Would like Book suggestions

[seapop]

There are two main areas of sailing travel that I am interested in and would like to read something published by actual authorities or sailors. I know there are probably hundreds of books out there and so I was hoping to get some opinions on what you might recommend for me, or what you have found helpful in the past. This would help to narrow my search.

1. The San Juan islands and the inside passage as far north as Alaska

2. Sailing from Seattle to the Sea of Cortez

thanks for your help

[psk125]

Recently read "Passage to Juneau" by Jonathan Raban. He sails from Seattle and chronicles the trip he made with historic references to Vancouver's charting of the coast and descriptions of the towns, anchorages and people he encounters en route. Well written and engaging.

[osprey877]

Passage to Juneau is a must read. Also “The Curve of Time” by a female author the name of which I forget, but others will know.

[Paul L]

If you are looking for cruising guides then check the Waggoner guide and the Douglass guides.
Charlie's Charts covers the outside of Baja.
For Pacific Mexico
PACIFIC MEXICO
A Cruiser's Guidebook
By Heather Bansmer & Shawn Breeding

[Don C L]

I have heard the book by Douglass is good. I have worn out the book by Brian Fagan and having been to most of the places in there I can say he writes well and he is correct in his info.
You might check into all the other books by Douglass, he has covered everything up to Alaska too.

[psk125]

For the trip south you could try Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast", though he does start out his trip in Massachusetts. His description of Los Angeles is fascinating.

[seapop]

Thanks for all the good suggestions. I will check in to each one of them.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by psk125

For the trip south you could try Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast", though he does start out his trip in Massachusetts. His description of Los Angeles is fascinating.

The OP didn't really say if they wanted historical entertainment or cruising guides. Two Years Before the Mast is a great book to read while anchored in Dana Point.

[roverhi]

For the voyage from SF to the PNW 'Cruising the Northwest Coast' by George Benson is a guide to doing it in short hops and hanging out in safe anchorages with the prevailing NW winds. He made the trip a couple of times in a modified Coronado 25.

I had plans to do the trip and took the easy route to Hawaii and then north. The 'and then' part hasn't happened as the boat somehow got stuck here in the Islands. Was a lovely downwind slide to get here though.