22/10/2025
Back in Tahiti, Russ from OC Tenders literally flew halfway around the world to rebuild my tender so I could keep going. That tells you everything you need to know about these two. They live it for real. To see Be The Captain recommended by them — right next to Cornell, Le Sueur, and Calder — means the world to me.
This is a personal recommendation for an excellent book: BE THE CAPTAIN by James Evenson aka . Here is why:
When we did our circumnavigation on board Moonwalker between 2006 and 2012, we had three books on board that we considered essential and consulted constantly: Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Routes, Gavin Le Sueur’s Multihull Seamanship, and Nigel Calder’s Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual.
What these books didn’t cover, however, was the process before you get the boat and start your cruising life. What to look for, how to deal with situation ahead of time. This gap has now been beautifully filled by BE THE CAPTAIN.
It is, quite simply, essential reading for everyone — even if you already own your boat or are well into your sailing journey. It’s a must for every sailing library.
As a female companion who once jumped aboard with little knowledge and learned everything on the go by following my captain, reading James’ book has been eye-opening! Now, as Russell and I embark on the adventure of finding our next cruising boat, having this book in hand helps me — Karin, the other 50% — be part of the decision with confidence, open eyes, and fresh perspective.
We have history with James — those who follow us know. We sailed very similar catamarans in our time. We’ve supported each other over the years and will continue to do so, because James has proven himself time and again: facing the hardest situations with courage, innovation, and deep seamanship. He’s done it all — the good, the bad, and the downright scary. He’s survived, learned, helped others, been helped, and fixed everything… more than once.
Do yourself a favour and get this book. The audiobook is fantastic — and I’m now getting the hard copy because it’s just that good. You can find it on line on www.bethecaptain.com
Happy sailing.
