Sailing solo the 2,400 miles around Britain and Ireland in one season is no mean feat, yet PBO contributor Roger Oliver has done it twice.

His series of articles for PBO proved so popular with readers that his second circumnavigation has now been turned into a book recording every step of the way: 48 ports reached mostly by day-sailing clockwise around the coast, beginning at Portsmouth.

And the author will be on hand at the Kelvin Hughes stand at Southampton Boat Show in September to sign copies ofPBO Sailing Around the UK and Ireland.

Complete guide
Passage plans, to-do lists, annotated photographs and waypoints mean it’s hard to argue with the author’s assertion thatPBO Sailing Around the UK and Irelandis: ‘The most complete guide to circumnavigating the UK that is available.’

Roger’s meticulous planning paid huge dividends along the way. Having retired at the age of 60, Roger bought Jalina, a Sadler 25, for £6,000 and undertook around £6,000 worth of refitting, replacing the cooker, the electrics and the rigging. His notes on regular maintenance should help other skippers to keep their boats going.

Playing the weather and tides to perfection, Roger shows how to ensure sailing time eats up the miles, yet he doesn’t skimp on sightseeing and meeting locals along the way.

And it all adds up to a whole season’s sailing budget that was lower than a two-week charter holiday almost anywhere in the world. The entire season cost just £2,500, averaging £12 per night visiting 48 ports for 117 nights in total, starting in May and finishing at the end of August.

Detailed but very readable, this is a must for sailors planning an adventure around all or just part of the British Isles coastline.

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