some r e c e n t p u b l i c a t i o n s r e v i e w e d WEST HIGHLAND SHORES by Maldwin Drummond Published by Nautical Books at £19.95 ISBN 07136 5860 6 Maldwin Drummond is not only a Vice President on the RNLI's Committee of Management he is also an experienced yachtsman and an authority on maritime and Scottish history - qualifications which have enabled him to produce this excellent profile of a part of the coast which he knows well and so obviously loves.

More than a guide book, more than a Pilot book for the yachtsman, more than a history book - West Highland Shores rolls all three into an absorbing image of a rugged and beautiful coastline.

The approach is thematic, with chapters on castles, gardens, churches and ships for example, and a tabulated guide locates the detailed description in the text.

Pilotage notes for yachtsmen are included, but anyone exploring this wild coast would find the contents of interest.

HERZOGIN CECILIEThe life and Times of a Four-masted Barque by Basil Greenhill and John Hackman Published by Conway Maritime Press at £25 ISBN 085177 556 X Besides being one of the last vessels to trade under sail Her:ogin Cecilie had another claim to fame -coming to a very spectacular, public and tragic end on the South Devon Coast in 1936. Fortunately there were no casualties, but the Salcombe lifeboat of the time makes several appearance in both text and photographs.

One aspect of this volume which lifts it above many other works on the life-history of ships is that the authors' research has brought to life not only the vessel, but also the social, economic and political circumstances which led to her building, and seemingly inevitably to her fateful appearance out of the fog off South Devon.

New light is thrown on several mysterious aspects of her stranding, some of which were not made public at the time.

Profusely illustrated, well researched, very detailed yet immensely readable Herzogin Cecilie is a fascinating account of a ship and her place in world events. FAST BOAT NAVIGATION by Dag Pike Published by Adlard Coles at £17.95 ISBN 0-229-11859-3 In more leisurely, pre-electronics days a navigator presented with a position read-out with the accuracy possible with Decca or Loran may have felt that he was in seventh Heaven, add a clear radar picture in thick weather and he may have become ecstatic.

But today even this may not prevent navigational problems, because the navigator of old had one thing on his side - time. Time to plot his position, to check tide tables and to think, while his vessel eased along at speeds in single figures.

With many power boats now capable of 20 or 30 knots - perhaps even more - the goalposts have been moved and a new approach to navigation is becoming necessary.

Dag Pike is well qualified to write on the subject of Fast Boat Navigation (the latest addition toMotorboats Monthly's series) for it was he who sat at the chart table during both Virgin Atlantic Challenger's Atlantic runs and he also navigates a champion offshore racing powerboat. As an ex-Divisional Inspector of lifeboats he also knows what can result from faulty navigation...

While the choice and quality of the photographs may disappoint slightly the many clear diagrams add to the understanding of the techniques and the book is to be recommended to any owner or navigator of fast power boats.

THIS IS PRACTICAL WEATHER FORECASTING by Dieter Karnetzki, Published by Nautical Books at £16.95 ISBN 07136 5701 4 Hurricane-force winds, low temperatures and hot, dry summers seem to have sharpened interest in the weather. Although Dieter Karnetski' s book is primarily aimed at the yachtsman , and is interesting enough in its general sections, it does suffer from a significant disadvantage for many UK readers.

The continental origin of the book (which is translated from a German edition) is reflected in the geographical areas which come in for detailed analysis, and these do not extend far enough westward to permit general recommendation for British and Irish readers.

Having said that, the general sections are clear and readable, the East Coast and North Sea are well covered and those sailing the Baltic or Mediterranean will find much to interest them. THE STORY OF THE CRICCIETH LIFEBOATS 1853/1990 by Peter L. Williams A new edition of a booklet by Criccieth's honorary secretary which brings the history of the station's lifeboats up to date.

Although simple in its format and production the volume packs a great deal of information and some interesting illustrations between its covers, taking the reader from the earliest days before the establishment of an RNLI lifeboat through to the modern high-speed inflatable now on service.

A must for anyone with an interest in the history of Criccieth Lifeboat Station.

The booklet is available at £2.30 (including p&p) from Lt Cdr P. L. Williams, Morannedd, Tanygrisiau Terrace, Criccieth, Gwnedd or at £1.95 from the boathouse during the summer.

THE GREY WIDOW-MAKER by Bernard Edwards Published by Robert Hale at £13.95 ISBN 0-7090-4191-8 The purpose and content of Bernard Edwards book is aptly summed-up in his preface.

'This book,' he writes, 'follows the changing patterns of man's fortunes at sea... It tells of triumphs and disasters, some recent, some long forgotten...' As with any account of the trials and tribulations of life at sea the lifeboat service makes an appearance, not frequently in this book, but often enough to add specific interest to the more general flavour of the tales - which stretch from the exploits of Captain Cook in 1770 to an attack on a tanker in Gulf in the mid-1980s.

Interesting and absorbing fireside reading, told in a lively narrative fashion. Also Received ACROSS THE IRISH SEA Belfast-Liverpool Shipping Since 1819 by Robert C. Sinclair, published by Conway Maritime Press at £20 ISBN 085177 5241 Comprehensive, well illustrated review of ships on this sea route.

THE HYBRID WARSHIP The Amalgamation of Big Guns and Aircraft by R. D. Layman and S. McLaughlin, published by Conway Maritime Press at £25. ISBN 085177 5551 The story of an elusive. 70-year quest for a ship more potent than the separate battleship and aircraft carrier..