Write Better Wind Sailing Stories by Studying These 4 Masterpieces

Are you like me and want to write realistic wind sailing adventures but you’ve never actually sailed on the high seas before? After all, you don’t want to look silly by describing ships sinking when they get hit by cannonballs ABOVE the waterline! From not being able to anchor in the middle of the ocean because the water is too deep to making sure you sail with the wind during a storm to prevent broaching-to, there are many subtle facts about wind sailing that a writer wouldn’t know unless they sailed a lot or took the time to read the works of people who took the time to learn it first. So whether you want to spice up your dialogue with some historical sailor jargon or you want to know the difference between scudding and close-hauling, you’re in luck with these 4 classic sailing adventure novels written by pros who really knew their business.

While writing my upcoming novel Conquest of the Cursed Continent I realized I was missing the crucial knowledge I needed to make my story historically practical. After studying how the pros wrote about wind sailing it’s fair to say that has changed. Researching specific questions and reading sailing instructions helped me a ton of course, but this alone won’t give you an idea of how to apply what you learn to your story in a masterful way. That’s why I recommend you go out and buy what I believe are the 4 best wind sailing adventure novels for writers.

And before you go here’s the one last crucial tip that will make all the difference in expanding your knowledge of wind sailing: It was really reading these four books while also recording and researching every term I wasn’t familiar with that boosted my knowledge, otherwise you may not learn much. So if it helps, check out my ancient post about increasing your vocabulary!

Now, hoist the outer jib and haul out the spanker!

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#1.

The Cruise of the Cachalot by Frank T. Bullen

Learning about how whalers hunted for spermaceti on the high seas in the 1800s was fascinating enough, but as an experienced first mate Frank T. Bullen also fills his semi-autobiography with amazing detail about wind sailing itself. He describes his life on the night watch waking up when the captain was asleep to witness the sun rise over a limitless wasteland of blue waves — a scene I’ll never forget. Fighting whales with harpoons is dangerous, but sometimes the politics among sailors who have been working at sea for months without touching land is even more dangerous.

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#2.

The Bounty Trilogy by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall

These three novels based on a famous true story wouldn’t have become international best-sellers if the authors didn’t know what they were talking about. The Mutiny on the Bounty captured imaginations around the world, as everyday readers like you and me wondered how a group of sailors had the courage to hold a mutiny in the Royal Navy, a crime punishable by death in the 1700s. What drove the mutineers to do it? And forget about the mutineers for a moment. How did the men who were cast off the ship survive a 3,500 nautical mile journey home with barely any food or water? Find out in this gripping story that will leave you not only inspired but rethinking what it means to be a good person.

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#3.

The Three Midshipmen by W.H.G. Kingston

Every boyish tendency in me came to the forefront of my mind while reading about the exhilarating adventures of three best friends who join the Royal Navy together. Every page of this book reminded me why I love sailing adventures so much, over and over again to the point where my sofa felt like it was riding the high waves. These three best friends joined the Royal Navy because they wanted adventure, but they didn’t think it would turn out like this — besieging forts and battling slavers for survival! W.H.G. Kingston was a well of knowledge and volunteered to improve the lives of sailors in the 1800s. After checking out his Wikipedia page it’ll come as no surprise to you that one of his many sailing novels made it onto this list.

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#4.

Two Years Before The Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr.

Purposely last because it’s very far from the least, we have the one book any expert in this field might expect to see here. This novel might be one of the most detailed stories about wind sailing ever written. Why is that? The author himself admits it in his preface: “…all the books professing to give life at sea have been written by persons who gave their experience as naval officers or passengers, and of these there are very few which are intended to be taken as narratives of facts.” Bring a notepad and get ready to use it because with this gem you’re not just going to have a daring adventure; you’re going to learn a whole heck of a lot about wind sailing whether you like it or not, and frankly that’s the way I like it.

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Lastly, if you love fantasy novels that pay attention to historical practicality, consider subscribing to my book launch newsletter. Conquest of the Cursed Continent will drop in 2025! Be the first to know when it does.