singlehanded and with crews-have been lost to today's cruising sailors, simply because it is impractical to keep more than a few in print. Yet many of these cruising adventures, dating back to the turn of the century, still offer the modern sailor a captivating look at the cruising life of yesterday, when tropical islands famous today might not be visited by a yacht over the course of an entire year. For many sailors, even more interesting than the places are the boats these blue-water voyagers chose for their long voyages. Taking as guidelines the themes of Simplicity, Strength, Self-Sufficiency, and Seamanship, the author analyzes fourteen of these voyages. The cruises span eighty years, from 1895 to 1975, from Joshua Slocum to John Neal. In each chapter, covering one boat, there are sections on: Captain-Crew, Hull, Deck, Rig, Cabin, Engine, Voyage Preparations, and Sailing Performance. The main focus in each voyage is on "the boats they sailed in." Thus, the book is, at once, both a collection of cruising tales and a cruising "Manual." In addition, the book is lavishly illustrated with over 125 photographs, boat plans, sketches, and charts of the voyagers' cruising tracks, many of which have never been published before.