Chartering is more popular than ever, and surveys show that most sailors plan to charter a sailboat within the next 24 months. For many sailors, the chance to take the helm and steer their own course while on vacation is high on the list of desires. 

The American Sailing Association offers a course in bareboat sailing called ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising. Bareboat Cruising Made Easy is the ASA’s new manual and textbook that is part of the updated curriculum for ASA 104. With the book, ASA’s goal is to “teach you how to sail to some beautiful places and have an immense amount of fun. You’re on a sailing vacation!” 

Bareboat Cruising Made Easy also makes a handy reference guide—the book will appeal to all sailors interested in going on a bareboat cruise, not just sailors taking the course. Among the topics covered are planning a cruise, cruising-boat systems and seamanship including VHF protocols and port formalities, which are two integral but sometimes intimidating skills cruisers need. There are the requisite chapters on navigation, weather and safety as sea, as well as a section on living aboard a sailboat, the do’s and don’ts of socializing and flotilla sailing. 

The book was written by a team of experienced sailors: Lisa Batchelor Frailey and Andy Batchelor, winners of eight ASA outstanding instructors awards, wrote the text, which was edited by Jeremy McGeary and America’s Cup sailor Peter Isler. ASA founder Lenny Shabes, served as the book’s final editor. 

SAILING Magazine Contributing Photographer Billy Black provided the photographs, which are often action shots depicting a correct sailing procedure, such as using hand signals when weighing anchor or the correct way to ease line off a winch. The technical drawings are by Peter Bull, who has 25 years of experience illustrating sailing books. 

Explanatory drawings and photos fill the book. Whether a sailor is a visual learner or someone who likes hunkering down and highlighting text, Bareboat Cruising Made Easy provides an up to date, convenient way to get a lot of bareboat cruising how-to information across and prepare a sailor for a bareboat cruising vacation. More than that, it should be on every charter boat. Even experienced sailors will find useful information within this well-researched and well-presented book.