For the Hardened Sailor, Novice, and Dreamer Alike

This was an outstanding book that depicts the author’s real-life adventures related to sailing. Starting with a small sailing dingy in Ireland, and ending with sailing in a race across the Atlantic, this was a great description of what sailing is really like including all of the learning, hard work, unexpected failures, boat repairs, and scares along the way.

The author starts in a small town in Ireland where he joins the local sailing club and learns to sail a small mirror dinghy. After buying his own, he starts to compete in local sailing races. Shortly after this, his grandfather and long-time mentor dies. Out of this tragedy he learns that his grandfather left him a rather large sum of money. He decides to use this money to buy a brand new sailing yacht to compete in the long-distance sailing races he is now so enamored with.

He contacts a nearby shipwright to build a custom sailing yacht that he will use for single-handed long-distance sailing. After extensive modifications to the yacht, he enters a sailing race from England to the Azores. While crewed for this race, he sails the yacht back to Ireland on his own.

His journey across the Atlantic in a world-famous annual sailing yacht race is full of adventure, perilous waters, equipment failures, and supply shortages. However, it is out on the ocean that the author discovers more about himself than he ever thought possible.

By now, this author has written dozens of excellent books. However, I will not say that this was the best book I have ever read. You can tell that he was a young and inexperienced writer at the time. BUT, this book is an excellent representation of what sailing is really like, with the good and the bad. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.

Narration was very good as well. I hope to hear him narrate other similar adventure stories.

Anyone interested in sailing, whether you’re an experienced sea captain or just dreaming of sailing someday, will enjoy this book. 5 stars!

15 people found this helpful

One of the best narrators I've heard

Where does Blue Water, Green Skipper rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the very best. Both the narrator, Steven Collins, and the author, Stuart Woods, provide huge entertainment and information value.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blue Water, Green Skipper?

The account by one of the best single handed sailors, who nearly fell off his boat, and after getting back on deck, sat and broke down in tears at the realization of his near demise.

Which scene was your favorite?

The early evolution of the author's sailing skills, especially racing children!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Smile, especially in the first fourth of the book.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this production.

4 people found this helpful

Entertaining for a sailor

Where does Blue Water, Green Skipper rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Entertaining tale, well written and narrated.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blue Water, Green Skipper?

Launching of his new boat.

Which character – as performed by Steven Collins – was your favorite?

Stuart Woods.

Any additional comments?

Well worth reading for any boat owner or cruising sailor.

4 people found this helpful

A well written non-fiction piece

Would you listen to Blue Water, Green Skipper again? Why?

Yes, as a non-fiction piece it is independently entertaining and it is both well written and well read. Probably a bit better for those who truly aspire to spending time on the sea but it is a good personal journey with a fine cast of ancillary characters. Neither wallows in nor sugar coats the risks of open ocean sailing and, to his credit, Mr. Woods does not hide his mistakes along the way.

What other book might you compare Blue Water, Green Skipper to and why?

A more modern version of Slocum's Sailing alone around the world and Sir Francis Chichester's tale of his own circumnavigation.

3 people found this helpful

curiously lacking in excitement

wanted to like this "memoir," but it seemed contrived and left me bored. Too much description of boats themselves and too little actual story.

5 people found this helpful

If you love the idea of sailing.

This is a good book for those of us who dream of being out on blue water. It's not a tension filled tale of high risks or a razor close finish to a race or even a long vicarious experience such as Joshua Slocum's excellent story of sailing around the world alone. As you listen, you'll journey with the author through the fun as well as the many lessons involved in progressing from novice dinghy sailing to preparing and engaging in an ocean crossing in a large single handed boat. It was enjoyable for providing yet another view into a watery world that for me has so far existed only in my dreams.

6 people found this helpful

If you dream of sailing... You Will like this book

What did you like best about this story?

The author couldn't hide his emotions about certain elements, I felt I was learning with him.

Which scene was your favorite?

When he first meet Ron Holland, I could picture the scene perfectly.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Without doubt.

Any additional comments?

They say leave them wanting more, well I do!

4 people found this helpful

Interesting read

Better than some of the other sailing audio books I recently listened to: especially the narrator was very pleasant to listen to.

great read

I'm not a sailor but found this a great read for those who want a feel for the gentleman's art of sailing.

what a great book! must read for new sailor's.

exceptional book that's honest about learning to sail and criticizing ones own decisions while also moving forward with the uncomfortable. Really good read.