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Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your money on this book!
Review: For many years Bill Robinson served as the editor of Yachting and Cruising World magazines so you would think that he had developed a knack for telling stories. Not so. This book was boring at best. As someone who has sailed the British Virgin Islands numerous times, I can assure you that I have never had as boring a time there as what is accounted in this book! My husband read it, too, and his response was that he couldn't believe what an inept sailor this guy is. As others previously commented, this book reminds me of the old Cheech & Chong skit that goes something like this... "On the first day of summer vacation I woke up. Then I went downtown. To look for a job. Then I hung out in front of the drugstore. On the second day of summer vacation I woke up. Then I went downtown. To look for a job. Then I hung out in front of the drugstore. On the third day of summer vacation I woke up...." You get the picture. If you would like to read a true tale of the sea, may I suggest 'Maiden Voyage' by Tania Aebi. If you're more interested in learning about the British Virgin Islands, I suggest 'Don't Stop The Carnival' by Herman Wouk. Yes, it's fiction, but Wouk lived in the BVI for a few years and has a much better grasp of the place than Robinson ever will. True, you won't find tips like who makes the best painkillers, where the locals go for a lobster dinner, or even secluded hideaways, but you won't find them in Robinson's book either.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money on this book!
Review: For many years Bill Robinson served as the editor of Yachting and Cruising World magazines so you would think that he had developed a knack for telling stories. Not so. This book was boring at best. As someone who has sailed the British Virgin Islands numerous times, I can assure you that I have never had as boring a time there as what is accounted in this book! My husband read it, too, and his response was that he couldn't believe what an inept sailor this guy is. As others previously commented, this book reminds me of the old Cheech & Chong skit that goes something like this... "On the first day of summer vacation I woke up. Then I went downtown. To look for a job. Then I hung out in front of the drugstore. On the second day of summer vacation I woke up. Then I went downtown. To look for a job. Then I hung out in front of the drugstore. On the third day of summer vacation I woke up...." You get the picture. If you would like to read a true tale of the sea, may I suggest 'Maiden Voyage' by Tania Aebi. If you're more interested in learning about the British Virgin Islands, I suggest 'Don't Stop The Carnival' by Herman Wouk. Yes, it's fiction, but Wouk lived in the BVI for a few years and has a much better grasp of the place than Robinson ever will. True, you won't find tips like who makes the best painkillers, where the locals go for a lobster dinner, or even secluded hideaways, but you won't find them in Robinson's book either.
Rating:
Summary: Vacuous
Review: I found this book to be full of very humorous and interesting accounts regarding sailing in the British Virgin Islands. Having recently returned from bareboating in this area, I can vouch for Robinson's choice of settings for a book of this type. The BVI's are truly one of the world's most beautiful areas for sailing. I thoroughly enjoyed Robinson's stories and found his writing style to be very readable and entertaining. His humorous accounts of onboard guests and ship/shore experiences made it hard for me to put the book down! I still chuckle when I recall Robinson's account of a visit to a local island bakery and the cake with all the decorative sprinkles (actually ants). Anyone interested in a good overview of the area, including things to see and do, I strongly suggest this book. It is really a good read and quite perhaps, the perfect book to take along on your flight to Beef Island!
Rating: 
Summary: A very good overview for sailing in this area.
Review: I found this book to be full of very humorous and interesting accounts regarding sailing in the British Virgin Islands. Having recently returned from bareboating in this area, I can vouch for Robinson's choice of settings for a book of this type. The BVI's are truly one of the world's most beautiful areas for sailing. I thoroughly enjoyed Robinson's stories and found his writing style to be very readable and entertaining. His humorous accounts of onboard guests and ship/shore experiences made it hard for me to put the book down! I still chuckle when I recall Robinson's account of a visit to a local island bakery and the cake with all the decorative sprinkles (actually ants). Anyone interested in a good overview of the area, including things to see and do, I strongly suggest this book. It is really a good read and quite perhaps, the perfect book to take along on your flight to Beef Island!
Rating:
Summary: Vacuous
Review: This book is chapter after chapter of ..."we sailed here...we sailed there..." with too much pay-off to friends being mentioned, and too little insight, reflection, facts, knowledge, or wisdom. Many, many better cruising books out there. Skip this one.
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