Nic Compton is a writer and photographer specializing in sailing. After an idyllic childhood on boats in the Mediterranean, he returned to the UK at age 14 to complete his formal education. He studied Journalism at City University and eventually became deputy editor and then editor of Classic Boat magazine from 1994 to 2000. Since then, he has travelled the world as a writer and photographer, contributing to a variety of magazines, and has written 15 books mostly about boats. He currently lives by the River Dart in Devon, UK, from where he sails a Romilly 22 called Ramona. More information at www.niccompton.co.uk.

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• 1. THE SEA Seven Seas & Five Oceans – the geography of the world’s oceansDoggerland – how the world’s coastlines have changes over millenniaNegative Ions – health-giving properties of the seaNature’s illusions – eg Flying Dutchman, Fata Morgana, St Elmo’s fireDoes drinking salt water really drive you mad?The Great Pacific Garbage Patch – and how to get rid of it2. WEATHER & TIDESThe UKs Shipping ForecastHow do tides work?What are the Trade Winds / Roaring Forties / Doldrums?Do rogue waves really exist?How to read the weatherWeather rhymes3. FLORA & FAUNAThe Sargasso Sea and the great eel migrationOcean bird migration routesAdopt a whaleDo giant squids really exist?Who was Moby Dick?Poisonous fish to avoidWhich seaweeds can you eat?4. SHIPS & SAILORSSailing rigs – from dinghy to full-rigged shipLife on boardThe Spice RouteThe Middle PassageThe Modern Shipping RoutesTen legendary shipsTen greatest sailorsTen fiercest piratesShipwrecks of the worldTitanic myths debunkedHow to make a paper boat5. NAVIGATION & SEAMANSHIPFinding longitudeThe only six knots you’ll ever needWhat is dead reckoning?Navigating without chartsSignal flags, morse code & buoyageHow to build a Stevenson lighthouseWhy a ship’s ‘log’ gives a reading in ‘knots’Why GPS is deliberately inaccurate6. STORIES & SUPERSTITIONIs the Bermuda triangle real?Mermaids & selkiesThe real story behind the TikTok shanty song WellermanWhy do sailors wear ear rings? Was Nelson really pickled in brandy?The sea word 1: list of expressions derived from nautical termsThe sea word 2: list of nautical sayings (could be scattered randomly throughout the book)