Pining for the scent of salt air, the cool touch of wind in your hair, the sound of water rushing over the hull, and the play of the helm in your hands? We know - it's not easy for a sailor to be stuck at home. Your friends at Modern Sailing are here to help (from a safe distance)!
To feed the sailor's hungry soul, here's a list of sailing and nautical-themed books, films, broadcasts, podcasts, webinars, blogs, YouTube channels, music, and apps enjoyed and recommended by our members and staff. Of course, nothing compares to the actual experience of sailing - but this should keep you entertained and inspired for awhile!
Books
- Sailing Alone Around The World - Joshua Slocum (memoir)
- The Long Way - Bernard Moitessier (memoir)
- Swell: A Sailing Surfer's Voyage of Awakening - Liz Clark (memoir)
- Gipsy Moth Circles The World - Sir Francis Chichester (memoir)
- The Saga of Cimba - Richard Maury (memoir)
- 40,000 Miles In a Canoe - John C. Voss (memoir)
- The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst - Tomlin and Hall (historical)
- Alone Through the Roaring Forties - Vito Dumas (memoir)
- Once Is Enough - Miles Smeeton (memoir)
- Fastnet Force Ten - John Rousmaniere (memoir)
- A Voyage for Madmen - Peter Nicholas (historical)
- The Philosophy of Sailing - Christian Williams (inspirational)
- Alone Together - Christian Williams (memoir)
- From Here to Paris: Get Laid Off, Buy a Barge in France, Take it to Paris - Cris Hammond (autobiography - Sausalito resident)
- Chasing the Horizon: Life and Times of a Modern Sea Gypsy - Fatty Goodlander (autobiography)
- Dove - Robin Lee Graham (memoir)
- Love with a Chance of Drowning - Torre DeRoche (memoir)
- Wanderer - Sterling Hayden (autobiography)
- Voyage: A Novel of 1896 - Sterling Hayden (historical fiction)
- Caribbean - James Michener (historical fiction)
- Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Sailing - John Vigor (educational and humorous)
- The Gentleman's Guide to Passages South - Bruce Van Sant (informational - cruising Florida to South America)
- Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die - Chris Santella (inspirational)
- Gary Jobson, An American Sailing Story - Gary Jobson (autobiography)
- The Proving Ground - G. Bruce Knecht (memoir)
- The Voyagers Handbook: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising - Beth Leonard (informational - world cruising)
- Across Islands and Oceans: A Journey Alone Around the World By Sail and By Foot - James Baldwin (memoir)
- Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage - Alfrend Lansing (biography)
- Admiral of the Ocean Sea - A Life of Christopher Columbus - Samuel Eliot Morison (biography)
- Two Years Before the Mast - Richard Henry Dana (autobiography)
- Sea Wolf - Jack London (historical fiction)
Online Publications, Webinars and Broadcasts/Podcasts
- Latitude 38
- ASA Webinars On Demand - Free and Discounted Sailing Webinars
- ASA Webinars lead by Peter Isler, two-time World Cup winner
- Sailing Illustrated on Facebook - Yacht racing news and interactive TFE Live Broadcast with Tom Ehman Tuesdays and Fridays
- Out The Gate Sailing (excellent SF Bay & Pacific sailing podcast by MSC club member Benjamin Shaw)
Film
- 15 Movies To Watch if You Have to Stay at Home - by Sail Universe
- Adrift (2018)
- Maiden (2019)
- Black Sails (2014 - 2017, 4 Seasons)
- Pirates of the Caribbean - Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Wondering where these are available to stream? Just search the JustWatch database.
YouTube Channels
- American Sailing Association
- Sailing SV Delos
- Sailing La Vagabonde
- Sailing Vessel Prism
- White Spot Pirates
- Sail Life
- RAN Sailing
- Eric Aanderaa: No Bull****, Just Sailing
- Christian Williams
- Free Range Sailing
- Sailing Yacht Florence
- Sailing Project Atticus
- Sailing Learning by Doing
MSC Member Blogs
- Wild Rumpus Sailing - Scott & Teresa Bonder
Music - Songs, Albums and Playlists
- "Cool Change" - Little River Band
- "Southern Cross" - Crosby, Stills & Nash
- "A Pirate Looks at 40" - Jimmy Buffett
- "Son of a Sailor" - Jimmy Buffett
- "Sailing" - Christopher Cross
- "Come Sail Away" - Styx
- "Orinoco Flow" - Enya
- "Guitars and Tiki Bars" - Kenny Chesney
- "Buy Me a Boat" - Chris Janson
- "Drift Away" - Uncle Kracker
- "Pirate Flag" - Kenny Chesney
- "Bar at the End of the World" - Kenny Chesney
- "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem" - Kenny Chesney
- "Into the Mystic" - Van Morrison
- "Lost Sailor" - Grateful Dead
- "Sail Away" - David Gray
- "Single-Handed Sailor" - Dire Straits
- "Sailing Life" - Eric Stone
- "The Whole 9 Yards" - Eric Stone
- "Beer Drinkers and Sail Raisers" - Hanna's Reef
- "Beer in Mexico" - Kenny Chesney
- "Where the Boat Leaves From" - Zac Brown Band
- Spotify's "Yacht Rock" Playlist
Apps/Games
- ASA Sailing Challenge - Available in the Apple Store and Google Play
Add Your Recommendations
Do you have a favorite sailing-related book, online publication, movie, YouTube channel, song, or app not included on this list? You can help keep your fellow sailors occupied by submitting your recommendations here.
