Adventures of a Reluctant Boating Wife

When I was first invited by a new - and handsome - man to the local Yacht Club to see his boat, I happily conjured up alluring pictures of me in an expensive bikini and a great suntan. It didn't occur to me that 'see my boat' might actually mean going out in the thing...

Before she knew it, Angela Rice had agreed to a sailing trip on the notorious west coast of Scotland - and to marry her skipper. The voyage did nothing to allay her primal suspicion of anything afloat. But years later, one sunny Boat Show day, she discovered the lifestyle lure of powerboats - so much less daunting than their sailing counterparts. She cajoled her man into crossing to the dark side, with wild promises of becoming competent. And slowly but surely, reluctance gave way to relish, scepticism to skippering, the Solent to the Seine...

Originally published as a series in Motorboat & Yachting magazine, and illustrated with wonderful cartoons by David Semple, this is a funny and engaging account of one woman's relationship with the sea, a boat and her husband.

In 1977 Angela Rice left the UK for a three-month work assignment to the Middle East, and returned to her home in Hampshire 20 years later having acquired a husband, two stepsons and a career in management. Her husband John comes from a seafaring family and has sailed since childhood. Angela’s mother routinely took seasickness pills on the ferry to the Isle of Wight. But John somehow managed to turn Angela into nearly adequate dinghy crew, before deciding to upgrade to a slightly larger model... John and Angela now own a Nimbus 3003 based in Southampton. John was attracted by its apparent seaworthiness, classic lines and 200hp Volvo. Angela by its deck cabin and microwave. They share the boat with friends, taking it away in the winter.