High latitude sailing

By Jon Amtrup and Bob Shepton, published by Saltwater at £7.12

In terms of credibility, Jon is Norwegian and has sailed round Svalbard and Greenland for years, and Bob has sailed his 33ft Westerly Discus through the North West Passage in both directions.

The book opens with a rallying cry to find real freedom, away from everything. Thereafter the advice, delivered with relentless practicality, is gold. It addresses how to prepare yourself, what sort of boat you need and how to fit it out, tips on food and drink, how to sail in ice, anchoring and mooring techniques and kit – everything, in short, you need to know to sail in high latitudes. Review by Chris Beeson