The Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation publishes pilotage information through books and a range of media acessible through its own website www.rccpf.org.uk.
Reviews of the most recent RCCPF Publications and other books written by RCC members are shown below.
Mark Fishwick compiled his first West Country Cruising in 1988, and the publication of a Tenth Edition by Fernhurst Books is a testament to its continuing popularity.
Cruising Guide to the Netherlands and Belgium is a new first edition from the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation.
Skip Novak on Sailing: Words of Wisdom from 50 Years Afloat is a fascinating collection of articles contributed to Yachting World between 2014 and 2023.
A Cruising Adventure and How-To Guide by Nicholas Coghlan
Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation Balearic Islands 12th Edition, David and Susie Baggaley
Andrew Wilkes reviews Marek Jurczynski's publication
Skipper Lynam developed his love of the sea and sailing as a schoolboy at King William’s College on the Isle of Man becoming, in time, a successful canoe sailor.
Review of Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation publication ‘Norway, Mainland coast, fjord and islands, including Svalbard and Jan Mayen’ 4th Edition
Bermuda, Azores, Madeira Group, Canary Islands and Cape Verdes:
Editor: Jane Russell, RCC, RCCPF Publisher: Royal Institution of Navigation, 2020. Available as a free download
Nigel Wollen reviews Mark Fishwick's West Country Cruising Companion
An excellent pilot by Madeleine and Stephan Strobel updated May 2020.
4th Edition. By Rod and Lucinda Heikell. A Review of this welcome update by Will Pedder
This practical guide deserves a place of honour on the chart table of any sailing yacht venturing to the Chilean channels or, as Bill Tillman referred to them, ‘the magical place of the unknown’.
"The book is a triumph, and represents a significant raising of the bar. Jo is to be congratulated, and I do hope readers will be enthused sufficiently to cruise the South China Sea."
This book is a very practical guide to long distance ocean sailing, compiled by a very accomplished and experienced practitioner and aimed at the would-be ocean sailor.
This meticulously updated 8th edition invites the cruising sailor to safely explore numerous exquisite locations, reassured by the author's wealth of experience.
Our review of September 2019 updated to include CCA review as a download. This book is not a “how to do it” manual, more a compendium of the most important issues.....
"I commend Christopher and the RCCPF team on producing an excellent book that will be an invaluable resource to anyone making this trip (Trinidad to Tobago) for the first time"
Reviewed by Peter Bruce who says: "This Second Edition is thoroughly comprehensive and gives those with it a huge advantage over those without."
Reviewer Jay Devonshire writes: "An up to date Pilot Book is an essential, and this latest publication is to to be recommended."
For many a sailor, crossing the Atlantic Ocean is their holy grail, the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest for a climber. Both are immense challenges and preparation is key.
The RCC Pilotage Foundation has recently brought out a fourth edition, published by Imray, of their extensive guide to The Baltic Sea and its Approaches.
‘Gibraltar and the five Mediterranean costas of Spain form the subject matter of this pilot.’
Paul Heiney's lavishly illustrated book warrants a well-deserved place in the chart table and has plenty of general interest for those seeking inspiration for their next cruise.
This is a beautifully produced and extremely well structured guide to this very long and diverse cruising ground. Reviewed by Katharine Ingram
The Canary Islands Guide is very much a guide for tourists rather than a pilot book, but as such it has the information for a touring yachtsman to enjoy these islands.
For such a small country The Netherlands has an amazing 6,000km of navigable waterways and there is something there for everyone.
The revised edition of the Arctic and Northern Waters Pilot is a compelling volume that takes the reader into waters that few will travel, for those who go there it is essential reading.
Reviewers Katharine & Peter Ingram write: "This RCC Pilotage Foundation book is a beautifully produced and extremely well structured guide to the vast cruising area that is the Pacific Ocean."
The 3rd Edition of this very useable cruising companion is brought right up to date (2016) by Derek Aslett. Published by Fernhurst Books and available through Imray and many local chandleries.
The newly published third edition of the RCC Pilotage Foundation Norway pilot book by Judy Lomax is reviewed below by Madeleine Strobel
A Sixth Edition of the RCCPF Atlantic Islands Pilot has just been published by Imray. It is reviewed by Alan Spriggs (RCC) below.
This is the 7th edition of this well-known and popular book. There is much that is new in this edition, all beautifully explored and explained.
Mark Fishwick compiled his first West Country Cruising (now titled West Country Cruising Companion) in 1988, and the publication of a Tenth Edition by Fernhurst Books is a testament to its continuing popularity. Its original format remains Mark’s handiwork, but for this new edition he has handed over the considerable task of updating to another well known West Country sailor Kate Brodie.
The new edition follows quite closely on the heels of its predecessor which was published just after the Covid pandemic. However, a new edition is well justified. The rocks may not have moved, but there have been numerous changes and developments since the last edition both ashore and afloat and Kate must have had her work cut out to keep pace with them all.
Covering the whole of the coast of the SW peninsula from Portland Bill to Padstow, including the Isles of Scilly, it is written in an engaging and readable style, and manages to combine comprehensive pilotage information with extensive details of local facilities and points of interest, including walks, beaches, pubs and restaurants as well as some fascinating history. It is much more than just a pilot book, and has greatly enhanced my knowledge of my home waters!
The Introduction contains a wealth of general information and advice on passage planning, buoyage, tides and charts, including a timely warning about reliance on waypoints, and a summary of post Brexit customs formalities. It includes details of all the National Coastwatch stations and some useful tips for mooring and rafting techniques and etiquette.
The main body of the book is broken down into six chapters, each covering a different section of the coast. These contain an introductory summary of the harbours and anchorages for the relevant section, as well as useful advice on planning and tactics, and how to cope with particular challenges such as Portland Bill, Lands End and the Scillies. This is followed by detailed pilotage and other details for each of the main harbours and rivers including a Port Guide for each location which lists all the main facilities in a clear and accessible format.
A clever innovation is the provision of QR codes, which take you direct to the website of the relevant harbour authority or marina.
The book is very well illustrated with no fewer than 57 clear coloured charts showing the approaches to the main destinations as well as detailed coverage of the harbours and rivers, including the navigable upper reaches of the latter. The charts provide approach waypoints as well as clear symbols for Visitors moorings and anchorages and many other points of interest.
Aerial photography has greatly enhanced the modern pilot book, and this one is no exception. It is very well illustrated with more than 340 high quality photographs (including 75 new ones), aerial shots just where they are most needed and plenty of others to provide local flavour. If only the unending sunshine they depict could be guaranteed!
The book contains such a wealth of information, there will inevitably be changes that require updating (indeed, some have already been reported ). Fernhurst will publish annual supplements to cover these, usually in April, and at more frequent intervals if the need arises. The supplements will be available free of charge on the Fernhurst website www.fernhurstbooks.com. Anyone buying the book is advised to keep an eye open for these and it goes without saying that readers are encouraged to report any changes, preferably by email to fernhurst@fernhurstbooks.com.
This is a true Cruising Companion, and is published by Fernhurst both as a hardback and e-book. It is strongly recommended to anyone who is planning a cruise “down west”.
Nigel Wollen
