“Can the common man and women really equip and sail their own boat around the world?” Asks Rod Campbell-Ross, author of the new and popular eBook, Sail Ready.

(PRWEB) August 30, 2005 -- Sail Ready was written by Rod Campbell-Ross shortly after he and his family completed a 20 month voyage from England to Australia, via Panama on Tintin, a 44’ aluminum rear cockpit cutter.

Real hard yards experience lies behind every page of the book. The book covers more than 70 individual topics including major items you would expect to see such as safety, communications and weather. Less obvious topics include subjects as diverse as how to choose crew, ciguatera poisoning and how to build your own watermaker and save $3,000.

People thinking or dreaming or sailing around the world, or perhaps taking just a few months off and doing some blue water sailing and cruising will find this book invaluable. The book can help and guide the choice of boat, how to equip it and most importantly help give the skipper the confidence to sail safely, comfortably and have a lot of fun at the same time.

Sail Ready is an eBook and is available at http://www.sailready.com

About the author:
Rod Campbell-Ross, a 47 year old Chartered Accountant from Ilkley in Yorkshire left England in April 2002 with his wife Sue, and his 3 children Pippa 9, Harry 6 and Emily then aged just 2. Sailing via the French Canals, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, Panama and the Pacific the family finally arrived in Australia in November 2003. 

Against all the odds, the 600 mile Fastnet race was won by a French amateur crew in a 30 year-old boat.

The 238 boats set out in a series of starts on 7th August in brilliant conditions with big, expensive boats with professional crews jostling with smaller craft with. Not for the first time, the organisers are giving consideration to limiting the number of entries to this popular, traditional race, but for the moment, almost anyone can enter.

There was keen interest in the progress of 'Drum' skippered by Simon Le Bon. Twenty years earlier, Simon and his crew had the keel ripped off their boat off Falmouth in terrible conditions. He and his crew had reunited to take part in the 2005 race. In the event, the lack of wind throughout much of the race, meant that the star had to abandon his race - but he did at least see the Fasnet Rock this time.

It looked for a time that the big, 60 footers were going to have it all their own way but even they had their problems with French boat Cheminees Poujoulat  narrowly beating Virbac-Paprec when the latter took a penalty for being helped off rocks earlier in the race.

Compared to the three and a half days taken by the fastest 60 footer, the eventual winner - a Nicholson 33 called Iromiguy with its crew of six crossed the line just after 12.30 on Friday - after a full five days at sea. Under the arcane rules of handicapping in this 80 year old race tradition, this meant that the had won overall. 

It has been some 30 years since a boat of less than 40 feet has won this sometimes grueling challenge and shows that perhaps technology and money is not always what it takes to win!