South China Sea

Jo Winter

RCC Pilotage Foundation / Imray

£55

Jo and Giles Winter were part way through a circumnavigation when they were captivated by ‘the fabulous cruising grounds’ of Southeast Asia. Her book builds on the work of Stephen Davies and Elaine Morgan. It offers passage-planning advice (including crossing the terrifyingly busy Far Eastern shipping lanes) with detailed cruising guidance from Singapore to Hong Kong via the Gulf of Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan.  It’s an area with complex winds and tides; few dedicated yachting facilities; typhoons, crocodiles, poverty and piracy. Winter’s approach is informed by common-sense, experience and cultural sensitivity as well as her receptiveness to beauty and understandable fascination with sea areas where one can cruise for months without seeing another yacht. A truly impressive book.