About the Author

Herb Payson, a professional jazz musician, ran away to sea with his wife Nancy and four of the six children from their combined family. Over the next two decades, they sailed on three different boats to more than 26 countries, the whole family working along the way to keep their advventures afloat. Herb soon found his voice as a sailing writer and his work appeared regularly in Sail Magazine. His three books, filled with both humor and serious seamanship advise have become classics. When age made sailing less fulfilling, he and Nancy settled in Port Townsend Washington where Herb returned to his musical roots, playing jazz piano.