Cruising Conversations, Volume 1

There are few comprehensive books on the thoughts of power cruisers. Dr. James Ellingford started this project as part of the blog he keeps for his Nordhavn 62, Pendana, that he has been cruising on with his family for the past three years. Volume One of Cruising Conversations is his first effort to combine those interviews into a comprehensive, non-digital collection he can easily share with other cruisers and those who aspire to cruise.

Cruising Conversations is the perfect coffee table or pilothouse book for cruisers and dreamers alike. The book is of an impressive, somewhat intimidating size, as it is printed on A4-size, glossy paper. Though self-published in an effort to keep the costs down, the work still features color photos, mimicking a blog design which has led to some awkward white space, a few pixilated images, and the odd placement of some advertisements. However, with an appreciation for the efforts the author has gone through to bring these conversations to boaters at a reasonable price, the presentation can be overlooked. Cruising Conversations, Volume One is a compilation of interviews from thirteen Nordhavn owners and contains additional interviews with some big names in the marine industry, such as Steve D’Antonio. While the book focuses uniquely on Nordhavn owners, it does provide insights for all power cruisers. In a world where the available cruising library is often full of books on sailing adventures, it is often hard to find relatable books on power cruising. Dr. Ellingford’s book provides a unique haven for these stories.

If you are a boater, a cruiser, or just a dreamer, this book belongs in your cruising library. It is a something that one can easily see rereading to glean new bits of insight and knowledge from the vast experiences within its pages.

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