The Coast of Summer: Sailing New England Waters from Shelter Island to Cape Cod

Though he moved back to England in 1971, Bailey and his wife Margot return to the U.S. nearly every summer to cruise the New England Coast. Here Bailey ( Inside Passage: The Outer Banks ) gives an engaging account of their 1991 cruise in Lochinvar , a 27-foot fiberglass boat. He sets out on a shakedown voyage from his home port of Stonington, Conn., to some old haunts in Long Island Sound. In August, he and Margot head northeast to Block Island, the Elizabeth Islands, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod, stopping at boatyards, towns, coves and beaches. On this leisurely cruise, they visit old friends, swim and walk the beaches. Homeward bound, they encounter Hurricane Bob, but only after Lochinvar is safely tied down and they are ashore. Readers familiar with the area--its shorelines and waters--will savor every word. (May)