Happy Hooking: The Art of Anchoring

Alex & Daria Blackwell

White Seahorse Publishing

£22.89

The third expanded edition … even the authors wonder whether this ‘may seem like overkill’. Yet technology is developing fast, anchoring is not the taken-for-granted activity it used to be and too many people sail without a dinghy, certain there’ll always be a marina handy. Alex and Daria Blackwell have tested a wide range of anchors, rodes and more ancillary equipment than I knew existed. They are admirably clear both in their recommendations and rejections, providing a wealth of comparative charts, diagrams and photos. Their west coast of Ireland base makes this a mid-Atlantic book both linguistically and in its cruising area assumptions.  I translated across to my east of England creeks and emerged significantly better informed.