Offshore Cruising Companion spiral-bound sailing book, complete guide to offshore sailboat preparation and safety.

Offshore Cruising Companion By John Neal & Amanda Swan Neal

A comprehensive 260-page offshore cruising textbook covering the core topics taught in the Mahina Offshore Cruising Seminar.This annually updated guide provides practical, real-world instruction for sailors preparing for offshore passages and bluewater cruising. It combines decades of offshore experience with structured preparation guidance to help you make informed decisions before departure.

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Backstay

Offshore Cruising Companion

Name: Offshore Cruising Companion
Brand: Backstay
Price: 61.0 USD
Availability: InStock

$61.00 USD

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An indispensable stand-alone guide for preparing yourself and your sailboat for safe coastal and offshore adventures, as well as the textbook for the Offshore Cruising Seminars. John Neal and Amanda Swan Neal offer unbiased and sage advice on over 36 topics including: Boat Selection, Priority and Optional Equipment, Seamanship, Anchoring, Storm Tactics, Communications, Insurance and Managing your Escape.

Updated annually, this comprehensive book also contains multiple checklists and resources allowing you to fast-track your cruising dreams into reality.

Features

• 269-page comprehensive offshore cruising textbook.

• 8.5" x 11" spiral-bound format lays flat for easy use.

• Written by John Neal & Amanda Swan Neal of Mahina Expeditions.

• Annually updated with current offshore best practices.

• Covers boat selection, outfitting, rigging, weather, navigation, medical planning, and safety.

• Includes detailed diagrams and practical checklists.

• Ideal for offshore and bluewater sailors.

• Published by Mahina Expeditions.

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BUILT ON DECADES AT SEA

Created by John Neal and Amanda Swan Neal of Mahina Expeditions, this comprehensive offshore cruising guide draws from more than five decades of passagemaking, instruction, and real-world bluewater sailing.

About the Author - John Neal

John Neal is a veteran offshore sailor, author, and mentor with over five decades and 410,000 nautical miles of bluewater experience. He began his ocean sailing journey in 1974, departing Seattle at age 21 for a 15,000-mile South Pacific voyage chronicled in his bestseller Log of the Mahina.

Since 1976, John has shared his expertise through seminars and sail-training expeditions. From 1990 to 2025, he led Mahina Expeditions, sailing extensively in the South Pacific, Caribbean, Patagonia, Antarctica, the Atlantic, Scandinavia, and the Arctic, including six Cape Horn roundings.

Today, he mentors sailors worldwide, helping them select, outfit, and prepare yachts for safe offshore cruising.

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A world map showing various locations where sailors have used Backstay Logbooks, with markers indicating voyages across oceans, coastal routes, and international cruising destinations.

GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF YOUR ADVENTURES

We’re truly grateful you’ve chosen Backstay to be part of your journey. From Seattle to Australia, our logbooks are sailing aboard boats around the world.If you’re using one out on the water, we’d love to hear where you’ve gone, what you’ve learned, and how it’s serving you. Share your photos, stories, and feedback anytime—we deeply value your insight. View the global sailing map on our Track page. Join the community: tag @backstay.marine or email us to be featured.

TESTED AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED

Backstay Sailing Logbooks are designed to last longer. They are tested in the rain, sun, and ocean spray offshore and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Photo: Reference guide of International code flags

TRUSTED COMPANION

The reference guide is crafted to aid you in the difficult situations when seconds count. Whether it is remembering how to issue a Mayday call, replying to a sound signal in a fog, or knowing what to do when you see a whale.

ONE PERCENT FOR THE OCEAN

We commit one percent of our profits to support ocean research, clean up, and marine mammal rehabilitation. Your purchase helps protect the richest ecosystem on earth.

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