Sailing Books, Film, YouTube Channels, & More! | Modern Sailing

Sailing Books, Film, YouTube Channels, & More!

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

Film

Wondering where these are available to stream? Just search the JustWatch database.

YouTube Channels

MSC Member Blogs

Music - Songs, Albums and Playlists

Apps/Games

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.

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  • Andrew Goble, San Francisco

    It has been wonderful sailing with MSC over the years. Please extend my thanks to the owners, management, and staff for unrequited professionalism and high standards in a charter fleet. I have sailed with several in my years and none nearly hold a candle to the quality of business and staff at Modern Sailing.

  • Emma & George Stubbs, Sausalito

    We just took our ASA 106 at a school in Rhode Island as we prepare for 6 months of cruising in the Caribbean. The class was great, but more than anything it made us really appreciate the quality of teaching and rigor at Modern Sailing. Even though we were the newest to sailing, the group seemed to think that we had the best fundamentals. We felt very well prepared and we see why Modern Sailing has the reputation it does.

  • Mike, Santa Rosa, California

    All of the courses and my instructors (JT and Stan) were extremely professional and full of knowledge and experience. I found I was able to learn from their experiences beyond the scope of the courses, and look forward to future opportunities to do so. I would highly recommend Modern Sailing to anyone.

  • David Dolenc, Member

    I love sailing in the San Francisco Bay and greatly appreciate everything that MSC has to offer, the classes, clinics, club sails, racing and charters. I enjoy our supportive sailing community and use every opportunity to spend time on the water. After obtaining the certifications from MSC I did my first charter in Croatia in 2022 with my family. It was amazing and we’re looking forward to returning soon!

  • John Kratochvil, Oregon

    I would like to compliment Stan Lander for his coaching, counseling and teaching Heavy Weather Offshore Sailing. Stan was very accommodating to all of the student's interests and shared his many years of insight on handling the boat in heavy seas. I would certainly recommend Stan and this course to sheltered waters sailors. My confidence in handling a boat of this size was certainly enhanced by the experience.

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