Some Voyages Around New Zealand & Elsewhere

This book was Perce's gift to his grandchildren for his eightieth birthday.

Following his boyhood dreaming he describes his many voyages around New Zealand, to the islands of the South Pacific, solo return across the Tasman Sea and elsewhere. His observations about people, places, boats and the sea convey to the reader an unusually acute understanding of of the fascination of cruising in small boats.

Starting from days and nights cruising on the Tauranga harbour in a 10 foot sailing dinghy Perce progresses through seventy years of increasing sophistication in cruising. Centuries old methods of navigation have been replaced by GPS and Chartplotters. Rigs have changed from mostly gaff rigged to almost entirely Bermudan. Roller furling has come of age for both jibs and mainsails. Autopilots have been nearly perfected.

So it is that age is much less of a barrier to continued cruising. Perce says that he is older, slower, weaker and more stupid (a few people believe him) but he can still sail.