• Now that This is Rough Weather Sailing has been written by Erroll Bruce, everyone thinking of going offshore, cruising or racing, should read it. Those whose interest is purely in the work of the rescue services should read it, too, for it will surely give them a deeper understanding of the skill and fortitude shown by our lifeboatmen.

Here is good seamanship and common sense distilled into wisdom by a man of great experience gained both from sailing the oceans of the world and also from serving in a lifeboat in treacherous northern waters.

In his preface Erroll Bruce writes: 'We go to sea expecting a spice of danger; if we wanted only snug comfort and maximum safety we would have stayed on the land for which nature fitted us. In rough weather the thrill of adventure peaks; aboard a sound craft with a capable crew, we can actually enjoy a gale.

'We have a "front row seat" to a stirring display of nature's strength. It is a strength that can certainly destroy our puny little craft if we ignore the maxims of sound seamanship; but it need bring no unreasonable danger if we apply the lessons learned by generations of seafarers around the world who dared afloat before us.' Among his acknowledgements he writes: 'In writing this book I have been greatly helped by working with men of the Royal National Life-boat Institution to whom I am deeply indebted for showing me their sheer seamanship skill; and by the late lifeboat Coxswain Harold Hayles, who allowed me the use of some of his dramatic photos . . . " This is Rough Weather Cruising, price £7'.25, is illustrated with the good pictures and clear diagrams that can be expected from its publishers, Nautical Publishing Co.—J.D.

• Radio and Radar in Sail and Power Boats by Kenneth Wilkes (Nautical Publishing, £4.95) not only advises sail and power boat owners in the choice of modern communication and navigational aids that are available but also explains how they should be installed and operated to get the best out of the equipment when fitted. Communications, radio, radar and radio position finding systems are all fully covered in this well illustrated book.—E.G.

• Two books on the Fastnet Race 1979 have recently been published. The Fastnet Disaster and After by Bob Fisher (Pelham Books, £7.50) is a very detailed and fact-packed record of this exceptional race for those wishing to know the full details and learn how survivals were made. The book, very well illustrated, describes a number of lifeboat rescues and analyses the conclusions of the official race inquiry.

John Rousmaniere's Fastnet Force 10 (Nautical Publishing, £6.95) is another compelling account of the race and the brave rescues that were made. Written by a successful competitor, it makes very interesting reading and some of the photographs are magnificent. The work of the RNLI is well recorded for the very long hours of continuous operations.—E.J.

• Latest of the station histories written and produced by Jeff Morris is The Story of the Aldeburgh Lifeboats. It records many of the station's outstanding services since 1826, when a 24ft pulling lifeboat built by Pellew Plenty of Newbury was first placed at Aldeburgh by the Suffolk Association for Saving the Lives of Shipwrecked Seamen, and among the photographs are pictures of eight of the lifeboats which have been stationed there since then. The booklet is available from Ken Brown, 111 High Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 SAL, price 80p including packing and postage.—J.D.

•Also from Nautical Publishing (price £7.95), America's Cup Fever, an inside look at 50 years of America's Cup competition, by Bob Bavier..