Distant Shores: Cruising the Middle East, a sailing documentary produced by Paul and Sheryl Shard, allows you to enjoy the discovery of new places and cultures from the comfort of your own couch. This three-disk DVD set includes thirteen 30-minute episodes of their sailing-adventure TV series and contains some excellent sailing footage; the focus is on exotic destinations rather than sailing tactics. Interviews with locals and filming during trips ashore will alternately fuel and satisfy your wanderlust.
An amateur film by amateur sailors, Sail Vicarious is a how-to for would-be cruisers. Learn with them as they research, buy, and refit their new boat in this first of a DVD series that will follow Spencer and Kathleen’s circumnavigation. Though fairly basic, Sail Vicarious is thorough and straightforward—a good resource for beginners. Boat walk-throughs help present boating terms and the basic anatomy of a cruising boat, while maintenance tips expose some real cruising challenges.
Billed as a “why-to” rather than a “how-to,” Dancing with the Wind immerses you in the beauty and passion of sailing. With an original score, composed and played by the captain himself, and without a single spoken word, this DVD tells the story of an exciting weekend cruise aboard Ed Verner’s Wind Ketcher. From a soothing twilight anchorage to an invigorating sandwich-overboard drill, this movie conveys the wonder of our sport. The soundtrack is included on a CD for your listening pleasure.
