Adlard Coles' Heavy Weather Sailing, Sixth Edition by Peter Bruce (May 19, 2008)
See also previous editions: Third Revised Edition 1981, John de Graff, New York, London. Fourth Edition 1992, International Marine, Camden, Maine. «This book should be read and reread by every yachtsman.» (Peter Blake, from the foreword to the Fourth Edition).
Fastnet, Force 10: The Deadliest Storm in the History of Modern Sailing by John Rousmaniere (Apr 17, 2000)
The story of the great Fastnet storm of 1979, expertly documented and written by one of its participants. Older editions are also avaiable.
Rescue in the Pacific: A True Story of Disaster and Survival in a Force 12 Storm by Tony Farrington (Mar 1, 1998)
Blow by blow account of the Queen's Birthday Storm of 1994. «The human spirit... is the best survival tool there is. That is but one of the lessons of this valuable, enthralling book.» (John Rousmaniere, from the foreword).
Heavy Weather Tactics Using Sea Anchors and Drogues by Earl Hinz (Jan 1, 2010)
A highly detailed analysis of sea anchors and drogues - how they work, what they do, how and when to use them for different types of boats, and so much more.
Storm Tactics Handbook: Modern Methods of Heaving-to for Survival in Extreme Conditions, 3rd Edition by Lin Pardey and Larry Pardey (Jul 1, 2008)
A treasure trove of information on methods of heaving-to. Practical tips on how to read sea and sky for the approach of weather, how to avoid the dangerous quadrant of storms, how to rig storm sails, prevent chafe, etc. Case histories and checklists for storm management.
The sea anchor & drogue handbook by Daniel C Shewmon (1998)
A wealth of analytical information. Sea anchor and drogue construction techniques. Numbers, tables, charts and graphs relating to wind-loading, sea anchor loading, drogue loading, etc. Unfortunately now out of print, but used copies are still available.
Survivor by Michael Greenwald (Oct 1, 1989)
Every aspect of survival from life rafts to rubbing sticks together to make fire on a deserted island.
Oceanography and Seamanship by William Van Dorn (Jan 1, 1993)
This large book belongs on the shelf of every cruising yacht as it contains invaluable information about a host of related subjects, including weather, currents, stable and unstable wave formations, sea states, tactics and tools of seamanship.
The list of valuable books one could take along on a cruise is endless. From Royce's Sailing Illustrated to Rousmaniere's The Annapolis Book of Seamanship to Marchaj's Seaworthiness, The Forgotten Factor, to the marvelous writings of Voss, Slocum, Guzzwell, Dumas, Smeeton, Moitessier, Hiscock, Street, Callahan and many other renowned sailors, the bookshelf of the well-found cruising yacht will boast of many titles.