Lifeboat station histories Holy Island Lifeboats by Brian Chandler published by the author at £3.50 For such a small island, only a few hundred yards off the coast of Northumberland, Holy Island has a packed and fascinating history - which continues into its days as a lifeboat station.

Although the last lifeboat left the island more than 25 years ago Brian Chandler has been able to piece together the story - which starts with the possibility that an adapted coble, to a design by Lionel Lukin, was first stationed there as early as 1786.

Subsequent lifeboats included Lizzie Porter, now one of the exhibits in the National Collection of Lifeboats at Chatham, which was stationed there from 1910 to 1924 and there was even a number two station on the island from around 1868 to 1934.

Holy Island's last lifeboat, the Watson class Gertrude sailed away in 1968, but Brian Chandler's research has ensured that the history of the stations on this historic island have been recorded for posterity.

Holy Island Lifeboats can be obtained from Brian Chandler at 30 Malvern Way, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth Herts WD3 3QG for £3.50, including postage and packing.

The Story of Lowestoft Lifeboats Part 2: 1877-1924 by Jack Mitchley, Stuart Jones and William Keith published by The Port of Lowestoft Research Society at £6 ISBN 09505311 38 A detailed account, in chronological order, of the services carried out by the lifeboats stationed at Lowestoft in the period under review - each chapter covering the work of a particular coxswain, followed by a summary of all of their services.

Despite the detail the book never becomes merely a list of names and services, drawing as it does on newspaper articles and other sources to bring both the men and casualties to life.

Well illustrated by evocative period photographs of the lifeboats, their coxswains and casualties this volume makes fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in the port of Lowestoft.

Volume One, which covered the period from 1801, was published by Jack Mitchley in 1974, and although it was his intention to publish this second volume he died in 1993 before it was complete. His notes have now been brought together by Stuart Jones and William Keith to complete Volume Two.

Both Volume Two (and a limited number of the first Volume) can be obtained from the Port of Lowestoft Research Society at 3 Blickling Court, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1NW. Volume Two costs £6 and Volume One £1.50, both including postage. Cheques should be made payable to PLRS.

Safety for cruising sailors Heavy Weather Cruising by Tom Cunliffe published by Fernhurst Books at £11.95 ISBN 1 898660-27-1 Ordinarily one might dismiss as exaggeration a book's claim that it 'may save your life', yet in this instance it is a claim which is very easy to believe.

The first edition of Tom Cunliffe's authoritative yet eminently readable book sold 14,000 copies - and if this revised and up-dated second edition sells anywhere near as well it will almost certainly save someone a very nasty incident - perhaps their life.

In this 96-page softback volume the author covers the entire gamut of heavy weather at sea, and how it may best be tackled in yachts of various sizes and types. Wind and waves; the boat; the crew; navigation; strategy and shelter all come in for consideration on the preventative side and further chapters look at the handling of emergencies; boat performance; riding out a gale; the liferaft and then outside assistance.

The final two chapters are particularly interesting, as the concept of selfreliance has run through all of the previous chapters.

Here we look at what to do when all else has failed, and how to cope with situations which will be totally unfamiliar to most readers. How many sailors have actually inflated or boarded a liferaft, been rescued by lifeboat or been on the receiving end of a helicopter high-line transfer? Here are your opportunities to at least familiarise yourself with the theory - while hoping fervently that the practical experience will never come.

Recommended reading for anyone who puts to sea in a small boat.

Storm Tactics Handbook by Lin and Larry Pardey published by Airlife Publishing at £12.95 ISBN 1 853107875 Many yachtsmen will successfully achieve a lifetime of cruising without encountering a full-blown gale and most will avoid anything approaching a storm - but such is the nature of the beast that we might encounter one the next time we put to sea. Lin and Larry Pardey are wellknown ocean voyagers, and if you spend that much time at sea and travel almost constantly then the chances are you w /meet something rather nasty.

Even those of us in the 'might' category will benefit from the hard-won practical advice in this book, as you can never be too well prepared. Drawing on their own experiences and tests and on those from many other cruising sailors the authors have brought together some extremely sound and useful advice and information. You may never need the advice on avoiding a cyclone, but would you bet on not having to heave-to, run-off or set a trysail in a lifetime cruising the English Channel or North Sea? For the yachtsman...

The RYA Book of Navigation by Tim Bartlett published by Ad/ard Coles Nautical at £9.99 ISBN 0-7136-4409-5 Although many books have been written on the science - or art - of navigation this book does make a real contribution to the material available.

To start with it has been written specifically to produce General interest., a reference book for all of the RYA courses up to Yachtmaster Offshore, and in fact includes additional useful information over and above the required syllabus.

Second, it accepts that in today's electronic world most small-boat navigators will not only have access to, but will also be using as their main system, one of the many modern aids. That is not to say that the tried and trusted manual methods are neglected, modern systems use the same principles as their tried-and-trusted ancestors and a good understanding of the basics is needed as a starting point for radar, GPS or Decca navigation. Even more important is the fact that despite their reliability electronic systems will not function without a steady diet of electrons, and should that dry up there is no alternative to the methods used for generations.

An extremely useful aid to finding your way safely around the seas and obtaining RYA qualifications.

Junk Rig by H. G. Haslerand J. K.

McLeod published by Adlard Coles Nautical at €55 ISBN 0-229-11798 8 Yes, it's specialised, and yes, it's expensive, but if you want to know everything there is to know about this particular yacht rig then this is the book for you. Written by the two people who have amassed perhaps the most experience in sailing and designing Junk, or Chinese, rigs for a variety of boats this is real 'straight from the horse's mouth' stuff.

Junk Rig has been available for a while but only recently came to our notice.

A cover-to-cover read now finds us much better informed about the modernised version of a very old rig, and there is so much information in the massive 240-plus pages that a reader immediately tends to start doodling ideas and conversions for their own boat...

A fascinating read - if you have a real interest.

by Christopher Nicholson published by Whittles Publishing at £17.95 ISBN 1-870325-41-9 The isolated rock lighthouses of Britain seem to engender a similar feeling to the lifeboat service, with their air of isolating, self-reliance and brooding danger. Before the steady process of automation began many of the keepers were often delighted to see the local lifeboat arrive on Christmas day - a portly crew-member sporting a cotton wool beard and carrying a sackful of presents and mail.

Although published much earlier this year we had not found space for a review of this volume, which surely deserves a mention to anyone with an interest in our seas and coastline.

The author examines the construction of many of the most famous lighthouses, chronicling the difficulties encountered in building them and the steady progress which was made in their design - which led to much longer life spans! Included too is an affectionate look at the men who kept the lights burning and the privations which they suffered over the years.by Dava Sobel published by Fourth Estate at £12 ISBN 1-85702-502-4 Can you take an relatively obscure scientific problem, which taxed minds for centuries, and turn it into a best seller? You can if you are Dava Sobel, who has researched and written about the centuries-long quest for a means of determining longitude accurately, only to find her book topping the American best-sellers list for more than 20 weeks! This story of the search for a way of establishing longitude (your position in a 'left-to-right' plane on the map) works in many dimensions. It is more than just a scientific story, more than just history. It cuts across almost every aspect of life and involves trade, politics, ancient history and not a little bigotry and skulduggery.

The problem was ultimately solved by John Harrison, a relatively unknown English clockmaker who dedicated his entire life to the subject, but to do so he had to overturn the theories of some of the best known members of the scientific establishment, and a large number of quacks who proposed fascinating if entirely impractical means.

A great read, whether for amateur scientist, sailor or just the lover of a rattling good tale of intrigue! The books reviewed are not available from the RNLI.

Where the books are available only from one source an address will be given, otherwise readers should contact a good bookseller, quoting the title, publisher and ISBN.Old Harry's Dog-Watch byJ.D. (Des) Sleightholme published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £4.99 ISBN 0-7136-4508-3 Cruising sailors who have begun to notice the odd grey hair will need no introduction to the sagas of Old Harry, having chortled over his antics for many a year, or even decade, in Yachting Monthly - of which Des Sleightholme is a past editor.

These articles and the three previous chronicles of Old Harry's seagoing life prove that there is a little of Old Harry and his colleagues in every one of us who goes to sea for pleasure. Anyone who can read this volume without seeing a fleeting glimpse of themselves or their club-mates must have led a very sheltered life indeed.

A word of warning - find somewhere discreet to begin your travels through the pages. There are still people who find it strange when apparently sane and respectable people begin giggling uncontrollably in corners of trains and public places. Check out your travelling companions carefully before opening the covers - if they have spots of antifoul on their specs or curiously red finger nails it may be safe to proceed!.