For countless centuries, the sea has been inspiration and teacher for those who feel its pull—sailors and fishermen, poets and artists. The following collection offers something that will appeal to every sea lover—especially those who have run out of holiday gift ideas.
“Sailors’ Wisdom, Day by Day.” The photographs in this glossy, hardbound book are selected from Philip Plisson’s 25 years of marine photography, and capture the ocean in its many moods and roles. Inspirational quotes and snippets of hard-
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learned mariner’s wisdom are culled from sources as diverse as Virgil, Hemingway, and Scottish sea chanteys. A picture and daily wisdom are offered for each of the 365 days in a year. The pages list only the date, not the day of the week or the year, allowing this classic to be used year after year for coffee table decor or bedside inspiration. (Published by Abrams Books Inc., available at www.amazon.com, $21.)
“The Mariner’s Book of Days 2009.” Now in its 18th year of production, Peter Spectre’s “The Mariner’s Book of Days” desk diary and calendar is 52-plus pages of nautical fact, fiction, and folklore. Spiral-bound with the weeks laid out day-by-day
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on the right-hand pages, the left-hand pages feature a nautical grab bag of information such as ship diagrams, quotes, sea songs, log entries, yacht club dress rules, and sailing glossaries. Adding to the smorgasbord of marine trivia, each daily entry includes an “on this day in nautical history” tidbit. (Published by Sheridan House Inc., available www.amazon.com, $15.)
“Sailing World 2009 Calendar: Best of Dr. Crash.” Dr. Crash’s 2009 calendar of calamity reminds us that a picture paints a thousand words, and one of those words is “Ouch!” The good news—or bad news, depending on which side of the lens you’re on—about Dr. Crash’s fourth calendar is that Sailing World magazine’s master of racecourse malpractice says he’s never seen “a better 12 months of broaches,
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collisions, and capsizes.” The wall calendar measures
14 inches by 22 inches. (Published by Tide Mark Press, available www.amazon.com, $12.)
“Onne van der Wal 2009 calendar.” A Dutch-born Rhode Island resident, Onne van der Wal is one of the most well-known nautical photographers in the business. A seasoned yacht racer and a 20-year veteran of marine photography, van der Wal captures the spirit of sailing through unique angles and lighting. His 2009 wall calendar, which measures 20 inches by 16 inches, has a new look, but the same stunning artwork van der Wal is known for. The calendar’s design puts more emphasis on the photography, with the actual calendar stretching across the very bottom of each month’s photo, ticker-tape style. (Published by Onne van der Wal
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Photography, available at www.vanderwal.com, $16.)
“2009 Calendar of Wooden Boats.” Published annually since 1983 by marine photographer Benjamin Mendlowitz, “The 2009 Calendar of Wooden Boats” features 12 new, never-before-published photographs of a variety of stunning wooden craft, from sailboats and powerboats to work boats and small open boats.
Each month’s photo is accompanied by an informative and entertaining caption, written by marine historian Maynard Bray, who has been providing the calendar’s text since its inception. The wall calendar measures 12 inches by 24 inches. (Published by NOAH Publications, available at www.amazon.com, $12.)
