Open Your Mind: Yacht Getaways Summer Reading List

By Jenny Wilson published on 19 March 2019


The warm sun, lapping turquoise sea and you, flopped in the catamaran net… Nothing but the open ocean ahead, dappled with occasional islands and rocky outcrops. Sometimes just escaping everyday life and finding your sea legs on a deluxe catamaran is enough to induce out of office mode. But let’s face it, you’ll need a good book to go with that.

Which is why we’ve put together our 2019 summer reading list that’ll compliment your relaxing sailing holiday, including our picks of the latest releases plus some seriously cool classics, sure to take you on an adventurous journey as you sail away into the horizon. In this list, we’ve included 8 of our favourite holiday reads, both fiction and non-fiction, which delve into adventure, humour, crime, and romance. Whatever you’re into you’re sure to be able to get stuck into these sailing holiday reads while kicking back in paradise.

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn


An honest and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. An uplifting story of a British couple who lost everything and embarked on a remarkable journey across the windswept South West coastline, carrying only the essentials of survival on their backs and living with the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky.

Ayoade on Ayoade by Richard Ayoade


An acquired taste is needed to keep up with Ayoade as he pens his thoughts on paper, but if you’re a fan of his humour, ready to embark on a surreal and hilarious adventure through the pages, you’ll love this book. In true Ayoade style, discover the cinematic odyssey of Ayoade by the person who knows him best… himself.

Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion & Annie Buist


A tale of love, self acceptance and blisters! Two strangers set out to walk two thousands kilometres of the Camino alone as they both struggle to come to terms with their recent past. This is a story about renewal – physical, psychological and spiritual. It’s about the challenge, working out where you’re going and what you choose to keep, rediscover and leave behind along the way.

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens


All at once, Where The Crawdads Sing is an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder… If you enjoy crime fiction and exploring human connection with nature, you’ll love this tale about the mysterious “Marsh Girl”.

Salt on Your Tongue: Women and the Sea by Charlotte Runcie


A true story, and a beautifully written prose drawing on personal experience of the author and how she found solace in the sea. Charlotte Runcie shows how the ocean inspires, terrifies and fascinates us and ultimately how the wild untameable waves can help us understand what it means to be human. Perfect for a sailing holiday!

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho


A classic among travellers and words so beautiful you’ll want to escape into this book over and over again. The Alchemist is a beautiful parable about life’s lessons and following your heart. And at just 224 pages, it’s a manageable read for even the slowest readers.

Hotel K by Kathryn Bonella


Welcome to Hotel Kerobokan, or Hotel K, as Bali’s most notorious prison is more commonly known. Via a series of interviews with inmates, journalist Kathryn Bonella tells the story of the corruption, violence and days out at the beach… perhaps not one of the dreamiest holiday reads but a gripping inside story that you won’t want to put down!

The Beach by Alex Garland


As much as we love Leo, the book is way better than the film. This story of a solo backpacker, as he embarks on a journey of discovery in a secret island paradise has it’s joyous moments and dark moments, but is sure to take you on a whirlwind adventure every page you turn.

438 Days by Jonathan Franklin


One of the most epic stories of survival of our lifetime, this is a true story about the Mexican fisherman who drifted almost 7,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean in late 2012 to early 2014. With commentary from scientists and psychologists, and endless interviews with Alvarenga, it’s an incredible journey of survival with a pretty emotional, yet positive, ending.

In need of getting away so you can relax your days away and delve into some of these awesome summer reads? Check out our summer Yacht Getaways departures.

Do you have any recommended reads that aren’t mentioned above? Share them with the community in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!

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